Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 106

Editorial V4 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2002 The Arizona Republic The opinion of The Arizona Republic CONGRESS MUST PUSH FOR ECONOMICAL VEHICLES GAG ON ENRON INFORMATION IS INDEFENSIBLE Napolitano testimony deserves to be heard Fuel standards are best oil foil ii to seek to muzzle a public official is a ludicrous request, a breathtaking arrogance. The insidious infringement is compounded by the fact that the matters of discussion are already in the Janet Napolitano contribute to global warming. The House energy bill passed in August made only a token improvement in CAFE standards. Now the Senate has a chance to do better. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation is considering whether to tighten CAFE standards.

As ranking Republican member of the committee, Arizona's Sen. John McCain is playing a key role in the decision. A top priority should be closing the loophole that allows SUVs to be classified as trucks, which have far more lenient fuel standards. The National Academy of Sciences suggests some overhauls of the CAFE system that deserve careful consideration: Setting up a way to trade fuel-economy credits, which would give auto companies more flexibility in meeting standards. Basing economy standards on vehicle weight, with higher targets for heavier vehicles.

That would create incentives to reduce the variances between large and small vehicles, improving overall safety. Congress must resist pressure from the Big Three of the U.S. Imagine a rag stuffed down the throat of Arizona's attorney general, Janet Napolitano, the person you elected to defend your rights and prosecute the criminals. Preposterous? Laughable? Or perhaps an ugly throwback to the Wild West when enforcing the law was one of the most dangerous jobs around? Not so to the accounting firm Arthur Andersen, which is already part of a congressional inquiry into the collapse of Enron Corp. and its role in shredding documents and covering up the true financial health of the bankrupt energy giant.

Napolitano has offered to testify about similarities in Andersen's conduct in its dealings with Enron and other companies that the Arizona Attorney General's Office has investigated infamous names that need no explanation: Baptist Foundation of Arizona, Charles Keating's American Continental Corp. and its subsidiary, Lincoln Savings and Loan. Andersen doesn't want Napolitano to testify because, a company lawyer says, Napolitano's testimony would be prejudicial to any jury pool convened in Andersen's defense in the Baptist Foundation of Arizona case. The state has sued Andersen for accounting fraud in its role as auditors of the foundation that went bankrupt and cost 12,000 investors almost $600 million. The motion to restrict the public comments of Napolitano and others is an assault on the First Amendment and free speech.

To public record. They aren't privileged nor are they confidential. Right now, it's hard to talk about Enron without mentioning the Arthur Andersen account-, ants who put the energy trader's money-losing investments off the books, artificially inflating the company's worth. That will play out in Washington and reverberate across the nation, with or without Napolitano's testimony. But Congress, if it's to do a thorough investigation, owes it to the nation to take testimony from witnesses who have credible information to offer.

Napolitano is surely one who does. Arthur Andersen deserves a fair trial in the Baptist Foundation of Arizona case and deserves to be judged by an impartial jury. There are procedures to ensure an untainted jury pool. Attorneys can dismiss from service those who have made up their minds or otherwise have a predetermination. A fair trial isn't a stretch of the imagination, and it can be most assuredly accomplished without gagging Arizona's attorney general.

The motion before the court is indefensible. It should be rejected, and the sooner the better. Imagine a wonderful tool that saves you money, cuts smog and reduces America's dependence on foreign oil. But you don't need to imagine. We already have this tool: fuel efficiency standards for autos.

Without these standards, the United States would use an extra 2.8 million barrels of oil every day. That amounts to 14 percent of our current consumption. Too bad we've let this tool get so rusty. Fuel standards, known by the acronym CAFE, haven't changed in more than a decade. For the last six years, Congress has prohibited the Department of Transportation from tightening the standards or even studying them.

The Sept. 11 attacks were a tragic reminder that America must bolster its security. A top priority should be reducing our reliance on foreign oil, which ac-" counts for more than half of our oil supply. With only 3 percent of the world's oil reserves, we can't drill our way out of this mess. But we can use oil a lot more efficiently.

As a matter of fact, that's just what Congress realized in 1975, when it passed the original CAFE legislation. (The term stands for Corporate Average Fuel Economy.) Automakers responded by improving the efficiency of engines, drive trains and vehicle aerodynamics and improving overall fuel economy 62 percent from 1975 to 1984. Just by using existing technology, says the National Academy of Sciences, we can make significant cuts in fuel consumption in the next 15 years. And new technologies are on the horizon. The payoff, notes the academy, includes reduced emissions of "greenhouse gases," mostly carbon dioxide, that are likely to auto industry, which are fighting higher standards tooth and nail.

And no wonder. They've made little effort to reduce the gas-guzzling appetites of their light trucks, which just barely meet CAFE standards. Japanese manufacturers, on the other hand, are building vehicles that exceed the standards for trucks. Even as a corporate strategy, this seems shortsighted. When the next oil price shock comes, as it inevitably will, which companies" will have the better technology to produce efficient vehicles? Automakers also throw out a red herring.

They say that meeting tighter CAFE standards would force them to slow down the research on getting away from oil entirely by powering vehicles with fuel cells that use hydrogen. First of all, fuel-cell technology is hardly around the corner. And this isn't a case of "either-or." Indeed, it makes sense for the government to continue funding fuel-cell research. Foes of higher CAFE standards have a final trump card: safety. Arizona's Republican Sen.

Jon Kyi, for one, objects that vehicles aren't as safe if they're made lighter to improve fuel economy. But much of the technology to reduce gas consumption, such as hybrid gas-electric engines and altered tire design, has nothing to do with auto weight. As Clarence M. Ditlow, director of the Center for Auto Safety, points out, the Honda Civic weighed 1,800 pounds in the mid-1970s and got 32 mpg. Now it weighs 2,600 pounds and gets 40 mpg.

"America is a can-do place. Can we run our cars and trucks more efficiently? Of course. How to be heard Arizona's senators should support legislation to improve the fuel standards of vehicles. Here's how to let them know where you stand: Sen. Jon Kyi, Phoenix office: (602) 840-1891; fax, (602) 840-4848.

In Washington, D.C., (202) 224-4521. For e-mail, go to this Web site: kyl.senate.govconform.htm Sen. John McCain, Phoenix office: (602) 952-2410; fax, (602) 952-8702. In Washington, D.C., (202) 224-2235. For e-mail: SenatorMcCainMcCain.senate.gov The Arizona Republic Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper, whose Editorial Board consists of Keven Ann Willey, Phil Boas, Richard de Uriarte, Jennifer Dokes, Kathleen Ingley, Doug MacEachern, Joel Nilsson, 0, Ricardo Pimentel, Robert Robb, Laurie Roberts, Paul Schatt, Linda Valdez, Ken Western and Steve Benson.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tough love' for east side Instead of uprooting people from their homes to build a stadium, why don't you just raze Symphony Hall, Civic Plaza and the Herberger Theater and put the stadium there? zona, the Superstition Mountains. Now in order to access them hikers must negotiate traffic congestion, traffic lights and row after row of housing that used to be wild desert lands. Oh, yeah, we're really sorry that you have to endure heavy traffic for a few weeks. Of course, we're ready to shell out an extra $67 million so you are not to inconvenienced. Not! George Pfundheller Phoenix A village of volunteers Regarding President Bush's push for volunteers: Is Bush saying, "It takes a Barbara Buedel Glendale Hayworth right on track The Republic's editorial on congressional support of a cross-town light rail system is a perfect example of the paper's annoying habit of shooting first, asking questions later transit help is deficient," Thursday).

While I can't speak for others in the delegation, I have been a very strong supporter of this project (despite personal misgivings about the efficacy of a light rail system as well as the fact that as a nation at war we may be forced to change our priorities) and any assertion to the contrary is false. Back on April 5, 2001, I wrote to the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies requesting funding for the project. In August of that year, I met with over 30 members of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce on this very issue, discussing strategy We started to talk. I found out that she was a teacher buying supplies for her class. Her district (Alhambra) was out of money and so they could not pay for more supplies.

"But this is January!" I said. "You still have four months to go!" "I know," she replied: "It's like this every year. We just plan on it. Part of our paycheck goes back into the classroom. That's teaching!" I get outraged when see how hard teachers work, how much time they put in and how little they receive in compensation, both monetarily and in prestige.

Classes are too big, supplies are short, facilities are lacking. We can't expect teachers to do it all; we must be willing to support them completely. Joyce Beal Staehle Peoria We're sooooo sorry! Regarding the people in Gold Canyon Ranch who say they are being put out by the extra traffic on U.S. 60 caused by the Renaissance Fair every February: Excuse me, but that road used to be unfettered access to the eastern part of our state. Now because of excessive housing and golf courses in these developments, people traveling to Globe, Florence, Safford and other points east have to contend with lights and traffic delays 365 days of the year.

State lands that we thought would always be protected were usurped by developers greedy for dollars and mostly retirees looking for cheap housing close to one of the most spectacular areas in Ari has been modified to enable the flag to be displayed overnight without direct illumina-tipn if there is a building light nearby (such as a porch or carport light). This nearby light now serves as an indication that the person or entity is paying proper respect to displaying our flag. We invite anyone to call us regarding proper flag etiquette weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at (602) 253-8431.

John Kent Phoenix The writer is with American Legion Post 1. Landmark idea absurd Suggesting that Phoenix needs to build a landmark, such as Seattle's Space Needle or the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, is absurd. Writers have pointed to Camelback Mountain as a majestic monument that nature gave Phoenix. What man-made structure could be more beautiful than this, one that stands out whether you see it from the ground or while flying over in an airplane? As a native Arizonan who was born in Phoenix, I resent people who move here and want to change my state's already gorgeous face.

If these people want to contribute, then why not help save a landmark by donating money to help move St. Mary's Elementary School to another site so that it will have a future as the Valley Youth Theatre? My check is in the mail. Karen Despain Prescott Editor's note: The campaign to move St. Mary's Elementary School fell far short last week of the goal of raising $2.5 million. The proposal by state Rep.

Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, to create a new county in the East Valley has merit. The East Valley is growing at an alarming rate, both physically and in population. Mesa now experiences the growing pains of a major population center and must learn to deal with its adolescence. As individuals come of age, they heed to understand the "qui(J pro quo" among peers. As a lifelong resident of the West Valley, I have become increasingly tired of hearing negative remarks tarnishing the image of any community west of Arizona 143.

Any attempts to award the Cardinals stadium to the West Valley or any other profit center is tainted with cries of societal bigotry. Phoenix and the west side remain the industrial bastions of Maricopa County. Will the East Valley appreciate the loss of this tax revenue base? Watch east-side property taxes soar even higher. With growing pains comes the responsibility of maturity. It is time for these rebellious youths to grapple with reality.

Let them have their own county. Let them fend for themselves. Experts call it "tough love." I just say, Brad Murphy Peoria Supply-side teaching Last week in Wal-Mart a woman behind me in line was buying protractors, lots of and again pledging my support. On Sept. 10, 2001, 1 sent yet another formal request to appropriators for project, funding.

And The Republic has to ask where I am on this issue? Maybe if The Republic didn't routinely ignore the work of its congressional delegation it might know. J.D. Hayworth Washington, D.C. The writer, a Republican, represents Arizona's 6th Congressional District. More Enron outrage With great disbelief, I read the recent story "Enron failure hits Bush family." Is our president so out of touch with reality that he cannot discern the difference between Enron employees who were not allowed to sell their 401(k) shares and lost millions, while Bush's mother-in-law had complete control over her buysell decision? I wonder if mom-in-law was taking the advice of analysts who told her to buy Enron stock at the same time Bush's buddy "Kenny Boy" made millions in insider trading? I suppose the public will never know the real story about our president's involvement in this scandal, considering who is boss at the Department of Justice.

And, 20 years from now, when another Republican president may be in office, he or she just may invoke executive privilege and seal W's papers (just like he did for his father) to hide any involvement with Enron, one of his largest campaign contributors. Howard Israel Phoenix A sporty downtown As an observer of Valley life for six months of the year, I am amused and bemused by the continual stadium fuss. Why is The Republic pushing so hard for a downtown location in the face of community flak? Instead of uprooting people from their homes to build a stadium, why don't you just raze Symphony Hall, Civic Plaza and the Herberger Theater and put the stadium there? You could rebuild the cultural facilities at 40th Street and McDowell Road. Then, we non-sports fans would have no reason whatever to go into town, and downtown Phoenix can morph into one giant sports venue. Phil DeLeo Sun Lakes Lighting up the flag Regarding the question by Robert Morris of Sun Lakes about taking down the American flag at night if not lighted: Since Sept.

11 flag protocol TOT? A PT7nTA RI7PT TRT JC JON HELD, TOM CALLINAN, GASPER GENOVESE, We welcome letters of up to 200 words on any YOUR VOICE COUNTS II IE mAAY IUA KjliLAV Executive vj: chief Hmncial officer Editor Wee indent too topic. Ttiey may be edited for clarity and length. E-MAIL- visit in nui iup LEON LEVITT, KEVEN ANN WILLEY, BOB KOTWASINSKI, Utters must include your name, address and a opinionsarizonarepublic.com You ca cuen and oast mcorporanng rnoeniia Executive VP Online Services Editor of the Editorial Pages Ma PresidentProduction daytime phone number. If your letter IS selected MAii. WU can nnp current and past SUE CLARK-JOHNSON, JAMES A DIAZ IflvlriA IJI, for publication, we will notify you.

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