From Deseret News archives:
Hatch's fuel amendments fizzle in House
Kind of like Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, who just didn't quite have enough power to push through a longtime pet project in the waning days of the current session that would have given tax breaks for those who buy alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles.
Using his position as a member of a conference committee of senators and representatives trying to hammer out a compromise on a corporate tax bill, Hatch tried but failed this week to persuade his House counterparts to include three amendments that encompass the provisions of his own legislation, the CLEAR Act.
That legislation would use tax incentives to promote alternative-fuel vehicles, assist refiners in the production of low-sulfur diesel and promote renewable sources of electricity like Utah's abundant geothermal steam.
Hatch calls it the "most comprehensive legislation Congress has ever considered to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles and advanced car technologies among consumers."
But House members of the conference committee weren't buying it, voting 2-4 to reject the amendments.
In fact, Toyota, Ford and Honda broke ranks with the rest of the automotive industry to support the legislation, the first time in history that the industry had not stood together on environmental legislation.
Hatch points out that the United States is 97 percent dependent on oil for transportation needs, and "if we want to clean the air and address our nation's energy dependency, we must increase the use of alternative fuels in our transportation sector."
Hatch has a bipartisan coalition of 13 co-sponsors, including Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, and former first lady and now Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.
The bill, officially called the Clean Efficient Automobiles Resulting from Advanced Car Technologies Act, has languished in the Finance Committee since March 4, 2003.
Hatch touts the legislation as a boon to Utah, saying Utahns' top environmental concern is clean air.
"Vehicle emissions are the top source of pollution in Utah, and diesel trucks and buses are the heaviest polluters on the road," he said. "It's in our interest to ensure that even our small refiners are able to produce low-sulfur diesel."
Comments
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week 11:03 a.m.
- Weiss new Tour of Utah director 10:54 a.m.
- Moguls skier Jeremy Bloom retires 10:51 a.m.
- Police probe synagogue vandalism 10:44 a.m.
- O'Connor's husband dies 10:36 a.m.
- Russia launches program for tigers 10:35 a.m.
- Veterans Day in Afghanistan 10:34 a.m.
- Drug industry presses FDA 10:31 a.m.
- Obama honors veterans 10:29 a.m.
- New dinosaur species found 10:21 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- 4 Jazz players make All-Star ballot
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- House passes health care bill
268 - TCU showdown has big implications
188 - Lobo suspended
185 - Senators want food tax restored
156 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
106 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
105 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
98
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants nationwide will honor...
Discrimination is something we all do (and should do) every day. When we go...
is genius. And the many of the poster hereon, provides the explanation. A...
To Anonymous @7:15 a.m., If you want to be free to rent your property only to...
And how is the Constitution to grow? I think the framers thought it would be...
If demand is there then what's the problem? If the state offers early...
Who cares, just want to see the big boys play, not the little leagues. You...
JD is "that good" or they wouldn't be in the game. I assume Wasatch is also...
sounds like a great recruit, Now let's see what BYU will do with him, I'll...
Read the article. What does BYU's year of mediocrity have to do with...
This is ridiculous. Why are we rehiring people into their same positions...


You can be the first to comment on this story.