Here’s a great Follow-the-Money story in this morning’s Wall Street Journal about the battle between the car manufacturers and consumer and environmental groups over the new fuel-economy regulations being draft by NHTSA. The agency was given the task of drafting rules that will set industry wide average fuel-mileage standards for cars and trucks to at least 35 miles per gallon.

Wonder who will win? Money is likely to be some indicator. According to CRP numbers, the automotive industry has been nearly $500 million on lobbying in the last 10 years; the environmental community spent approximately r $90 million in the same period. When it comes to campaign contributions, the environmentalists have given some $18 million in political contributions while the automotive industry has given some $128 million.

Let’s all follow-the-money.