This week, pushed on by the recent Toyota recalls and runaway acceleration issues, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a new auto safety bill that would impose stricter standards on car makers. The bill now goes to the full House, where it could pass before the end of the year.
The vote, as all votes these days, was along party lines. Democrats were pushing the increased safety provisions for car buyers while Republicans were complaining about additional financial burdens on auto manufacturers to meet the new safety standards. Those standards are specifically to prevent unintended acceleration in vehicles.