Kamala Harris Is Right To Back Away From an Electric Vehicle Mandate
Since entering the race as the designated Democratic candidate for president, Vice President Kamala Harris has seemingly walked back some of her previous positions. In the latest example, Harris has apparently abandoned support for federal rules that would mandate the production of electric vehicles (E.V.s).
“In a lengthy ‘fact-check’ email last week that covered several issues, a campaign spokesperson included a line saying that Harris ‘does not support an electric vehicle mandate,'” report Alex Thompson and Ben Geman of Axios, “suggesting she changed her previous position, without elaborating.”
As a U.S. senator, Harris co-sponsored the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act of 2019, establishing “a schedule for increasing the percentage of zero-emission vehicles a vehicle manufacturer delivers for sale,” phasing out all other vehicles by 2040.
While the bill never passed, Harris doubled down on the proposal when she ran for president in 2019, pledging to implement federal rules that would require half of all new vehicles sold by 2030 to be zero-emission, increasing to 100 percent by 2035.
But when asked by Axios “whether she would sign or veto a bill” like the ones she previously supported, Harris’ campaign “declined to comment.”
This suggests that Harris is not only backing away from a position that she had previously supported, but one that President Joe Biden’s administration put forward in new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this year.
Some suggest that Harris’ reasoning is nakedly political. “Vice President Harris is lying about her supposed opposition to an EV mandate,” Sen. Pete Ricketts (R–Neb.) said in a statement. “This sudden reversal just months before the election is a pathetic and transparent
Article from Latest
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.