Considering the federal status of any such effort, it probably belongs in the Supreme Court.
State pollution trial is delayed
Postponement means the global-warming law hinges on a Supreme Court verdict.
By Judy Lin - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, January 17, 2007
A judge has delayed trial in the auto industry's suit against the state for setting tougher fuel emission standards than the federal government -- putting the fate of California's global-warming pollution law in the hands of the Supreme Court.
U.S. District Judge Anthony Ishii on Tuesday agreed to postpone the auto industry's suit until after the Supreme Court settles a similar environmental regulatory claim from the Bush administration.
Ishii wrote that waiting for the Supreme Court's decision wouldn't be a hardship and could actually simplify the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Fresno.
State officials and environmental groups welcomed the decision to delay what is expected to be a long and costly trial. A victory is critical for the state to meet a new mandate on greenhouse gas emissions, because a large portion of the state's pollution comes from transportation use.
"California will continue fighting to clean the air we breathe and reduce the greenhouse gases that cause global warming," said Linda Adams, the state's secretary for environmental protection. "Controlling the emissions from our cars and trucks is an essential component to meeting our targets."
