Dozens of House Democrats joined Republicans to block California’s plan to prohibit the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, a measure adopted by state leaders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.
Why It Matters
California, one of the most Democratic states in the country, has sought to implement a range of environmental policies in recent years to address what many scientists view as a looming climate crisis caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Some of these policies, however, have faced legal challenges as critics say they are burdensome on businesses.
The vote on Thursday underscores how Democrats could be divided about the best way to handle climate change, as a total of 34 House Democrats voted to block California’s plan.
What to Know
The vote struck down the California policy that aimed to bolster a transition to electric vehicles (EVs), viewed as more sustainable than traditional gas-powered vehicles. It would have required auto dealers to begin increasing the number of electric vehicles.
Critics say Congress does not have the authority to implement this policy, and that California’s Clean Air Act waivers are not subject to Congressional review. The move, however, drew praise from industry leaders.
The 1970 Clean Air Act allows California to receive waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their own clean air standards to combat pollution. Other states may also adopt some of these standards.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, blasted the legislation in a statement released Thursday, saying that “Trump Republicans are hellbent on making California smoggy again.”
“Clean air didn’t used to be political. In fact, we can thank Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon for our decades-old authority to clean our air,” Newsom wrote.
A spokesperson for Newsom pointed to the statement when reached by Newsweek for comment.
Here is the full list of Democrats who voted to prohibit California from doing so.
- Joyce Beatty (Ohio)
- Sanford Bishop (Georgia)
- Nikki Budzinski (Illinois)
- Janelle Bynum (Oregon)
- Lou Correa (California)
- Henry Cuellar (Texas)
- Sharice Davids (Kansas)
- Don Davis (North Carolina)
- Shomari Figures (Alabama)
- Laura Gillen (New York)
- Jared Golden (Maine)
- Vicente Gonzalez (Texas)
- Steven Horsford (Nevada)
- Julie Johnson (Texas)
- Marcy Kaptur (Ohio)
- Timothy Kennedy (New York)
- Greg Landsman (Ohio)
- Susie Lee (Nevada)
- Kristen McDonald Rivet (Michigan)
- Joe Morelle (New York)
- Jared Moskowitz (Florida)
- Frank Mrvan (Indiana)
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington)
- Josh Riley (New York)
- Pat Ryan (New York)
- Hillary Scholten (Michigan)
- Terri Sewell (Alabama)
- Darren Soto (Florida)
- Tom Suozzi (New York)
- Shri Thanedar (Michigan)
- Bennie Thompson (Mississippi)
- Gabe Vasquez (New Mexico)
- Marc Veasey (Texas)
- Eugene Vindman (Virginia)
- George Whitesides (California)
What People Are Saying
Newsom wrote in his statement: “The only thing that’s changed is that big polluters and the right-wing propaganda machine have succeeded in buying off the Republican Party – and now the House is using a tactic that the Senate‘s own parliamentarian has said is lawless. Our vehicles program helps clean the air for all Californians, and we’ll continue defending it. Washington may want to cede our economy to China but California is standing by American innovation.”
Chet Thompson, president of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, and Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute, told The New York Times: “California’s unlawful ban should never have been authorized, and Governor Newsom should never have been allowed to seize this much control over the American vehicle market.”
Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Patrick Drupp wrote in a statement: “It’s a shame House Republicans are intent on misusing the Congressional Review Act to force more Americans to breathe dirtier air, and so many House Democrats joined them to do so. These lawmakers just sold out communities to the oil and auto industries that spent billions lobbying against these clean vehicle standards.”
Representative Kevin Kiley, a California Republican, wrote on X: “Good morning. The House of Representatives just passed my Resolution to stop California’s insane gas car ban. It was a bipartisan vote. This is a major victory for common sense and a massive humiliation for Gavin Newsom.”
What Happens Next
Newsom wrote in his statement that his administration will continue defending the policy.
The post Full List of Democrats Voting to Block California Ban on Gas-Powered Cars appeared first on Newsweek.
