Some infuriating reporting reveals the the Environmental Protection Agency is actually blocking automobile emissions standards by California and 16 other states. This just goes to show that even though the United States signed onto the Bali pact last week, agreeing to reduce emissions by 2012, that commitment isn't backed up in any real way by this administration. These states are willing to put forth enforcement on their own, but for the first time the EPA -- the part of the government designed to protect the environment -- blocked an initiative in conflict with the Clean Air Act.

Those lobbying against the initiative, primarily automakers, are thrilled. They say it would be "too difficult" to adhere to different standards in different states. Perhaps then they should just meet the lowest emissions standard and sell those in the rest of the states as well.