White House wants to change gas-mileage rules

updated 8:17 a.m. ET April 28, 2006

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration asked Congress Thursday to give it the authority to change fuel economy standards for passenger cars amid rising gas prices and growing concerns about the nation’s energy security.

Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta wrote House and Senate leaders asking for Congress to — for the first time — allow it to create a similar program it recently completed for pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans.

“Along with other previously announced energy policies, the president believes these actions are critical to promoting our nation’s energy security and independence,” Mineta wrote.

Mineta said a simple increase in standards under the current Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) system “would increase fatalities on America’s highways, raise health care costs and reduce employment. As a result, the administration would oppose any increase in passenger car CAFE standards without corresponding reform.”

In Biloxi, Miss., President Bush noted Congress was debating several energy-related concepts, “and one idea is to give me a capacity to raise CAFE standards on automobiles.”

“I encourage them to give me that authority. It’s authority that I use for light trucks. And I intend to use it wisely if Congress would give me that authority,” Bush said.

Under law, the administration can change the system for light trucks but it was unclear if it could alter the requirements for passenger cars, which has been set by Congress. Mineta made a similar request for the ability to change the system in 2002, but it did not advance.

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