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Thursday, April 14, 2005
State Senate approves tougher standards for car emissions
OLYMPIA -- The state Senate approved legislation last night adopting California's vehicle-emission standards, the toughest in the world.
Although Republicans tried to derail the measure, it passed handily, 29-19, with three of the senior GOP caucus leaders joining Democrats in favor. The sponsor, Sen. Erik Poulsen, D-Seattle, called it "probably the biggest environmental vote we have taken on the floor of the Senate in the past 10 years."
But the fight isn't over.
The measure was returned to the House for consideration of some Senate amendments that could be poison pills. The House approved the bill 53- 42 last month, but the Senate attached amendments last night to ease the effect on vehicle dealers.
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said the measure's fate remains in doubt. House Transportation Chairman Ed Murray, D-Seattle, the bill's prime sponsor, said he was pleased with the Senate vote, but that he'd have to scrutinize amendments.
Murray and other backers say Washington has only two options: to adopt federal standards or the tougher standards pioneered by California. The Senate essentially picked a third path, an amended version of the California code.
The measure would take effect beginning with the 2009 model year and hinges on Oregon also adopting the new standards. Seven other states have adopted the California standards.
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