BOOSTING FUEL EFFICIENCY: Kerry: Billions for car industry

[papau]

How is Senator Kerry's planned announcement tonight of a "$10-billion plan to dramatically reduce America's dependence on Middle Eastern oil" going over in Detroit, a place where this is a "topic that typically angers automakers"? Surprisingly well, judging by the headlines in the Detroit Free Press:

http://www.freep.com/news/politics/cafe29_20040729.htm


BOOSTING FUEL EFFICIENCY: Kerry: Billions for car industry

Plan's goal: Cut dependence on oil; keep U.S. jobs
July 29, 2004

BY JEFFREY MCCRACKEN AND RUBY L. BAILEY
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS

BOSTON -- Framing it as a national security and foreign-policy concern rather than an environmental one, Sen. John Kerry in his much-anticipated speech tonight is expected to call on the nation and auto industry to support a $10-billion plan to dramatically reduce America's dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

As Kerry made a triumphant arrival in Boston and his running mate, John Edwards, accepted the party's nomination, Democrats said Kerry is likely to avoid mention of increasing mandatory fuel-efficiency standards for the auto industry -- a topic that typically angers automakers and the UAW alike. Instead, he will focus on offering automakers billions of dollars over 10 years to alter their auto plants to build more fuel-efficient vehicles.

The catch is that the money could only go toward new or renovated auto-assembly plants in the United States, a proposal specifically designed to appeal to the auto industry and workers in Michigan, an important swing state for both Kerry and President George W. Bush.

While Kerry insiders and others familiar with the proposal said he likely won't go into great detail in his speech to the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Kerry's plan also calls for tax credits or incentives for consumers to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles, the creation of an institute to develop hydrogen-based fuels and an unspecified increase in corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE, standards. More details will come, a Kerry policy adviser told the Free Press.

Past Democratic candidates have pushed to increase CAFE standards or to reduce U.S. gasoline consumption, but usually justified it as an environmental issue. This time, Kerry is tying oil dependence to international security and the war in Iraq as part of the debate about how to win the war on terrorism. <snip>


"What I like is that Kerry is focused on ensuring the advanced technology is built in this country," said Reuther. <snip>

[LynneSin]

1. I love what they said about tax breaks

I don't mind corporations receiving tax breaks as long as they are doing something deserving to help build this country and make it better. And I truly believe there should be tax credits for such things as companies who manufacture alternative (ie american automakers putting out hybrids), companies that meet the required clean air standards and the one I loved best: companies that create jobs here in American - not send them overseas.

And I hope that Kerry/Edwards does something about the Bermuda loophole. We can't force a company to keep is corporate HQ in this country but it peeves the hell out of me that some of these companies are skipping out on paying taxes and yet receiving government contracts. I'm sure there will be times that we will have to rely on getting our contracts from an overseas company, but I think first rule is BUY AMERICAN FIRST!!

[aquart]

2. THIS is what a real president does.

Modernizes our factories. Industry gets cash to make improvements that will ensure future jobs, reduce oil dependency AND clean up the environment. Here. In America.

It's so simple. George could have done it.

[readmylips]

3. A New Frontier in Technology....

If we don't jump at beating the Japanese who are ahead in building fuel efficient autos, our economy will be closer to a collapse. Reducing the dependence on foreign oil will keep our country safer. Afterall, those oil producing countries are ran by dictators. We continue to support their crooked governments when we don't change our course. We need to become the world leaders in fuel efficiency. To US oil companies we need to say, 'are you with us or against us?'

[madrchsod]

4. Toyota is already on their

2nd generation gas-electric mid size car. they are licensing the technology to to ford for their explorer line. Volkswagen and Benz is on their second or third generation diesel engine that can burn any oil-cooking to diesel fuel.. it`s stupid to poor billions into an industry that refused to see the future years ago. as much as i am a union guy,buy USA,and all that-i`m buying a Toyota mid size next year..sorry Detroit ,you guys screwed up and i really don`t want to give you guys a dime to bail out your mistakes...