Bill for stiffer car emissions standard defeated
by The Associated Press
 
ST. PAUL -- A state Senate committee has defeated a bill to put Minnesota on course for adopting California-style car emissions standards.

A 10-7 vote by the Senate Business, Industry and Jobs Committee means it will be almost impossible for supporters of the strict emissions standard to enact a law for it this year.

There's an outside chance the House sponsors could use procedural motions to get around the Senate committee setback.

The bill would have required that new cars and light trucks sold in the state emit 30 percent fewer greenhouse gases by the year 2016. More than a dozen states have adopted the standard, but so far, the federal government has blocked its implementation.