Mary Clare Jalonick.

Senate Republicans have voted to establish a new precedent that will allow them to roll back clean air standards in California, including a rule phasing out the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. The winding series of Senate procedural votes that went late into Wednesday evening could have profound implications on California’s longstanding efforts to reduce air pollution. Republicans established a new, narrow exception to the Senate filibuster, and Democrats strongly objected to the move. The votes cleared the way procedurally for Republicans to bring up three House-passed resolutions that would block the rules. The Senate could pass the resolutions later this week.