California vs. the feds and the lobbyists

I've always thought it odd that the federal government thought it could dictate emission laws to California. Since it's Californians that are dying in their smog filled cities, it seems to me like they should be the ones to decide on their own state laws. Another federal judge evidently agrees with me:

In a major defeat for automakers, a federal judge in Fresno ruled Wednesday that California could set its own standards on greenhouse-gas emissions from vehicles. But the state still needs permission from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement the rules. "Both EPA and California . . . are equally empowered through the Clean Air Act to promulgate regulations that limit the emissions of greenhouse gases, principally carbon dioxide, from motor vehicles," U.S. District Court Judge Anthony W. Ishii said.

In a sign of the times, it's rightwing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger who's finding himself on the "left" of the current administration. Arnold called the ruling "another important victory in the fight against global warming," adding, "California and other states will prevail in our goal to take aggressive action on climate change."

California plans to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 30% from 2009 to 2016, under a plan passed in 2004. More power to them.