California wants to make America great, too. Why do Republicans oppose us? | Opinion
Countries like Norway and Sweden adopted electric vehicles with ease because they are good for the environment, a truth that is still subject to partisan politics in the United States.
Republicans in Congress have sunk their fangs into electric vehicles by way of attacking California’s progressive goals of reducing vehicle emissions, polluting our air, and worsening climate change conditions such as wildfires, intense weather and floods.
Since Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in 2020 to phase out gas-powered passenger vehicles by 2035 and “medium to heavy-duty vehicles” by 2045, Republicans have portrayed California’s goals as political overreach. With Donald Trump now in the Oval Office, the GOP is taking aim at them.
Recently, all House Republicans, joined by 35 Democrats, voted to pass resolutions that would roll back California’s California’s plan and on Thursday the Senate officially killed the plan by voting to overturn it.
“The American people should choose what vehicle is right for them, not California bureaucrats,” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Whether the Republican actions against California stand up in court or prove to be symbolic gestures is unknown.
But the GOP fight against California demonstrates how far Republicans have forsaken some of their beliefs to uphold others. The party of “states’ rights” is trying to undo a state action by California because EVs and zero emissions are liberal poison to them.
California took the lead on EVs simply because it’s a great alternative for consumers.
The push for EVs continues the state’s legacy of taking bold policy actions to achieve cleaner air and better living conditions for all who call the Golden State home. The Republicans from other states should worry about their own communities.
The House is also ready to end a $7,500 credit for buyers of energy-efficient vehicles and prevent consumers from getting credits for certain heat pumps and other household energy savers. What does taking away credits and controlling what a homeowner does to their home have to do with stopping the “liberal agenda?”
There is more good than bad that comes with EVs.
E2, a national nonpartisan business group, said clean energy and clean vehicle companies added 149,170 new jobs to the American economy in 2022, including 21,600 jobs in California. Today, about 3.5 million Americans work in clean energy-related jobs, including nearly 550,000 Californians, according to E2.
Further, this is one crazy liberal idea that Newsom, who’s currently on a campaign to look moderate, has to openly defend.
“Trump Republicans are hell-bent on making California smoggy again,” Newsom said in a statement. “Clean air didn’t used to be political.”
How radical of him.
But my main frustration here is that California’ s mandate is not radical at all. It is good for California. Other states should take our lead, not get in our way.
The GOP used to believe in less government and states having the freedom to make decisions without federal government interference. But now they believe in pushing their own narratives onto Americans.
If Republicans want to halt progress in red states, then go right ahead. But don’t push regressive Republican ideas on California.
This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
