Editorial: Fuel efficiency rules should be tougher

Thursday, July 19, 2001 | 9 a.m.

GOP members of Congress have run for cover ever since President Bush's energy policy was met by a public backlash. Republicans even have resurrected once heretical ideas, such as requiring automakers to improve the fuel-efficiency standards of their vehicles, a proposal long championed by former Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev.

But Democrats assert that the Republican plan only will increase the standard by about 1 mpg for gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles. That's disappointing since a draft report by the National Academy of Sciences says fuel efficiency for SUVs can be improved by as much as 11 mpg. The first clue that this legislation could be a sham is that one of those likely to back it is Michigan's Democrat Rep. John Dingell, who does the bidding of the auto industry that has fought tougher standards. But Congress should set stricter requirements, refusing to cave in to the auto industry's legendary clout.

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