Bush to Meet With U.S. Automakers (AP)

[OhioChick]

By KEN THOMAS 11.14.06, 2:35 AM ET

Detroit-based auto industry leaders are meeting with President Bush to press their concerns about health care and trade issues, while making clear that the troubled industry does not want a federal bailout.

General Motors Corp. (nyse: GM - news - people ) Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, Ford Motor Co. (nyse: F - news - people ) Chief Executive Alan Mulally and Tom LaSorda, president and chief executive officer of DaimlerChrysler AG (nyse: DCX - news - people )'s Chrysler Group, were sitting down with Bush on Tuesday after months of scheduling conflicts and delays.

They stress they do not want a bailout similar to the 1979 measure approved by Congress that helped preserve Chrysler Corp. Instead, they want to talk about the spiraling costs manufacturers face on health care, the advantages Japanese automakers have because of a weak yen and their work to develop alternative fuel vehicles.

"We're not going into this meeting seeking specific relief for our industry," said GM spokesman Greg Martin. "We understand that we have to win in the marketplace but there are issues of national importance like health care and trade that affect the competitive balance."
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/11/14/ap3171042.html

[orpupilofnature57]

1. What to show them how their a big part of the War, or to bail them out

AGAIN! If Farmers were treated the same through history they'd be rich and we'd be healthier.

[zbdent]

5. To make it a presidential order that they get out of their contracts

with their workers (much like the airline that did so), like their pension funds and health care coverage ...

[Kolesar]

2. Should have gone with President Clinton's health care plan in 1993

Instead, the automakers closed ranks with the republicans who were looking out for the insurance and health care giants.

Note: the Big Three have 800,000 retirees, the foreign companies operating in America have 1000 retirees.

[NOLADEM]

3. Uh oh, we must be about to bomb South Korea and Japan

and they are divying up the factories.


:sarcasm:

[jody]

4. Don't want a bailout, just want taxpayers to assume responsibility for retirement programs. After

congress does that Ford and GM could easily regain their position as leading manufacturers.

The difference is Chrysler repaid its loan but GM and Ford want a gift not a loan!

[Auggie]

7. Absolutely -- and I bet you retirees will get screwed in the process

[Donnachaidh]

6. georgie ordering vehicles for Paraguay?

[stepnw1f]

8. "Keep Building Gas Guzzlers..."

"there still are enough men with small penises looking for an ego boost. They don't mind the absurd gas mileage."

[Eugene]

9. Reuters: Bush offers U.S. automakers no specific help

Bush offers U.S. automakers no specific help

By Caren Bohan and John Crawley
ReutersReuters

Nov 14, 2006 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S.-based automakers left a White House
meeting on Tuesday without specific promises of help and doubtful that President
George W. Bush shared their concern that Japan manipulates its currency to their
disadvantage.

Battered by declining market share and high costs, the chief executives of General
Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler unit pressed their
agenda for lower health care costs, help in developing a market for alternative
fuels, and action on their complaints of unfair trade practices.

-snip-

The auto chiefs said the meeting, also attended by U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry
Paulson, did find common ground on a number of other topics. These included the
need to address high health care costs and boost production of alternative-fueled
vehicles to lessen U.S. energy independence.

-snip-

Full article: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2653342