Some political reality
A hearing by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer into the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to reject tougher standards for vehicles by California brought forth some harsh political realities as the Bush administration enters its last year. Not much can be accomplished to change things.
Boxer was holding a hearing at Los Angeles City Hall to hear from state officials about their views of the EPA decision and what is needed.
The hearing resulted in a lot of Bush-bashing, with Attorney General Jerry Brown calling the agency "scoff-laws" showing contempt of environmental laws. Brown, joined by 14 other states, is challenging the EPA ruling in court.
But, he and Boxer later acknowledged it might not be until a new administration takes office that things will change.
Brown said he does not know how long it will take to get through the courts _ particularly if the administration decides to fight the case _ while Boxer said she didn't believe it will be possible to get 60 votes in the Senate to override the EPA decision.