Emissions debate heads into overdrive

After more than five hours of testimony from schoolchildren, global-warming activists and automakers, state Sen. Brian Simonaire still wasn't any closer to making a decision on tightening new car emissions.

"There's a lot of data to take in and there's competing data on both sides," Mr. Simonaire, R-Pasadena, said following the marathon hearing in Annapolis yesterday. "I see the merits on both sides of this."

Mr. Simonaire and his fellow lawmakers are considering a bill that would require new cars sold in Maryland to meet tougher standards for emissions. It's modeled after a California law and would go into effect in...