HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

Washington, Nov 21 - House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today wrote to newly-elected Chairman of the Energy & Commerce Committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), urging him to reconsider his support of legislation (H.R. 5560) that would allow his home state of California to impose stricter automobile regulations than the rest of the country.  Boehner expressed concern to Rep. Waxman that the legislation would further impede American automakers from competing effectively during this already difficult time for the industry.

Boehner wrote that H.R. 5560 “would effectively bar the American auto manufacturers from competing in the largest market in America, unless they make substantial changes in manufacturing that would increase costs to consumers, making the ‘Big 3’ even less competitive – and making their collapse even more likely.”

He continued, “This regulatory assault would come at a time when our struggling auto industry can least afford it.  With millions of jobs at stake and tens of billions of taxpayer dollars at stake, I am respectfully requesting your assurance that you will not use your new post to move this legislation through Congress.”

The full text of Boehner’s letter to Waxman is available here.