Big Three Lose Again on Limiting Emissions Targets

By Michael Kanellos

Why do the Big Three in Detroit need $25 billion? To pay their legal fees.

Several automakers asked the Federal District Court for the District of Rhode Island to block the state’s plans to restrict carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Green Inc. blog at the New York Times. The law is similar to one passed in California. Automakers, however, have lost cases in Vermont and California already and Judge Ernest Torres said that that’s enough.

“It is difficult to see what interest the public has in permitting the plaintiffs another bite of the apple in challenging regulations limiting the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,” wrote Judge Torres, according to Green Inc. Further litigation would open lead to “costly and vexatious multiple lawsuits, the waste of judicial resources and the risk of inconsistent decisions,” he added.

That leaves 47 states to go. Have no doubt they will try wherever they can.

Someday I’d like to see GM CEO’s Rick Waggoner’s to do list. Go to dry cleaner. Ask for $25 billion. Complain about unions. Buy tickets to school play. Make sure office is 15 percent bigger than those of senior vice president’s.

Right now, California’s emission standards are the same as the federal governments because of rulings by the EPA. That could change with a new presidential administration.

Comments

[RLLH:]

Each time I read about the idiotic moves of Waggoner, I have to rethink my decision that it's too late to sell my GMC bonds. He would be a bad deal for GM if he was paying them his outlandish salary rather than the other way around.

2008 Nov 26 05:50 PM

[working at ...:]

When the price of cars and trucks keep increasing do to more regulation just do not blame the unions. I love clean air just as much as anyone. Its the hot air from the so called experts blaming the unions for the high price of vehicles.

2008 Nov 26 10:45 PM

[33Nick:]

It's astonishing and doesn't show they get what is being asked of them, nor does it show they are serious about getting out of the mess they, partly created. It shows an entire industry that has lost touch with its consumer base... probably 4 decades ago.

2008 Nov 27 03:21 PM