Oil companies and electric utilities slid by practically unscathed by the new energy bill, despite widespread calls for a rollback of tax cuts and increased use of renewable energy sources. Meanwhile, automakers took it on the nose, even with their concerted lobbying against raising the CAFE standards. With gasoline prices holding at $3 a gallon and the industry hemorrhaging jobs even as foreign automakers continue to grab market share with cars that get better mileage, the old coalition of pro-business
Republicans and pro-labor Democrats that opposed higher CAFE standards virtually collapsed. The question now lies in how the House will react.
Graphic: NHTSA
Sources: Forbes, New York Times
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