You have likely read in your morning paper that late yesterday the Senate passed major energy legislation. News reports tout the accomplishments of Democrats in fending off industry influence and mandating an increase in CAFE standards — the national program regulating passenger vehicle fuel efficiency. However, a damaging provision in the bill has remained under the radar. The Senate bill would require federal regulators to abide by a cost-benefit analysis before promulgating new fuel efficiency regulations. This is a substantial departure from the decades old CAFE program which, while outdated by current standards, recognized the crucial benefits of fuel efficiency regardless of costs. OMB Watch reported on this issue in May. Find out more about the Senate's cost-benefit provision and the arguments against it: Cost-Benefit Provision Latches onto Fuel Economy Standard