Voinovich event targets stricter auto standards

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The senator thinks auto jobs would be threatened by
proposed changes.

By DON SHILLING

VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR

U.S. Sen. George Voinovich is kicking off a campaign to fight strict fuel economy standards by visiting the General Motors Lordstown assembly plant.

Voinovich will join plant management and union officials Tuesday for a press conference to raise public awareness of a change in standards being debated in Congress.

Jobs throughout the auto industry will be threatened if legislation is passed in its current form, said Chris Paulitz, vza Voinovich spokesman.

"It's not like this industry can take another hit," he said.

After the event in Lordstown, Voinovich is headed to Toledo on Wednesday. Union and management from both GM and Chrysler plants in the area are to join him at a press conference.

Paulitz said other events are being scheduled elsewhere in the state on the issue.

At issue are changes proposed in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, known as CAFE. Each automaker is required to meet certain averages for its vehicles.

Since 1990, passenger cars have had to meet an average of 27.5 mpg. Standards for light trucks have been rising and now stand at 22.2 mpg.

The Senate has passed an energy bill that includes a provision that would place both cars and trucks in the same average. The new combined standard would be 35 mpg by 2020.

The House's version of the energy bill doesn't address CAFE standards, but Paulitz said that chamber's leaders expect the issue to be discussed when House and Senate leaders attempt to reconcile the two bills. Those discussions are expected to begin later this month.

Voinovich and other legislators from auto-producing states are trying to push for a modification of the Senate's standards. Paulitz said environmental groups have been lobbying hard on the other side.

"It's going to be tough, really tough, without a lot of public support," he said.

Voinovich and others have proposed keeping separate standards for cars and trucks. Their proposed amendment lists a standard of 36 mpg for cars by 2022 and a standard of 30 mpg for trucks by 2025.

Paulitz said those standards would be tougher than current ones and yet be less of a threat to auto jobs than the Senate's proposal.

The United Auto Workers notified House and Senate leaders that it thinks the Senate proposal "would not be economically feasible." Its standards would force enormous costs on automakers to upgrade plants, which could lead to companies' cutting back on U.S. production, the union letter said.

Environmental groups say they think that the Senate bill would actually boost domestic auto jobs. Requiring automakers to provide more fuel-efficient choices would actually make them more competitive, environmental groups said in a response to the UAW position.

shilling@vindy.com

Sunday, October 7, 2007