California Bill Would End State Purchases of SUVs

At a press conference, California State Treasurer Phil Angelides and Senate President ProTem John Burton proposed a law that would bar most California state agencies from buying SUVs. The bill would exempt state police and emergency services, but would force other agencies to justify an SUV purchase because of concerns over safety, cost, and the environment. The California fleet numbers about 73,000 vehicles, of which 7.5 percent to 10 percent are SUVs. The bill is expected to face a tough fight in the state’s legislature. Many California lawmakers have come under fire for driving taxpayer-provided, low-mileage SUVs.