As you know, today automakers lost their big lawsuit in Vermont — the judge ruled their their objections to higher tailpipe emission standards were, um, silly.

Now, the governors of 13 states have sent an open letter to the automakers. "We do not believe it is productive for your industry to continue to fight state implementation of clean tailpipe standards," they say.  "We would prefer to follow a path that encourages innovation, not litigation."

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You can read the full letter here (PDF).

At this point, if the Bush EPA denied California its waver, it would be as naked and open a sop to industry as anything in the last seven sordid years.