Earlier this month, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland were joined by 10 other states in an environmental law suit challenging the Bush administration’s conclusion that states have no business setting vehicle emission standards.

The long-expected suit was filed after EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson on Dec. 19 denied California a waiver it needs under the federal Clean Air Act to enforce its own law which sets tougher tailpipe standards than those established by the EPA.

New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania have all passed similar versions of the “California Car” law, claiming they were forced to act because of environmental foot-dragging in Washington under President Bush’s watch.

On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell plans to testify on Capitol Hill about greenhouse gases. The Patriot-News headline? Rendell to Gore it up on Capitol Hill.