Congress is voting this week whether to roll back states' authority to set their own, stricter clean car and truck emissions standards, which could hurt the country's electric vehicle market.

The vote comes as new data shows some Washington residents could save nearly $2,000 a year on gas by switching to EVs.

Rob Sargent, program director for the nonprofit Coltura, which focuses on accelerating the country's transition from gasoline to electric vehicles, said the vote could undermine EV availability, consumer savings and domestic EV manufacturing efforts already underway.

He added it is working people, not wealthy ones, who would benefit most from using EVs and their tax credits.

"They're contractors driving 150 miles daily between job sites, rural drivers, trades people and working families who live where housing is more affordable and jobs are further away," Sargent outlined.

Coltura found in Central Washington, people who drive more than 25,000 miles per year spend more than $8,000 a year on gas, or 20% of their income. Critics of EVs pointed to battery production and disposal costs, among other factors, as reasons to limit their adoption.

Sargent explained the U.S. has already invested billions in expanding charging infrastructure as well as domestic manufacturing of EVs. Production incentives also came with policies to boost consumer demand, such as tax credits for EV purchases. He added removing tax credits could cause EV sales to drop by nearly 30%.

"Those declining EV sales would hurt consumers but it would also undercut the investments we've made in EV manufacturing across the country," Sargent contended.

For decades, the Clean Air Act has allowed states to adopt stricter vehicle emissions standards than federal requirements. Sargent added about 10 states, including Washington, have consistently pushed manufacturers to produce cleaner vehicles, including EVs.



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The Trump administration is pushing to gut the top U.S. consumer watchdog agency, which alarms some advocacy groups in Arizona.

What's known in Congress as the "One Big Beautiful Bill" would reduce the budget for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by 70%.

Alex Alvarez, executive director of the advocacy group Progress Arizona, thinks the move will only hurt hardworking Arizonans. Since its creation in 2010, the agency has investigated complaints and created new rules to ensure financial transparency, prevent fraud and hold companies accountable. The bureau saw a 92% increase in complaints between 2023 and 2024, which Alvarez said speaks to the important work being done.

"People are working harder than ever before, are seeing rising costs," Alvarez pointed out. "And instead of giving any kind of support, this Congress is trying to aid the Trump administration's assault on the CFPB, which has returned $21 billion to defrauded consumers in the form of restitution or canceled debts."

Last year, the agency finalized a rule closing a loophole which had allowed financial institutions to reap major profits from overdraft fees. It capped the fees at $5 per overdraft, which the agency claimed would save consumers $5 billion a year.

Last month, Congress voted to overturn the rule. Conservatives argued the bureau imposes unacceptable costs on businesses. The House approved the 2026 budget bill last Thursday, moving it to the Senate for consideration.

Alvarez argued while the bureau is strict, the agency advocates for all consumers and their hard-earned money. He contended they should be able to rely on the government to help keep businesses in check.

"We are asking for the Senate to vote 'no' on the reconciliation bill and protect the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the watchdog that protects hardworking families from financial abuse, predatory lending products and financial fraud," Alvarez emphasized.

Alvarez added Arizonans can reach out to their elected officials to share their views on potential reforms and future of the agency.


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A recent scam using fake Indiana government email addresses is prompting a broader warning to Hoosiers.

The messages claimed to involve unpaid tolls and tricked some people into clicking on links where their personal information could be stolen. Investigators traced the emails to a former state contractor's account which should have been shut down.

Isak Nti Asare, executive director of the Indiana University Cyber Security Clinic, said the breach shows why Indiana must treat cyber defense as essential.

"Cyber security should always be a big thing for us," Nti Asare emphasized. "Not because we're reacting to news of incidents and attacks and vulnerabilities but rather just because understand that in order for us to thrive in the digital age as Hoosiers, we need cyber security."

He added it was not just a contractor mistake; it reflects the need for stronger systems and better planning statewide.

Nti Asare pointed out cyber threats happen constantly, not just when headlines appear. He urged people to stop and think before responding to messages that feel urgent or unusual.

"If somebody bumped into you in the street and said, 'Hey, give me your credit card details.' You would go, 'What?' You'd say, 'OK. Show me a badge. Do you have a warrant?'" Nti Asare explained. "We need to be as cautious as you would be in the physical realm, if not really much more, actually."

Indiana's attorney general urged people to report suspicious emails at IndianaConsumer.com. Experts recommended using multifactor login tools, freezing credit reports when needed and changing passwords regularly.


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Consumer rights advocates are celebrating five bills that passed the First Chamber deadline in Salem, moving closer to becoming law.

The bills are supported by the Consumer Alliance of Oregon, a coalition of 18 advocacy groups spanning housing, health care and other sectors. The bills mark the Alliance's first legislative push to protect Oregonians from predatory business practices.

Daysi Bedolla Sotelo, advocacy and policy strategist for the Oregon Health Equity Alliance, highlighted one bill which would rein in hospital facility fees and require transparent patient billing.

"Right now, you go and seek care and then you get home and get the bill and it's surprising that it could be up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in facility fees," Bedolla Sotelo explained.

Another bill would bring the state's insurance sector under Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act. The change would help guarantee insurance companies, including auto, health and housing, do not deny claims unfairly. Currently, insurance is the only major Oregon industry not subject to the law.

On a federal level, House Republicans are considering reducing the funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the agency responsible for shielding Americans from predatory lending practices and fraud.

Ethan Livermore, economic justice organizer for the nonprofit Neighborhood Partnerships, said Oregon lawmakers need to step up and fill in the gaps.

"With so much uncertainty at the federal level, I think Oregon legislators have a really amazing opportunity to make sure that Oregonians are protected," Livermore contended.

Other bills backed by the Alliance would shield Oregonians from medical debt harming their credit scores and guarantee fair rates when buying a car.

Bedolla Sotelo emphasized since everyone is a consumer, consumer protections should be a nonpartisan issue.

"It doesn't matter where you live, you are being affected by all of these issues," Bedolla Sotelo noted. "Oftentimes, we don't think about them until it happens to us."


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