"No" is not an energy policy

Another week, another lame excuse from Roy Blunt about why we shouldn't do anything that might adversely affect his oil and gas company supporters.

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, said Obama is setting GM and Chrysler up for failure by ramping fuel efficiency standards by 2016 from 27.5 miles per gallon to 42 miles per gallon for all cars.

"The president is right that we should have one standard. He's wrong in letting California set it," Blunt said, referencing the Golden State's higher standards meant to reduce air pollution. "To pursue this just to satisfy some political need is even worse than legislatively pursuing because you believe it's the right thing to do."

This may not have occurred to Blunt yet, but isn't it possible that raising fuel efficiency standards is the right thing to do?  Consumers will have cleaner, more efficient cars. We'll pay less for fuel, using less oil, creating less pollution.

Moreover, President Obama brought auto executives into the fold, who said "they were pleased with the first steps" of the President's plan for higher efficiency standards.

"Clearly over time, the president is going to continue to work toward an integrated energy policy in the United States, the consumer is going to be involved and we're all going to move forward, I believe, on this journey to energy independence, energy security and long-term stability," Ford CEO Alan Mulally told reporters at the White House.

The new policy sets a national standard -- as requested by the automakers -- that will reduce the amount of gas cars use and the amount of pollution they produce.  Why does Blunt think that's a bad idea?