Staff Reports
Eight House Democrats broke away from their party and joined with House Republicans to pass a bill that would prevent California from phasing out of gas-powered cars by 2035. It shows that there are still some people on the left who care about preserving the free market and consumer choice.
The goal of the legislation is to preserve the choice in car purchases by amending the Clean air Act. It also prohibits the EPA from issuing waivers that could prevent the sale of new vehicles that feature internal combustion engines.
In his introduction of the bill, Representative John Joyce noted that California regulators should not be able to determine what cars are sold in Pennsylvania. It’s outrageous for them to think they can impose their own regulations on the rest of the country, and we can’t allow them to do so.
Bob Latta of Ohio spoke up, and he stressed the importance of protecting the rights of consumers and fostering free markets. He noted that the government shouldn't be taking sides in the car industry. It's up to car buyers to decide which kind of vehicle they prefer.
The bill would only limit the consumer choice and innovation by preventing California from banning internal combustion engines.
These House Democrats Joined Republicans in Effort to Stop CA’s Radical EV Mandate https://t.co/kJENLFXwwo
— Marlon East Of The Pecos (@Darksideleader2) September 15, 2023
It’s encouraging to see that some Democrats are still willing to break with their party and put the interests of their voters above partisan politics. For instance, Representatives Vasquez, Caraveo, Costa, Davis, and Golden should be commended for standing up to their party and supporting legislation that upholds the freedom of choice and the free marketplace.
Although the bill is unlikely to pass through the Senate, it shows that there are still people in the country who believe in the freedom of choice and limited government interference. We hope that more members of both parties will follow suit and support legislation that upholds the principles of the free marketplace and individual liberty.
The passage of the "Preserving the Choice in Vehicle Purchases" Act by a group of lawmakers shows the importance of upholding the principles of the free marketplace and consumer choice. California should not be able to force Americans to purchase cars that they can't afford. It's time to put an immediate end to this overreaching by ensuring that states have the freedom to establish their own vehicle regulations.
