
Senate GOP set to revoke California's car emissions standards, a move Democrats call "the nuclear option"
The Senate is set to vote this week on revoking three vehicle emissions waivers in California, in a controversial move that the chamber's parliamentarian says Republican lawmakers may not have the right to do.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the planned vote "the nuclear option."
The three waivers the Senate is looking to revoke set stricter vehicle emissions standards than federal regulations. Two waivers relate to reducing tailpipe emissions from medium and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as limiting smog pollution from trucks.
The last is what's frequently called California's "EV mandate," a rule that aims to phase-out gas powered cars and require all new vehicle sales in California be zero emissions by 2035. The rule to phase out gas powered vehicles goes into effect in 2026.
California was granted the ability to enact stricter vehicle emissions standards than the federal government under the Clean Air Act in a process that involves receiving a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency if the regulations meet certain requirements. The three waivers in question were approved by the Biden administration's EPA in 2024.
Republicans argue that the Congressional Review Act gives Congress the ability to overturn rules passed by federal agencies — including the waivers — by a simple majority vote, but nonpartisan government watchdogs do not agree. The Government Accountability Office and the Senate Parliamentarian found that the Congressional Review Act could not be used to vote down California's waivers because the waivers are not the same as rules, according to Senate Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who supports revoking the waivers, said in remarks Tuesday on the Senate floor that "the EPA has submitted the waivers to Congress as rules – which is all that Congress has ever needed to decide to consider something under the Congressional Review Act."
But Democrats say such a vote is illegal, and argue overruling the Parliamentarian and bypassing the filibuster sets a dangerous precedent.
"If they invoke this nuclear option now, they should expect that a future Democratic government will have to revisit decades worth of paltry corporate settlements, deferred prosecution agreements, and tax rulings that were overly favorable to multinationals and ultra-wealthy individuals," said Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, in a statement.
The California Air Resources Board, a state body that designed the vehicle emissions regulations and requested the waivers, measures and sets pollution standards in California to comply with the Clean Air Act. It claims that the state has applied for over 100 waivers that have resulted in vehicles being 99% cleaner in terms of pollution, compared to vehicles from 1970. The board says they have never had a waiver revoked in the 50 years it has had the ability to enact them.
"The law is that the Clean Air Act says California can set its own standards if they are more stringent, more environmentally protective than whatever the federal government standard is," said Mary Nichols, who was the California Air Resources Board chairwoman from 1975-1982 and then from 2007-2020. Nichols told CBS News that if Congress uses Congressional Review to revoke the waivers, the state of California will sue the federal government.
California state Attorney General Rob Bonta told Politico in March that his office is prepared for a legal fight and said, "We don't think it's an appropriate use of the Congressional Review Act, and we're prepared to defend ourselves if it's wrongfully weaponized."
Voting down California's waivers is expected to impact cities and states around the country, as 16 additional states and the District of Columbia have adopted California's vehicle standards.
Republicans have staunchly criticized California's emissions rules, especially the one aimed at driving the auto industry toward electric vehicles.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a West Virginia Republican who chairs the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee, said this week the rules amount to "forcing certain states and certain consumers to purchase a vehicle that they may not want or that they can't find."
The auto industry has been pushing for Republicans to revoke California's waivers. The Speciality Equipment Market Association represents the automotive aftermarket industry where a third of its businesses are dependent on internal combustion engines and see the waivers and expansion of electric vehicles as a threat to business.
"The death of California's waiver will give life to more than 330,000 American jobs and preserves over $100 billion of economic impact to the nation's economy," the association said in a statement.
But environmental groups are alarmed by the unprecedented use of the Congressional Review Act to revoke the waivers. The Environmental Defense Fund said in a statement that a vote by Congress would undermine California's ability to address pollution.
"Using the CRA on EPA's preemption waivers could create a precedent for sweeping congressional nullifications of other executive actions that are outside the scope of the CRA – from decisions about Americans' eligibility for Social Security, to waivers for state Medicaid or veterans' health benefits, to actions related to energy infrastructure projects," the group said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
3 Reliable Dividend Stocks With Up To 6% Yield
The United States market has shown positive momentum, climbing 1.6% in the last week and up 12% over the past year, with earnings expected to grow by 14% annually in the coming years. In this environment, reliable dividend stocks offering yields of up to 6% can provide a steady income stream while potentially benefiting from overall market growth. Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Valley National Bancorp (VLY) 4.94% ★★★★★☆ Universal (UVV) 5.41% ★★★★★★ Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) 3.82% ★★★★★☆ First Interstate BancSystem (FIBK) 6.74% ★★★★★★ Ennis (EBF) 5.39% ★★★★★★ Dillard's (DDS) 6.46% ★★★★★★ CompX International (CIX) 4.99% ★★★★★★ Columbia Banking System (COLB) 6.02% ★★★★★★ Citizens & Northern (CZNC) 6.03% ★★★★★☆ Chevron (CVX) 4.88% ★★★★★★ Click here to see the full list of 144 stocks from our Top US Dividend Stocks screener. Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Columbia Banking System, Inc. is a bank holding company for Umpqua Bank, offering banking, private banking, mortgage, and financial services in the United States with a market cap of approximately $5.03 billion. Operations: Columbia Banking System, Inc.'s revenue is primarily derived from its banking segment, which generated $1.83 billion. Dividend Yield: 6% Columbia Banking System maintains a stable and attractive dividend yield of 6.02%, ranking in the top 25% of US dividend payers. Despite a recent drop in quarterly net income to US$86.61 million, its dividends remain well-covered by earnings with a payout ratio of 60.5%. Recent board changes reflect post-merger integration success with Umpqua Holdings, potentially strengthening governance under new leadership. The company affirmed its next quarterly dividend at US$0.36 per share, payable June 2025. Click to explore a detailed breakdown of our findings in Columbia Banking System's dividend report. Our valuation report unveils the possibility Columbia Banking System's shares may be trading at a discount. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Independent Bank Corp. is the bank holding company for Rockland Trust Company, offering commercial banking products and services to individuals and small-to-medium sized businesses in the United States, with a market cap of $2.72 billion. Operations: Independent Bank Corp. generates revenue through its Community Banking segment, which amounted to $654.16 million. Dividend Yield: 3.7% Independent Bank Corp. offers a reliable dividend yield of 3.7%, though it falls short of the top 25% in the US market. Recent earnings showed net interest income growth to US$145.51 million, despite a slight dip in net income to US$44.42 million. The payout ratio stands at a reasonable 51.8%, indicating dividends are well-covered by earnings, while its stable dividend history over the past decade adds appeal for income-focused investors. Delve into the full analysis dividend report here for a deeper understanding of Independent Bank. Upon reviewing our latest valuation report, Independent Bank's share price might be too pessimistic. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★☆ Overview: Regions Financial Corporation is a financial holding company that offers a range of banking and related products and services to individual and corporate customers, with a market cap of approximately $19.82 billion. Operations: Regions Financial Corporation's revenue is primarily derived from its Consumer Bank segment at $3.62 billion, Corporate Bank segment at $2.35 billion, and Wealth Management segment at $672 million. Dividend Yield: 4.5% Regions Financial offers a stable and growing dividend, currently yielding 4.54%, though it trails behind the top 25% of US dividend payers. The company's dividends have been consistent over the past decade, supported by a low payout ratio of 47.6%. Recent earnings showed net income growth to US$490 million, underscoring strong financial health. Strategic leadership changes and share buybacks further bolster its position for sustained dividend reliability. Get an in-depth perspective on Regions Financial's performance by reading our dividend report here. In light of our recent valuation report, it seems possible that Regions Financial is trading behind its estimated value. Navigate through the entire inventory of 144 Top US Dividend Stocks here. Shareholder in one or more of these companies? Ensure you're never caught off-guard by adding your portfolio in Simply Wall St for timely alerts on significant stock developments. Simply Wall St is a revolutionary app designed for long-term stock investors, it's free and covers every market in the world. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include COLB INDB and RF. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Bloomberg
10 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
S&P 500 Gains as Lutnick Signals US-China Progress
Bloomberg Television brings you the latest news and analysis leading up to the final minutes and seconds before and after the closing bell on Wall Street. Today's guests are Julie Biel, Kanye Anderson Rudnick, Michael Feroli, JPMorgan, Isabelle Lee, Bloomberg News, Brian Bernasek, Carlyle, Michael Pachter, Wedbush Securities, Mandy Xu, CBOE Global Markets, Hepsen Uzcan, DWS Group, Marissa Adams, HSBC, Edmund Reese, AON, Tim Sloan & Josh Pack, Fortress Investment Group. (Source: Bloomberg)
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Optoma Unveils ProScene All-in-One dvLED Series at InfoComm 2025
ORLANDO, Fla., June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Optoma Technology, a leader in cutting-edge visual display solutions, is excited to showcase the new ProScene FHDC135 All-in-One (AIO) dvLED Display at InfoComm in Orlando, FL, June 11-13, booth# 2142, enhancing its award winning interactive and professional display portfolio. Combining breath-taking image quality, superior durability and seamless integration, Optoma's FHDC135 135" display offers a quick installation solution without the hassle of complex cabinet configurations for high-performance applications in corporate, enterprise, education, house of worship and retail environments. Earlier this year, Installation Magazine awarded Optoma's FHDC135 "Best of Show" at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE). Unparalleled Visual PerformanceFeaturing advanced Flip-chip (COB) Chip on Board LED technology, the FHDC135 delivers stunning, lifelike visuals producing 700 Nits of brightness and enhancing light efficiency for cooler operations, ensuring consistent performance and longevity even in brightly lit environments. COB technology also provides exceptional durability with a smooth, matte finish that reduces glare. Vivid, lifelike colors are achieved with the widest color gamut of DCI-P3 and Rec.709. With a very narrow 1.5mm pixel pitch and high 3840Hz refresh rate, the FHDC135 ensures smooth motion, eliminating screen tearing and flickering for an ultra-clear viewing experience. Effortless InstallationThe FHDC135 arrives with pre-calibrated tiles and lightweight LED columns that eliminate the hassle of complex cabinet configurations while reducing installation time from days to hours and provide easy front-access for hassle-free maintenance. Designed to LastBeyond its exceptional visual performance, the innovative Flip-chip LED architecture maximizes brightness, enhancing both light efficiency and heat dissipation while Chip On Board (COB) technology delivers durability. The individual COB LEDs are fully encapsulated, strengthening them against detachment or breakage if the display is bumped. Ensuring reliability even in high-traffic environments, the FHDC135 is IP65 certified to withstand exposure to dust and water splashes. Optoma's FHDC135 energy-efficient design reduces power consumption by 40% compared to traditional SMD dvLEDs, making it a sustainable choice. Personalized ExperienceA built-in Android operating system with 64GB for local file storage and pre-installed apps with personalized options helps simplify setup, empowering administrators to add their own imagery for branding and ambiance, set custom display settings, and more. Rich AudioUnlike complex dvLED video walls, ProScene AIO dvLED displays feature built-in 120W speakers, delivering immersive sound for presentations, lectures or digital signage media. Expand the DisplayIntegration with the Optoma HQScene200 controller extends functionality such as PIP/PBP, splicing, Display Share and File Manager apps and 4K scaling for greater flexibility in display applications. Users can connect up to four sources for picture-in-picture and video conferencing, enhancing collaboration. In addition, the HQScene200 enables a larger visual experience by seamlessly combining two FHDC135 displays into a single, unified dvLED display. Value Added Software SolutionsOptoma's FHDC135 is compatible with Optoma Management Suite Cloud (OMSC) an intuitive remote display management solution to monitor, diagnose and control operations, using a cloud-based application. Remotely broadcast content including alerts, schedule digital signage, power on/off and more. Peace of MindOptoma offers a three year limited warranty for the FHDC135 along with extended care and warranty programs. To learn more, visit: About Optoma Technology, combines cutting-edge technology and innovation to deliver remarkable visual display products designed to connect audiences with engaging video experiences. From the company's ProScene projectors to its Creative Touch interactive, Professional LCD and dvLED displays, Optoma's suite of products can meet the demands of nearly any professional environment, including conference rooms and classrooms, digital signage, corporate, houses of worship, retail, simulation environments and control rooms. Optoma Technology is the U.S. headquarters for The Optoma Group, with continental headquarters also in Europe and Asia. For more information, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Optoma Technology Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data