Senators urge better mileage on new autos

WASHINGTON – Automakers need to be pushed to raise gas mileage requirements on new vehicles to help consumers struggling with high fuel prices, a group of senators said Tuesday.

A bill introduced by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, would require the auto industry to meet a combined fleet average for all automobiles of 35 miles per gallon by 2017.

“We believe that we have the technology today to increase the fuel economy of all vehicles,” Feinstein said. “We just need the political will.”

The legislation was the latest attempt by some lawmakers to boost standards required by the Corporate Average Fuel Economy. Past efforts to dramatically raise standards have failed, but supporters say $3-a-gallon gas prices could help make their case.

President Bush has sought the authority from Congress to change the fuel economy system for passenger cars. A measure to let the administration begin the process has advanced in a House committee but is awaiting consideration before the full House.

The changes would be similar to the new program for sport utility vehicles, pickups and vans put forth by the administration in March. The system, which implements gas mileage rates on a sliding scale based on a vehicle’s size, would increase standards by 1.8 mpg to 24 mpg by the 2011 model year.

Detractors say the changes don’t go far enough. Snowe said her measure was a “realistic, doable, achievable solution” and criticized the administration and opponents in Congress for exhibiting a “can’t-do instead of a can-do spirit.”

“We have a responsibility and an obligation to exhibit leadership on this issue and to reject the notion that we can’t do better,” Snowe said.