President Barack Obama is pushing stronger curbs on greenhouse gases, saying he wants to make it easier for states such as California to adopt tougher fuel-efficiency rules than the federal standard.
Obama told a White House gathering that "America will not be held hostage to dwindling resources." He said the government must work with the states -- not against them -- on tougher fuel standards for cars and trucks.
He said California and several other states have tried to come up with tougher emission standards but that "Washington stood in their way."
Obama said Monday that he now wants the Environmental Protection Agency to take a second look at decisions denying permission for states to have the higher standards.