The Bush administration is uncharacteristically siding with liberal lobbyists against consumers in its plans announced this week to force automakers to increase the fuel efficiency of minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles by 2011. The high price of gasoline in current dollars, America’s reliance on oil, and global warming are the excuses given by those who have been encouraging the administration to interfere in the free market. It’s just surprising that a president who stands strong on the world stage against the injustice of Kyoto buckling domestically to doomsayers.

The administration is trying to play up the changes as being in the interest of consumers. Transportation Secretary Mineta, a Democrat, said: “This plan will save gas and result in less pain at the pump for motorists, without sacrificing safety.” But if the administration really were putting the interests of motorists first, it would eliminate gasoline taxes. It would allow motorists to choose how efficient a car to buy and not engage in paternalism. If consumers wanted to save money, or were concerned about the environment, they would buy cars that consume less fuel.

And many do. As we reported last month, automakers are competing to produce environmentally friendly cars. Manufacturers are introducing new lines of hybrid cars that raise fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Ideally, this would be because consumers signal demand for such cars and so manufacturers supply it. Not because of government interference. As for safety – part of the safety, and appeal, of SUVs is in their weight. To increase the average miles a gallon, weight, other things being equal, must be reduced.

Interference in the free market is likely to result in higher prices for consumers, as the National Highway Traffic Safety administrator, Jeffrey Runge, all but admitted. “Our proposal asks automakers for the first time to focus their technology on increasing fuel efficiency across their entire fleets, rather than only in their least economical models,” he said. The Transportation Department estimated that making the changes will cost automakers $6.3 billion. Guess who’s going to bear this price.

Politically, the president isn’t helping himself with environmentalists anyway. Many won’t be satisfied until cars are replaced by Birkenstocks. On cue, after the administration announced its reforms, the environmental lobby denounced the changes as “inadequate” and “limited.”

The only good news for consumers in Tuesday’s announcement was that the changes aren’t law yet. The Transportation Department gave the public 90 days to respond to the proposals. The best response would be one from the president saying he’s rethought the plans and has decided to put America’s consumers first and trust the free market.