Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Auto Rescue/Bailout Bill ready to go, GOP could still block in Senate]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/10/auto-rescue-bailout-bill-ready-to-go-gop-could-still-block-in-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/10/auto-rescue-bailout-bill-ready-to-go-gop-could-still-block-in-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/10/auto-rescue-bailout-bill-ready-to-go-gop-could-still-block-in-s/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Rescue, bailout, whatever you want to call it, the bill that would shovel about $15 billion in gov't loans to General Motors and Chrysler is being finalized as we speak. The stumbling block between Congressional Democrats and the White House has been the breadth of power that will be given to a Bush-appointed Car Czar and whether or not automakers will be able to continue their legal fight against the state of California, 17 other states and the EPA over stricter emissions standards.

It appears as if Democrats have conceded to the White House that the Car Czar will be given the power to force either GM or Chrysler into bankruptcy if they're unable to get additional concessions from the UAW and creditors on their own. Likewise, the administration also appears successful in getting Democrats to drop language in the bill that would force any automaker accepting government loans to drop their lawsuits against nearly 18 states pushing for stricter emissions standards.

The bill could be voted on in the House of Representatives as early as today, though may not be voted on in the Senate for several days until Democrats are certain they have the 60 votes required to block a filibuster by Republican senators who oppose it.

Stay tuned folks, as this thing is far from a done deal despite Democrats and the White House coming to an agreement. Senate Republicans now hold the fate of the Detroit 3 in their hands, and we'll know the outcome when the Rescue/Bailout bill hits the Senate floor.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press, Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty]

Auto Rescue/Bailout Bill ready to go, GOP could still block in Senate originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto bailout billauto rescue billAutoBailoutBillAutoRescueBilldemocratswhite houseWhiteHouseWed, 10 Dec 2008 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Aw Snap! Congressional Democrats undercut compromise bailout bill]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/20/aw-snap-congressional-democrats-undercut-compromise-bailout-bil/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/20/aw-snap-congressional-democrats-undercut-compromise-bailout-bil/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/20/aw-snap-congressional-democrats-undercut-compromise-bailout-bil/#commentsFiled under: ,

Wow, what an amazing piece of political theater that just went down. As we reported, four senators from auto producing state (two Democrats and two Republicans) led by Michigan Senator Carl Levin have reached an agreement on a compromise bailout bill for automakers. They were set to announce details of the compromise bill at 2:30PM, but before they could, a team of Congressional Democrats led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid walked into the room in which the press conference was to be held and announced that they didn't support the compromise bill and that CEOs of the Big 3 would have to come back after the Thanksgiving holiday and present a plan on how any loans that might be given would be used.

Back to that compromise bill. The big stalemate, other than whether U.S. automakers should get a bailout at all, is where the money would come from. Democrats want to take $25 billion from the $700 billion bailout fund for financial institutions while Republicans and the White House want to re-appropriate $25 billion in loans that have already been approved for investments in green technology. Levin revealed the compromise to be a version of the Republican's plan, with concessions made to Democrats in that certain environmental restrictions would remain in tact and that loan repayments would go directly back to replenish the $25 billion fund for green investments.

What do we take away from all this? The Big 3 will get no assurance of federal aid before Thanksgiving, and there's still no guarantee they'll get help after the break. The ball is again back in the court of the Big 3 CEOs, who need to show up in December with detailed plans of how each would use any federal aid. The Democrats are calling for "accountability" and "viability" in their proposals, which are due to Congress by December 2.

Aw Snap! Congressional Democrats undercut compromise bailout bill originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automaker bailoutAutomakerBailoutbailout billBailoutBilldemocratsrepublicansThu, 20 Nov 2008 15:16:00 EST<![CDATA[House drops revised fuel economy standards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/02/house-drops-revised-fuel-economy-standards/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/02/house-drops-revised-fuel-economy-standards/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/02/house-drops-revised-fuel-economy-standards/#commentsFiled under:



Yesterday, House Democrats withdrew two amendments to an energy bill in the House that would increase fuel economy standards significantly over the next 12 years. The bill, which is slated for debate this week, included a proposed increase in fuel mileage by close to 40-percent for both cars and SUV/light trucks. The goal was to revise the outdated fuel economy standards to 27.5 MPG for cars and 22.2 MPG for trucks and SUVs by 2019.

Ed Markey, D-Mass withdrew his amendment after a conversation with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, although Markey insisted that support on both sides of the aisle was enough to bring it to the President's desk. Surprised? We weren't either.

[Source: Detroit News]

House drops revised fuel economy standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>democratsed markeyEdMarkeyepaexpire-images:2008-7-31fuel economyFuelEconomyhousempgrepublicansrevised fuel economyRevisedFuelEconomysenateThu, 02 Aug 2007 09:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't vote party lines in '08, vote brand loyalty]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/13/dont-vote-party-lines-in-08-vote-brand-loyalty/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/13/dont-vote-party-lines-in-08-vote-brand-loyalty/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/13/dont-vote-party-lines-in-08-vote-brand-loyalty/#commentsFiled under:

Based on what most of our presidential candidates have said so far, it's too early to tell what sets them apart. So if we can't learn anything from what they say, maybe we can glean ideas on their governance from what they drive. Of thirteen candidates noted, seven Democrats have nine cars, and six Republicans also have nine cars. Of those 18 cars, five are hybrids -- three of them domestic hybrids. There are 7 SUV's (well, 6 and a Jeep Wrangler). Mitt Romney, estimated to be the richest candidate, is the only Republican on the list with a Ford product, and that's a Mustang. Barak Obama, who recently chastised American automakers about fuel economy, drives a 300C. It is Joe Biden (D), though, that we really want to know about: he drives a 1967 Corvette. Can somebody get Mr. Biden on the phone, please?

[Source: GM Inside News]

Don't vote party lines in '08, vote brand loyalty originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 May 2007 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>democratspartiespoliticalpoliticiansrepublicansSun, 13 May 2007 08:37:00 EST<![CDATA[The political winds may be shifting in Detroit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/the-political-winds-may-be-shifting-in-detroit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/the-political-winds-may-be-shifting-in-detroit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/the-political-winds-may-be-shifting-in-detroit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The political alliances in the Motor City have historically been rather black-and-white, with the UAW lining up alongside Democrats and management favoring the Republicans. Yes, one can find exception to these stereotypes, but the above comes as close as one can to describing 40-some years of voting behavior in one sentence. But the times are changing, and traditional alliances between the political parties and their supporters in the auto industry are increasingly stressed.

Most recently, the heads of the Big Three are said to be getting a bit miffed with the White House after receiving a third postponement of a scheduled meeting with President Bush. Additionally, we've heard recent requests from Ford's Mark Fields for "cooperation" between the automakers and government on health care, which can been seen as a position contrary to that of most conservatives. Bob Lutz has gone so far as to claim that he may vote for Hillary Clinton in 2008 as a means to protest the lack of support from Bush.

Keep in mind that the union isn't exactly getting a lot of support from those who have traditionally been in its corner, either. Dick Gephardt was said to be labor's favorite candidate in 2004, and we all know how far his campaign went.

It would seem as if the auto industry is no longer a priority for most politicians from both parties.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

The political winds may be shifting in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafedemocratsemissionsfuel economygovernmenthealth carehouselaborpresidentrepresentativesrepublicanssenateunionsus governmentFri, 23 Jun 2006 12:56:00 EST