Posted on 03/05/2009 10:05:54 AM PST by reaganaut1
Thank you for contacting me regarding your interest in the auto assistance bill that recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives. I voted in support of this bill because I was not willing to punish tens of thousands of autoworkers for the mistakes and mismanagement of their CEO's and disregard the significant, wider economic fallout that would result from the failure of these companies.
Although this legislation was not enacted into law, financial assistance was ultimately provided to GM and Chrysler in December, and these companies recently submitted their restructuring plans to the Treasury Department. I believe that working with the Obama administration presents the best hope for this failing industry and that the workers deserve this last chance for survival. However, I also believe that continued financial assistance should not be provided without assurances that the industry has truly reformed.
For many years I have been the principal House sponsor of measures to require higher fuel economy standards for vehicles, including the provisions enacted into law in 2007 to require that the automotive fleet averages at least 35 miles per gallon by 2020. I plan to continue this work as Chairman of both the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It is my hope and belief that the domestic auto industry can be reborn if it adopts a culture of change at the top and focuses on making more energy efficient vehicles using American technology and workers.
While the Bush administration was unwilling to challenge Detroit for the last eight years, the Obama administration understands the change that is necessary. If given the opportunity, I am confident that the new administration and the new Congress will work to ensure that these companies restructure in a manner necessary for long-term success.
I recently spent some time at the Washington Auto Show and was encouraged by the wide range of more fuel efficient vehicles that I saw. However, when GM and Chrysler submitted their restructuring plans to the Treasury Department last month, I was disappointed that neither company demonstrated a new, bold commitment to build a significantly more fuel efficient fleet. I plan to work with the Obama administration to ensure that any continued assistance to the domestic auto industry be provided only with the assurance that the industry will correct its past management failures and make a firm commitment to building the sort of vehicles that help to solve our energy independence and global warming challenges.
Thank you for expressing your views. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future regarding any other issue. Also, for updates on policy, please go to my website http://markey.house.gov/ and sign up to receive my e-newsletter.
He criticizes management but says nothing about the UAW. He refuses to see that raising mileage requirements will make it even more difficult for the American automakers to survive with their current cost structure. Democratic politicians rarely have business experience, but they are confident they know how to run other people's businesses.
Ok. I sent him a respectful email against the Auto bailout too but didn’t get a response but I did just receive his response to my email against the giant Porkulus Spending Bill. I had no expectations he would voted differently but he represents me unfortunately so I emailed him.
Ed,has no problem with wasteful spending/EARMARKS like most in Congress. He views the $11 billion EARMARK to Massachusetts as a GOOD THING.
Congress doesn’t conduct themselves with any accountability. They fail..they don’t get fired..they get re-elected..they steal more money from taxpayers and continue. Incompetent and clueless.
Dear ******,
Thank you for contacting me about the economic recovery and reinvestment package passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. It was good to hear from you.
The economy is in a crisis not seen since the Great Depression. Credit is frozen, consumer purchasing power is in decline, and in the last four months, the country has lost 2 million jobs. Bold action is needed to stop Americans already suffering from severe economic problems from falling further behind.
In response to the economic crisis, Congress developed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This $787 billion package is the first crucial step in an effort to create or save millions of jobs, jumpstart our economy, and begin the process of transforming it for the 21st century with economic recovery tax cuts for millions of hard-working Americans and billions in thoughtful and carefully targeted priority investments with unprecedented accountability measures built in to prevent waste, fraud and abuse. I was proud to vote for this urgently needed legislation.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will:
o Create or save between 3 and 4 million jobs, rebuilding America, making us more globally competitive and energy independent, and transforming our economy.
o Give about 95 percent of American workers an immediate tax cut.
o Invest in roads, bridges, mass transit, energy efficient buildings, flood control, clean water projects, and other infrastructure projects.
o Restore science and innovation as the keys to new American-made technology, preventing and treating disease, and tackling urgent national challenges like climate change and dependence on foreign oil.
o Provide billions of dollars in Medicaid funding to aid the poor, including $1.7 billion in Medicaid funds for Massachusetts residents.
o Deliver millions in extra education funding to states; Massachusetts will receive nearly $800 million in additional funding for education, which also will include $230 million in Pell Grants for college students in our state.
o Invest in the broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved areas, ensuring that networks funded in whole or in part by taxpayers operate on an open access or wireless open access basis so that public utilization of taxpayer-funded assets is maximized for economic development and job creation.
Overall, Massachusetts will receive approximately $11 billion under the federal stimulus package, providing a major infusion of funds to plug a growing state budget gap, spur transportation projects, and provide residents with tax relief, medical care, unemployment checks, and other benefits. About 79,000 jobs would be created or saved in Massachusetts over two years as a result of the federal stimulus, with an estimated 7,700 in the Seventh Congressional District. Our state also could benefit significantly from $8 billion in funding for high-speed rail projects in the economic recovery package.
Despite the challenges facing us, as we look ahead, our country will overcome our current difficulties. The economic package is an important step towards putting our nation back on the road to recovery.
Thank you for contacting me, and if I can assist you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Ed Markey
Member of Congress
I am not a constituent of Mr Markey’s but have observed him on CSPAN many times over the past 25 years. IMHO, he is one sorry sack of $HIT.
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