Senate votes to undo California plan to ban gas cars, sidestepping parliamentarian

The Senate voted Thursday to strip California of its ability to set strict vehicle emissions standards aimed at phasing out gas-powered cars, circumventing the chamber’s parliamentarian to send the measure to President Donald Trump’s desk.

In a 51-44 vote, the Senate voted to cancel waivers granted to California by the Environmental Protection Agency. These waivers gave the state the ability to set regulations banning the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035, which critics have likened to an electric vehicle mandate. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) was the only Democrat who voted in favor, while several others did not participate.