Kay is for Obama's national CAFE standards? WTF?

Some disturbing news from the San Angelo Standard Times about Kay's support for President Obama's national fuel economy standards (link). Excerpt follows...

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas: “A national fuel economy standard will help resolve the fundamental problem of requiring the auto industry to comply with multiple and disparate fuel economy standards, and it will prevent associated costs from being passed down to consumers. This is a step in the right direction that could provide certainty and predictability for our auto manufacturers when they need it most. However, it is vital that this standard be carefully implemented so it does not adversely impact American consumers and workers.”

Check out what some Texas Republican House members said in contrast...

San Angelo’s congressman, U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland, of the 11th Congressional District: “The idea that President Obama intends to have all automobiles manufactured in the U.S. operate at 35.5 miles per gallon is unrealistic and will have adverse effects on consumers. Not only is the cost per vehicle expected to rise by $1,300 under this plan, but it would only decrease greenhouse gases by one half of one percent. Cars could also prove to be less safe, as they would be made from lighter, more fragile materials to decrease the cost of production and offset gasoline prices. This is bad policy, and it is my hope that my colleagues will agree.”

U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, of the 19th Congressional District: “Farms and ranches have several essential tools; one of them is a powerful truck they can rely on to get the job done. While I praise the administration for providing the automobile industry with a clear, national standard, my concern is this is a potentially unattainable standard which could bring undue harm to the agricultural community with this accelerated mandate. I believe the administration cannot continue to tinker with the economy and enact standards that will place greater burden on hardworking Americans, stifle the economy and hinder an already struggling automotive industry.”

U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, of the 13th Congressional District: “I am leery of centralized planning, and when you get the president and all these car company CEOs (chief executive officers) and all these regulators up there agreeing on a great plan that they’re going to impose on everybody, it raises doubts in my mind. I think it would be far better to let the market work, and if people want to pay in $5,000 more for a car that gets 35 miles to the gallon, then they’ll do that. ... What this will do is it will increase the cost of vehicles for everybody, and I think that’s government making decisions for us.”

How is this smart at all? Texas has manufacturing plants for big cars like the Toyota Tundra, which will be directly hurt by higher national fuel economy standards. Texas has a lot of rural people who like their trucks and SUVs. Texas is not a tiny car state.

The outrage against these new standards is palpable amongst conservatives, so taking the other side is extremely dangerous for Kay. I don't really understand her logic for doing this.