Posted on 11/14/2008 1:07:12 PM PST by sickoflibs
Democrats in the Senate are scrambling to draft an auto industry relief bill that can win over skeptical Republicans when the measure comes up for a vote next week.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and supporters of the bill, which would extend $25 billion in emergency loans to the auto industry, are trying to round up the votes needed to break an expected filibuster. Reid plans to begin debate Monday and set up a test vote on Wednesday.
But Democrats will have to do a lot of arm-twisting before then. Supporters expect to need between 12 and 15 GOP votes to attach the measure to a $6 billion bill the House passed in October that would extend jobless benefits. So far, they have only one firm commitment, from Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio, a state with several auto plants and auto-supply manufacturers.
In a letter Friday to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Reid urged Republicans to reconsider their opposition.
"In my view, the adoption of a robust recovery package should be the top priority of the upcoming lame duck session," Reid wrote. "That is why I intend to seek consent on a bill to create jobs, prevent large tax increases and cuts in state services, strengthen our nation’s manufacturing sector, and assist those struggling to find a job."
Democrats could include items like extra stimulus measures and low-income heating assistance.
Jim Manley, Reid's spokesman, noted Thursday night that nothing can be done without the agreement of Senate Republicans.
Some Senate Republicans are skeptical the aid under the auto proposal would lead to changes by the companies that could make them viable in the long run. But several states with Republican senators have Big Three auto factories.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I voted for McCain actually. But it’s the last time I will ever vote for a Republican if they allow the big three to go under. When Republicans hate industry, it’s time for me to find a new party. I’m sorry , but there is something called economic patriotism. Buying foreign cars is bad for the country period. You may not like it; my words may not be politically correct but it’s true. In fact you are selling out your country and will destroy it in the end.
I only wish they would call it what it is..
THE AUTO UNION bailout
“I voted for McCain actually. But it’s the last time I will ever vote for a Republican if they allow the big three to go under. When Republicans hate industry, it’s time for me to find a new party.”
I think you should find a new party. Republicans are for industry and free markets. They are NOT for propping up bad business ideas (paying $70 per hour including benes to make POS cars.
Republicans may be for Japanese or European industry, but they are not for American industry. I can’t agree that they are for free markets after the financial bailout-kind of took the risk away for our friends in the banking industry and on Wall Street. I am a conservative (yeah and I still believe in the auto bridge loan). I can’t be a Republican anymore.
Perhaps you could explain how Toyota or Honda vehicles made in the US are “foreign” while Big Three vehicles made in Canada are American.
Yeah, the GOP is in a no win situation. Perhaps they might consider the welfare of this country. I don’t think millions of jobs losses will be good for a country in such a fragile economic condition. I guess it’s more important to win elections than prevent ‘economic messes’.
Bankruptcy=death of American automobile manufacturing industry. Other countries are laughing themselves silly at the stupid Americans-taking down their own industries.
People come to America because the rest of the world (forgive my use of words here) sucks. People are not going to stop wanting to coming here until we stop being a successful country.
How about we just stop trying to solve the problem and go back to the status quo? Some can keep on blowing a fuse over the problem, some can demand a secure border and total deportation, and others can keep on demanding open borders and millions more illegals.
Again, for the second time, I'm looking for solutions, not the doom and gloom ideas some have, and definitely not the same old tired ideas.
Border Patrol people say that ICE agents are needed much more than more border patrol agents.
When one agency fails at its job, lets blame the others lack of personnel. Great idea Border Patrol Agents! We could have a thousand new ICE agents, and it would not matter; if people are still coming over an unsecured border!!!!
Secondly, the government employs to many people as it is. More government agents. Yippee. Bigger government!!! Why not!!!
I do not have the solution to the problem. Congress is supposed to work for us. It is their job to come up with new ideas, compromises/and or solutions to solve a problem that the public needs fixed. As far as I am concerned, congress has failed in it's job, I've heard no new ideas regarding the matter, just the same old crap.
Really, my health plan doesn’t allow Viagra. I work for GM. Did you know that states decide if that sort of thing is included in a health plan? Did you know that?
Maybe you should read your health plan:
Here is the story:
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewarticle+articleid_2793440.html
GM is the largest purchaser of Viagra in the WORLD!!!
>>People are not going to stop wanting to coming here until we stop being a successful country.<<
Terrorists are not going to stop attacking us until they destroy us or we destroy them. Do you want to surrender to them too?
>>As far as I am concerned, congress has failed in it’s job,<<
Absolutely agree.
>>I’ve heard no new ideas regarding the matter, just the same old crap.<<
We have never seriously enforced the current workplace immigration laws we have, but you seem to be saying that we need shiny new laws (with amnesty linked in). With all due respect, that’s “the same old crap.” Amnesty made matters worse in 1986, and it would make matters much worse now.
Of course, a border fence is a good thing, but it’s not sufficient. Why not try serious, consistent, workplace enforcement, with enough agents to do the job, before discarding it?
>>When one agency fails at its job, lets blame the others lack of personnel. Great idea Border Patrol Agents! We could have a thousand new ICE agents, and it would not matter; if people are still coming over an unsecured border!!!!<<
Four thousand more ICE agents would be more like it. Right now they are outnumbered 10,000 to 1.
Let’s see. You think we can seal the border, but you don’t trust the people on the front lines. Quite frankly, I trust their judgment more than yours.
If you work for GM, then tell them that I bought a Toyota.
When they ask why, tell them that the transmission went out TWICE in my 98 Chevy Blazer during the first two years I owned it. The third time, they wouldn’t fix it cuz the gears weren’t grinding “bad enough.” They ignored my letters.
GM makes inferior products. It has to do this, in order to afford to pay some guy $70 per hour (figure includes benefits) to sweep the floor. AFter the guy sweeps the floor, he gets free Viagra.
Detroit is dead. No amount of money is going to save it. They are lucky to have lasted this long.
Sorry-you had problems. I hate hearing stuff like that. However, GM is rated higher than Toyota in terms of quality. You are talking about one car that you bought ten years ago. I had a Chevy blazer that I loved. It ran over 200,000 miles and was still running when I sold it.
I only wish they would call it what it is...the depression prevention bail out. The save American manufacturing bailout.
I don’t get viagra or many other name brand drugs. I have a traditional health plan-only one offered. I have a 2500 dollar deductible for family-750 for individuals. My plan pays nothing until these deductibles are met. They pay 90 % after the deductibles are met. Every plant has their own health plan and is dependent on state laws. Believe me, GM wants to provide only the minimum. I am grateful for this given the circumstances. Your article is meaningless to me. I get what GM provides. Keep pushing the BS-it’s quite popular here to hate American companies and love ,love foreign companies. You can hang with the popular American hating ‘kids’.
L
I would think that any agreement to help the auto industry should be accompanied by a NO ban or restrictions on drilling of oil in the language and agreed to by Obama in writing. Besides the Big 3 ineptness, the High price of fuel helped put them into this sitch. Additonally, it should call for renegotiation of ALL UAW contracts.
I did not think I needed to put a /sarc tag in there. Obviously, I did.
Let’s see. You think we can seal the border, but you don’t trust the people on the front lines. Quite frankly, I trust their judgment more than yours.
I was simply pointing out more government. Lets employ more people. Hello? Bigger government? Obviously, that little part of conservatism has escaped you for the moment.
Amnesty made matters worse in 1986, and it would make matters much worse now.
Stop living in the past. That was 22 years ago. And secondly, I have not said amnesty for all. I keep simply pointing out the fact, that deporting the entire illegal workforce is not practical. I do not have the answer, and neither do you.
Of course, a border fence is a good thing, but it’s not sufficient. It is a first step. It should have already been done. A fence or wall can not keep everyone out. If there is a will, there is a way. Having said that, it can keep a good amount of people out, hands down.
Let’s see. You think we can seal the border, but you don’t trust the people on the front lines. Quite frankly, I trust their judgment more than yours.
I do not care if you trust their judgment more than mine, nor is that the purpose of this discussion. To ignore the obvious fact of one agency blaming the other on the problem is mind boggling. Talk about not taking responsibility.
. I'm not taking the word of someone associated with an agency whose job it is to secure the border and who ultimately blames another agency for the problem. I also stated more government workers is not the answer, government is already to big.
Is the financial bail out constitutional? More BS-bail out the industry or prepare for a permanent minority status and possible a depression.
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