Wicker: Votes to thwart electric vehicle mandate

By U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

Republicans Roll Back Outrageous Biden-Era Green Regulations

This month, I joined my fellow U.S. Senate Republicans to block an underhanded Democrat attempt to turn the entire auto industry on its head. We thwarted a Biden-era “green” regulation that would have radically escalated vehicle mandates. The rules were so extreme they would have effectively eliminated domestic use of the internal combustion engine by 2035. A decade from now, Mississippians would have awakened to an electric vehicle (EV) mandate whether they like it or not.

We prevented this catastrophe over the howls of left-wing lawmakers. Democrats had tried to rig the system by calling a “regulation” by another name, hoping to prevent Congress from exercising its statutory oversight authority. They used a sleight of hand to mislabel the Biden regulation, which could have kept it in force – but only on a technicality. If we had not overcome this ploy, Americans across the heartland would have been forced to use electric cars and trucks against their will.

California Tries to Rewrite Auto Industry

Under the Clean Air Act of 1970, California can ask the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for permission to regulate environmental standards on vehicles sold in the state. The Biden EPA twisted that law. It allowed California to abuse the Clean Air Act by setting outrageous EV sales quotas. By the end of 2026, 35 percent of auto sales in the state must be zero-emission. In 2035, 100 percent must be.

Environmental zealots were hoping lawmakers wouldn’t realize how the California rule would have affected the entire country. Nearly 40 million people live in California, giving the state outsized influence on the nationwide auto industry. The Golden State carries over 10 percent of the U.S. car market. California’s example has led other states to follow its sales quota lead. Handing the regulatory keys to such an influential state would ultimately harm Mississippi’s three million residents.

Aside from the fact that most Americans do not want to drive EVs, the auto industry is simply unable to handle such extreme mandates, and forcing manufactures to escalate EV production would cause a cascade of corresponding environmental problems. Electric vehicles often weigh 30 percent more than gas-powered cars, increasing danger in accidents as well as wear-and-tear on tires and roads. The extra pounds come from the batteries, which are packed with toxic chemicals and have to be refilled at special recharging stations.

The rest of the problems come down to supply and demand. Electric vehicles are already expensive. Building more EVs would lead automakers to raise prices on gas-powered cars and trucks. In turn, the used car market would attract more customers, increasing the price of pre-owned vehicles.

Democrat Green Dreams Meet Reality

Biden’s EPA waited until after the November election to approve California’s Green New Deal vision – perhaps because officials understood that these ideas would be unpopular.

Demand for EVs is falling even in California. No government sales quota can change consumers’ interest in a product. The state has granted exceptions to several auto companies, a sign that both parties understand the quotas are a fool’s errand. Other like-minded states seem to be wavering. A Democrat New York state representative said the requirements are “out of touch with reality,” and the governor of Vermont paused his state’s adoption of the California plan.

Republicans Protect the Marketplace

The episode illustrates stark differences between Democrat and Republican priorities. Left-wing officials seem willing to sacrifice American pocketbooks on the altar of the questionable green energy agenda. Conservatives trust the fundamentals of the marketplace.

Already this year, we have passed over a dozen other measures to invalidate misguided Biden-era regulations. Our action to overturn the California mandate is now on President Trump’s desk, and I look forward to his signature. Republicans in Washington will continue working to empower the businesses that employ Americans, provide customers with options, and keep the United States on the leading edge of the global economy.

Note: This is the weekly Wicker Report from U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) who is solely responsible for its content.