Posted on 07/18/2014 9:19:32 AM PDT by jazusamo
WASHINGTON — Only three months ago, Mary T. Barra arrived for the first time on Capitol Hill to apologize — publicly, profusely and personally — for General Motors’ long failure to recall millions of small cars.
On Thursday, Ms. Barra returned to Washington again, and this time, she drew the line.
As senator after senator offered more bruising criticism of G.M., Ms. Barra, G.M.'s chief, signaled that there were limits to what the automaker would do.
G.M., she said, will not expand its compensation program for victims. The company will not waive its protection from lawsuits gained in bankruptcy reorganization. It will not share more documents from its internal investigation. And she will not dismiss the company’s embattled general counsel, Michael P. Millikin, despite several senators’ calls to do so.
Ms. Barra showed lawmakers that after making broad changes to its practices and concessions to victims, G.M. was beginning to look beyond the scandal — a subtle but significant shift for the company as it tries to emerge from the gravest safety crisis in its history.
But many lawmakers were not satisfied with her answers, even as they grudgingly praised her leadership.
“You’ve provided answers that, I think, for me are unsatisfactory,” Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut and one of G.M.'s harshest critics, said.
Lawmakers were particularly incensed about revelations in an article in The New York Times on Tuesday that G.M. had responded to “death inquiries” from regulators about fatal accidents by saying that it did not know the cause — when in fact it had determined a likely cause — or by simply rebuffing the request altogether.
“I consider it a cover-up when a manufacturer does not respond fully and accurately,” Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat of California, said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Exclusive: Prosecutors' case against GM focuses on misleading statements
I am unclear on why Richard Blumenthal's or Barbara Boxer's 'satisfaction' is of any relevance. They are not acting in their capacity as stockholders, they are not members of the board of directors, they are not plaintiffs in a lawsuit, nor are they jurors in one.
They're senators, meddling in something that seems to me to be none of their business.
In the industry, there is a phrase, “five nines reliable”.
This particular part was better than five nines reliable. You can always make things better, but I don’t see a problem here. I’d have no problem owning one of these cars regarding this particular part.
Maybe the real problem is that all it takes to get a drivers license is the ability to fog a mirror.
And to be clear, I absolutely loathe GM.
Barra and GM legal counsel were testifying before the Senate subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance.
You’ve mentioned that many times in the past. Whether you see a problem or not it’s safe to say GM has a big problem and it will cost them big bucks.
I understand that.
But still... Also, I don't think I've played the driver error card until that post. ;-)
Congress could easily strip GM of their BS liability immunity. If Congress really wanted to. If Congress had any inclination whatsoever to act in the best interests of our citizens.
Yeah, I know ...
I fully understand what you’re saying and you make a fair point. :-)
I believe the really big bucks will cost them in fines due to the way this all transpired, right or wrong they tried sweeping it under the rug and got caught.
If they’d have come out and said they redesigned the switch when they did, recalled the cars for replacement then and settled any suits back then they wouldn’t be going through this now.
Dear Babs, Please see Supenas and responses from DOJ/Eric No See em Holder. Specificly his response to those issued on Fast and Furious.
From what I’ve read GM didn’t disclose this in the bankruptcy hearings which was required by law. That should shoot down their tactic about avoiding responsibility because of the “old and new” GM.
I’ve no idea what this will end up costing GM in the long run due to decreased sales but it will surely be a bunch, there’s tons of people who won’t touch a GM product now for many reasons.
Yes. I think the transparency thing is very good.
Um, yeah, I'm sure you do, Babs. But what do you call it when a politician or a government official doesn't respond fully and accurately?
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