Senators hit Bush administration for not raising car fuel economy

Senators criticized the Bush administration's proposal to upgrade fuel economy standards for passenger vehicles on Tuesday, contending the plan lacks the necessary urgency.

"I sense a great deal of foot-dragging, reluctance and frankly ... bureaucratic obstacles in this whole process," said Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine. She added, "I don't think we can afford to rely upon bureaucratic passivity, frankly, and I think that's what we've got here."

Several senators said the White House plan fails to aggressively push automakers to improve the number of miles a car can get on a single gallon of gasoline. They noted that standards for passenger cars have remained stagnant for the past 20 years and many cited the need to demand swift numerical increases in the requirements.

"We've been talking now for the last four to five years and as we've talked, nothing has changed," said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing.

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