In September, I wrote Dingell would kill CAFE. Earlier today, I wrote he played a part in delaying a vote on the energy bill in the House. However, a rebel alliance has pushed the vote through, and it should happen later today. We'll have more updates the vote occurs. Until then, I thought this was a must see; the video above is the great John Dingell himself admitting defeat and saying he will vote for the energy bill. So, did he lose? No, the bill is dead.

Huh? In the video above, John says the White House showed no interest. No interest? They threatened to veto it Monday and repeated the threat to veto it again today, again citing Dingell's problem with the CAFE portion of the bill. That's lack of interest? Why would Dingell doublespeak like that? John did the same thing, as you can see in the old video below the fold, when he proposed the gas tax which everyone knew he did not really support.

The energy bill needs friends and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should have just given Dingell a delay, dropped three MPG from CAFE and all of her problems would have gone away. Along with the veto threat from the president, there is a fillibuster threat when the bill goes to the Senate. What will we see in the vote tonight? Will the bill pass? Will the CAFE standard in the bill be lowered? Stay tuned.

Related:

• Fuel economy bill has seventy percent chance of passage

[Source: CSPAN]

What did I tell ya? The great photo above is of Bush and Dingell from 2005 but it could have been two days ago. According to the Detroit News, the House has delayed the energy bill vote. As we reported, CAFE is largely settled and even Toyota has come out in support of the new agreement. Trouble is, John Dingell has a problem with it, and it's the same problem, it turns out, that the White House mentioned in a letter to Congress threatening to veto the bill again. So, do they just have to dot some i's and cross some t's on which agency will set CAFE? I doubt it because you see red herrings like this all the time in the polite debates in the Congress.

I would guess that once Bush put out the veto threat, Pelosi lost whatever votes she took from Dingell. When the rough draft of the bill is in Dingell's hands again, suddenly a change that was only going to be which agency will regulate, has 35 MPG crossed out and 27 put in its place. Will that happen? At this rate, we should find out by 2030 when the bill requires the change. It's also possible they pick an agency and the White House takes CAFE out of its letters to Congress. I doubt it because Dingell is like a ninja: if you see him, you are already dead.

Related:

• Fuel economy bill has seventy percent chance of passage
• White House threatens to veto energy bill again

[Source: The Detroit News]

Recently we reported that the CAFE issue was largely settled in the energy bill. On CSPAN Monday, Edmund Andrews of the New York Times even dared to say Dingell "lost." Do not underestimate the power of the Dingell side, you have no idea of the power he possesses. Don't believe me? Let's keep in mind that, according to the Detroit News, Dingel did an interview Saturday where he said he got no help from the White House.

On Monday, though, the White House threatened to veto the bill noting problems with which agency would regulate CAFE, which I find an odd problem for the Bush Administration to bring up now. I think this is Bush responding to Dingell's wishes, so don't be surprised if we see the supposedly settled issue of CAFE revisited many more times or the energy bill not pass at all because of issues with CAFE. Dingell is all powerful and makes the Sith Lord look like hash browns.

Related:

• Bush might veto the energy bill
• Bush might bring out the veto pen to strike 35 mpg dead
• Bush tells Congress how to write an energy bill
• Rep. John Dingell drops his fuel economy proposal

[Source: Detroit News, CSPAN]

Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn, MI) has created a legislative proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as by 60 to 80 percent in 2050. How? By creating a tax on fuels and CO2 emissions. The amount: $50 per ton of CO2 and 50 cents a gallon for gasoline. It will include the elimination of tax exemptions for large homes as well. Dingell also supports the Hill-Terry initiative that is trying to raise mileage standards by 40 percent in 2022.

"In order to reduce greenhouse gases and make the planet safe and healthy for future generations it will take a significant investment from all of us," Dingell said. "A fee on carbon emissions requires a tithe from all citizens and industries, but no one entity will be unfairly leveled with a devastating burden. More importantly, it provides an incentive for change in our economy and our way of life. I welcome public input on how this policy proposal can best balance our environmental and economic concerns and I look forward to receiving feedback."

Citizens can add their feedback on his Congress webpage (follow the Read link). However, the question is how this initiative will move ahead as next year elections approach?

Related:

• Toyota calls for Congress to pass Hill-Terry CAFE bill
• Dingell will kill CAFE

[Source: U.S. House, Detroit News]

You may recall the fight over CAFE before the Senate took a Summer break. Well, the Senate is back in session and Rep. John Dingell is ready to mount another CAFE antler on his wall. Rep. Dingell told the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) that "we're going to win this fight." Dingell is talking about the fight over fuel economy standards, or CAFE. Dingell said, "I go into this tussle comforted (by the support of auto dealers). Go get 'em."

Boy, did they ever! The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and National Automobile Dealers Association launched a new website called autochoice.org. There is a CAFE standard in the energy bill but the Senate pushed for tougher standard for light trucks. Autochoice.org tells you what percent of people in a political district have light trucks. Wow, is that site tailored-made for Senators on the fence on this issue or what?

Do you think Markey will come out of conference and we will see a stronger CAFE standard? Think again! Dingell has been in the Congress longer than Obama has been alive. If you hit on a page, he probably knows about it. He's about to retire and he is not going to end on a losing note. Anyone that dares get in the way of a.) Dingell trying to secure his legacy, b.) an unholy horde of lobbyists and maybe even c.) a Presidential veto, is nuts. Go get 'em.

[Source: Detroit News]