I am sorry this is so long, but I don't yet know how to make less so...
The messages from people across the state urging Tonkin dealerships to drop their lawsuit trying to block clean cars has definitely gotten their attention. Over 1,850 people have sent Tonkin an email so far! In fact, so many people have sent email that some emails are bouncing back, and a Tonkin representative has started sending people a stock email trying to defend their lawsuit and claiming that they actually support the environment. Now that we've got their attention, let's raise the volume.
Tonkin's response to our email says they care about the environment. If that's true, they should drop the lawsuit! Please take a moment to respond to their arguments and urge them to support the clean cars program; below is a summary of their misleading statements and our response. Then, get your family and friends involved by forwarding this email to them.
To take action, click here or paste this link into your web browser:
http://ospirg.org/OR.asp?id=1007&id4=ES
What is Tonkin saying?
- Tonkin says the Governor is violating the constitution by adopting the Clean Cars program.
In fact, the auto industry got the vice chair of the budget committee to slip an unconstitutional provision blocking the Clean Cars program into the Department of Environmental Quality's budget. Instead of wasting time and taxpayer's money fighting the provision in court, the Governor decided to use his line item veto - which is authorized by the constitution. For the auto industry to claim that his veto is unconstitutional is not only incorrect, it's also hypocritical.
- Tonkin says the Governor is trying to put the Clean Cars program in place with limited public input and education and that the Legislature should be making this decision.
The truth is that the Governor is initiating a comprehensive process for adopting the Clean Cars program that involves extensive public comment. Before the standards are fully adopted, there will be a process nearly 10 months long and likely involving at least five public hearings and two public comment periods. In fact, the Legislature established this process as the appropriate way for the state to improve air pollution regulations. It was the auto industry that by-passed public input when they got a backdoor provision blocking the Clean Cars program slipped into the budget for the Department of Environmental Quality when they weren't able to pass an anti-clean cars bill on its own merits.
- Tonkin says the Clean Cars Program will cost the government a lot of money and implies that pollution reductions will be minor.
In fact, the Clean Cars Program will cut global warming pollution from new cars and light trucks by 30 percent. This is a huge environmental benefit and is the biggest step that Oregon can take this year to address the global warming which is already affecting our state. Also, the cost to the government is relatively minor compared to most government programs because this program is already in effect in eight other states and most of the costly and time consuming process of developing technical pollution standards has already been done.
Tonkin made a lot of additional arguments that were misleading and/or incorrect but were highly technical in nature so I don't have space here to address them, but if you have any questions please email me directly.
What is the lawsuit?
On Friday, September 9th, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers financed a lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Quality Commission attempting to block or delay the Clean Cars program. Joining them in the suit were several auto dealerships including the Tonkin group, Mercedes Benz of Portland and Wilsonville, Rasmussen BMW, Coos Bay Toyota, Senator Ted Ferrioli, Representative Wayne Scott and Representative Susan Morgan. This lawsuit wastes taxpayer money by forcing the state to expend resources defending the Clean Cars program.
What is the Clean Cars Program?
The Clean Cars program is a policy that will put cleaner cars on the road in two ways. First, the program requires automakers to use existing technology to cut global warming emissions by from new cars and light trucks by about 30 percent by 2016. Second, it drives technological innovation by requiring that automakers put a minimum number of advanced-technology cars on the roads. Starting in 2009, car-makers would have to sell about 7,000 hybrids per year in Oregon and about 30,000 high-technology clean conventional cars.
For more information go to: http://www.ospirg.org/cleancars
Now for the next step. Tonkin's response to our email says they care about the environment. If that's true, they should drop the lawsuit! Please take a moment to respond to their arguments and urge them to support the clean cars program. Then, get your family and friends involved by forwarding this email to them.
To take action, click here or paste this link into your web browser:
http://ospirg.org/OR.asp?id=1007&id4=ES
Sincerely,
Maureen Kirk
OSPIRG Executive Director
MaureenK@ospirg.org
http://www.OSPIRG.org
Tonkin's response to our email says they care about the environment. If that's true, they should drop the lawsuit! Please take a moment to respond to their arguments and urge them to support the clean cars program; below is a summary of their misleading statements and our response. Then, get your family and friends involved by forwarding this email to them.
To take action, click here or paste this link into your web browser:
http://ospirg.org/OR.asp?id=1007&id4=ES
What is Tonkin saying?
- Tonkin says the Governor is violating the constitution by adopting the Clean Cars program.
In fact, the auto industry got the vice chair of the budget committee to slip an unconstitutional provision blocking the Clean Cars program into the Department of Environmental Quality's budget. Instead of wasting time and taxpayer's money fighting the provision in court, the Governor decided to use his line item veto - which is authorized by the constitution. For the auto industry to claim that his veto is unconstitutional is not only incorrect, it's also hypocritical.
- Tonkin says the Governor is trying to put the Clean Cars program in place with limited public input and education and that the Legislature should be making this decision.
The truth is that the Governor is initiating a comprehensive process for adopting the Clean Cars program that involves extensive public comment. Before the standards are fully adopted, there will be a process nearly 10 months long and likely involving at least five public hearings and two public comment periods. In fact, the Legislature established this process as the appropriate way for the state to improve air pollution regulations. It was the auto industry that by-passed public input when they got a backdoor provision blocking the Clean Cars program slipped into the budget for the Department of Environmental Quality when they weren't able to pass an anti-clean cars bill on its own merits.
- Tonkin says the Clean Cars Program will cost the government a lot of money and implies that pollution reductions will be minor.
In fact, the Clean Cars Program will cut global warming pollution from new cars and light trucks by 30 percent. This is a huge environmental benefit and is the biggest step that Oregon can take this year to address the global warming which is already affecting our state. Also, the cost to the government is relatively minor compared to most government programs because this program is already in effect in eight other states and most of the costly and time consuming process of developing technical pollution standards has already been done.
Tonkin made a lot of additional arguments that were misleading and/or incorrect but were highly technical in nature so I don't have space here to address them, but if you have any questions please email me directly.
What is the lawsuit?
On Friday, September 9th, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers financed a lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Quality Commission attempting to block or delay the Clean Cars program. Joining them in the suit were several auto dealerships including the Tonkin group, Mercedes Benz of Portland and Wilsonville, Rasmussen BMW, Coos Bay Toyota, Senator Ted Ferrioli, Representative Wayne Scott and Representative Susan Morgan. This lawsuit wastes taxpayer money by forcing the state to expend resources defending the Clean Cars program.
What is the Clean Cars Program?
The Clean Cars program is a policy that will put cleaner cars on the road in two ways. First, the program requires automakers to use existing technology to cut global warming emissions by from new cars and light trucks by about 30 percent by 2016. Second, it drives technological innovation by requiring that automakers put a minimum number of advanced-technology cars on the roads. Starting in 2009, car-makers would have to sell about 7,000 hybrids per year in Oregon and about 30,000 high-technology clean conventional cars.
For more information go to: http://www.ospirg.org/cleancars
Now for the next step. Tonkin's response to our email says they care about the environment. If that's true, they should drop the lawsuit! Please take a moment to respond to their arguments and urge them to support the clean cars program. Then, get your family and friends involved by forwarding this email to them.
To take action, click here or paste this link into your web browser:
http://ospirg.org/OR.asp?id=1007&id4=ES
Sincerely,
Maureen Kirk
OSPIRG Executive Director
MaureenK@ospirg.org
http://www.OSPIRG.org