Senate GOP maneuvers to block California’s plan to ban gas cars by 2035
Republicans in the Senate used a controversial procedural tactic to advance legislation that would block California from enforcing its planned ban on new gasoline-powered vehicle sales by 2035, challenging both state environmental authority and longstanding Senate rules.
Carl Hulse reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Senate Republicans bypassed the usual 60-vote threshold to push through a resolution overturning U.S. Environmental Protection Agency waivers that permit California to impose stricter vehicle emissions standards than federal rules.
- The maneuver invoked the Congressional Review Act in a “novel” way, despite objections from the Senate parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office, who said the act did not apply to the California waivers.
- Democrats argued the move undermines Senate procedure and states’ rights, accusing Republicans of favoring the fossil fuel industry and setting a dangerous precedent for future legislative fights.
Key quote:
“In order to do the bidding of the fossil fuel industry, Republicans will erode away at the Senate and undermine this institution they claim to care about.”
— Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York
Why this matters:
California’s aggressive clean air policies have long set the pace for national vehicle emissions standards. Nearly a dozen other states follow its lead, making its rules de facto national benchmarks. Blocking California’s authority would not only reshape how climate policy is made in the U.S., but could also stall the transition away from fossil fuels in the transportation sector—one of the nation’s biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Learn more: Why some House Democrats helped block California’s 2035 gas car ban
