Wednesday, January 7, 2009

The auto industry is criticizing a decision by the Bush administration not to finish putting new fuel-economy rules into effect.

The administration decided instead to leave the issue to the incoming Obama administration.

In a statement, the Transportation Department said the financial troubles being faced by automakers will require the next administration to conduct a "thorough review."

But the auto industry says any delay in implementing the new rules could cost it some money. A spokesman says what the manufacturers need is some "certainty."

The head of an environmental group, Clean Air Watch, says it's "stunning" that the Bush administration would "walk away" from the issue -- after first putting forward a proposal that environmentalists said was not aggressive enough.