Landmark emissions measure puts all eyes on California governor

July 3, 2002 The AP reports that right in the middle of his re-election campaign, Gov. Gray Davis must decide whether to sign a California bill that would make the nation's largest auto market the first to limit tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide.

The freshman Democrat is under intense pressure to veto the bill from 14 of the world's largest automakers, the United Auto Workers Union, oil companies, farm organizations and much of the state's business establishment. These groups are making the most noise after failing to kill the legislation before it could arrive on the governor's desk.

Davis is being urged to sign the bill by the nation's largest environmental groups, much of the state's congressional delegation, its largest cities and Hollywood celebrities from Robert Redford to Cameron Diaz.

The governor has called the bill "good public policy" but wants to study it further. A spokesman said Davis' decision was expected within two weeks.

The bill, passed Monday by a single vote in the state Assembly, would force automakers to reduce non-toxic carbon dioxide emissions from light trucks and cars beginning in 2009. Environmentalists say it is one of the most significant measures to address climate problems in a generation.

Automakers are calling the bill a backdoor assault that will drive up vehicle prices and limit the variety of cars companies can build. They say it will hurt attempts to boost fuel mileage, which average 24 miles per gallon nationwide -- unchanged since the late 1970s.

Manufacturers also fear the idea, if unchecked, could eventually force them to build cars and trucks tailored to individual state emissions standards.

"We will encourage the governor the veto the bill," said Kris Kiser, director of state affairs for the 13-member Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "If a lawsuit is viable, we'll look at that. If a referendum is a viable option, we'll look at that."

"This battle is far from over," he said, speaking for American, European and Japanese carmakers.

California, with 35 million people, is the biggest auto market in the country with 10 percent of all sales.

For years, California has been ahead of federal government in air pollution standards and it is the only state with a Clear Air Act exemption that allows it adopt air pollution standards that are stricter than Washington's. Other states are given the option of adopting either the federal standards or California's more stringent ones.

California has long forced carmakers to limit poisonous and polluting emissions, though the bill is the first to target emissions of a natural "greenhouse gas" environmentalists say accounts for 60 percent of the state's contribution to global warming. Overall, experts say the United States is responsible for nearly one-quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions.