In a brave move by the GOP majority, the United States Senate fires back at California’s environmental overreach by voting to overturn the Golden State’s future ban on new gasoline-powered cars.
See the tweet below!
By acting decisively, the Senate protects not only consumer choice but also American industry.
But with California’s Governor Gavin Newsom vowing legal action, questions arise about states’ rights and federal authority.
The Senate’s decisive vote to block California’s regulation against gas-powered cars is a firm stance against excessive environmental mandates.
California had initially planned to ban the sale of new gasoline cars by 2035, leading other states to consider similar agreements.
This vote effectively rejects one state’s influence over national policy, reinforcing the importance of individual choice.
The measure is anticipated to be signed into law by President Donald Trump, showcasing the administration’s support to counter this aggressive environmental zealotry.
This decision marks a critical moment in the nationwide conversation on emission regulations.
Critics from California, however, argue that this is an infringement on their state’s right to self-legislate.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the Senate’s move, stating, “This is not about electric vehicles. This is about polluters being able to pollute more.”
This indicates that the fight is far from over, as California plans to take legal action, claiming Congress’ actions are illegal.
“The waivers in question allow California to implement a stringent electric vehicle mandate, which – given California’s size and the fact that a number of other states have signed on to California’s mandate – would end up not just affecting the state of California, but the whole country,” declared Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), cited by PBS.
The decision comes amidst concerns about the feasibility and economic impact of a gas-powered car ban.
California accounts for about 11% of the U.S. car market, significantly influencing national trends.
The Republicans argue that the phaseout would be costly and burden the energy grid.
The Biden administration had previously approved California’s waiver to impose these standards, but this recent Senate vote establishes a new precedent to reject state EPA waivers with a simple majority.
Critics argue this undermines the Senate’s filibuster tradition.
Only one Democrat, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, supported blocking the phaseout, highlighting the auto industry’s significance in Michigan.
Republicans see this move as a victory for constitutional rights and economic sense against federal overreach.
The U.S. Senate voted to block a California clean air rule that would ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. But before lawmakers even took that vote, California Governor Gavin Newsom was already fighting back. https://t.co/Jo6YbUgCLW
— KTVU (@KTVU) May 23, 2025
