Better gas mileage vs. jobs -- Senate about to plunge in
Rob Hotakainen and Michael Bold -- Bee Washington Bureau, Published 5:30 a.m. PST Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002

WASHINGTON -- When the Senate takes up a long-stalled energy bill in the next few days, it will consider a Democratic plan that would force automakers to build vehicles that get an average of 35 miles per gallon by 2013.

Opponents are fuming: At a "Save Our Jobs" rally in Missouri last week, workers and managers at a DaimlerChrysler plant complained that Congress was preparing to put thousands of people out of work.

"If this proposed legislation becomes law, it will basically eliminate the minivan, sport-utility vehicle and light trucks in this country -- and that means it will eliminate your jobs," Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., told General Motors automakers at a separate event in Missouri.

nice scare tactic there...and that elimination is a bad thing? no suvs? oh, wouldn't that be nice. though i highly doubt anything like that will happen in the next three years...