Obama puts his stamp on auto emissions policy - reversing Bush position

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Pledging a new push for energy independence,
President Barack Obama signed a memorandum Monday requiring the Environmental
Protection Agency to reconsider an application by California to set its own
auto emissions and fuel efficiency standards beyond what is called for by
federal law.

If the EPA grants a waiver allowing California to set its own emissions
standards, the nation's largest state will be allowed to require automakers to
produce trucks and cars that get better mileage than what is required under the
current national standard.

"It will be the policy of my administration to reverse our dependence on
foreign oil," Obama said. Increasing fuel efficiency, he said, is a key step
in preventing America "from being held hostage" to hostile regimes and the
threat of global warming.

"I am fearful that today's action will begin the process of setting the
American auto industry back even further," replied Sen. George Voinovich,
R-Ohio, in a written statement. "The federal government should not be piling on
an industry already hurting in a time like this."

Former President George W. Bush's administration rejected California's
application, agreeing with automakers that the creation of another set of rules
regarding pollution standards for some states would be confusing and
unenforceable.