Posted on 07/19/2009 6:00:33 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
It seems Obama's star power is fading rapidly. The Treasury Appropriations bill was passed 219-209 yesterday in the House. The roll call shows that the 219 is 215 dems and 4 pubs.
Tucked away in the bill is a provision that is a bit of extortion: No money can be used to obtain a financial ownership in any car manufacturer if that manufacturer deprives a car dealer of its economic right under its dealer agreement. Thump!
The Cleveland Plain Dealer summarizes:
"The measure would overturn bankruptcy court decisions to shutter 789 Chrysler dealers and more than 2,000 GM dealers. In Ohio, 47 Chrysler dealerships and 79 GM dealerships would be affected. The closings would eliminate more than 100,000 jobs across the nation and roughly 8,700 jobs in Ohio, the industry's trade association predicts."
More good stuff from the amendment's author, Rep. Steve LaTourette, (R-Ohio), “I don’t think Chrysler or GM has been able to demonstrate there is a savings associated with fewer dealers, since the dealers themselves bear the costs of operating their dealerships with little help from the manufacturers,” LaTourette said. “I think the closing of these dealerships was punitive and secretive, and it’s the most un-American thing for the government to help force you out of business and deprive you of the American dream.”
The White House issued a statement earlier this week (before the vote):
"The Administration strongly opposes the language in the bill that attempts to restore prior Chrysler and General Motors (GM) franchise agreements. The auto companies, like many in the country, face difficult economic and fiscal decisions. The Administration shares the Committee’s concern for dealers affected by Chrysler and GM bankruptcy agreements, and has taken steps to help support viable dealerships during this transition. For example, [blah, blah, blah] ...
It seems Obama is feeling pressure from all sides now.
Here's the language from the bill:
"Sec. 745. (a) None of the funds made available in this or any other Act may be used to obtain a financial or ownership interest (or right to acquire such an interest) in an automobile manufacturer that deprives an automobile dealer of its economic rights under a dealer agreement and does not assume (or assign to a successor in interest) each dealer agreement which is valid and in existence (and has not been lawfully terminated under applicable State law) before the date of the commencement of a case under title 11, United States Code, by such automobile manufacturer. (b) Any automobile manufacturer with respect to which the Federal Government has a financial or ownership interest (or right to acquire such an interest) shall, to the extent that a valid dealer agreement existing immediately before the date of the commencement of a case under title 11, United States Code, by such automobile manufacturer is not assumed by or assigned to another automobile manufacturer, require any new entity created in such case to enter into a new dealer agreement with the dealer whose agreement was not so assumed or assigned, and on the same terms as existed immediately before such date."
The dems did a good deed this week. Let's hope it starts a trend.
Congress critters are gutless. In this case it will work for the people instead of against them. You have to love it but they couldn’t stand the family dealerships being closed!
It’s nice to hear a trickle of good news at least once in a great while out of the District of Corruption.
“The roll call shows that the 219 is 215 dems and 4 pubs. “ where were the republicans?
Where is the class action suit by the dealers associations against the White-Crib-Engineered bankruptcy plan which obliterated states’ franchise laws?
I saw that too... I think the writer got the parties mixed up... and as usual gives the Democrats the credit...
Is it really star power fading? Or is it the bouquet of his flatulence is getting more rank?
its pretty telling......all of them fear political retribution in the coming elections....better to start restoring real dealerships in their own districts now
Screw hope. Let's keep holding their feet to the fire.
I take it the vote count given was on final passage.
I am guessing that the Republicans were all in favor of this Amendment, but against the final bill.
That is just how it works.
You can all thank me. I voted for Steve LaTourette.
My question too. Looks like the Dems want to get re elected and the Pubs. don’t.
YESS.
They were voting against an outrageous appropriations bill. You want them to be on the side of blowing your money?
King Hussein and his marxists goons will ignore this and any other law they want to, and not a damn thing will be done about it, because they can.
They were probably voting against the bill for other reasons. However, a republican authored the amendment, and the democrats did vote for it, so even they are skittish about closing so many dealerships.
I am afraid the rest of the bill was a bit repugnant. However, it is a sign that there may be something greater than a stunted brain stem in the house.
The Dems obviously liked the entire bill, whereas the Pubbies didn’t.
Just because LaTourette got something good added doesn’t mean the bill is good as a whole. He still did good, because everyone knew the bill would pass anyway.
You are referring to a group of politicians who are so irrepsonsible they farm out decisions on military base closings.
I don't disagree with this particular decision. But, if it were left to Congress, the conestoga makers (and their dealers) would still be in business.
So, in plain talk, all these dealerships which were shut down by Czar Obama are going to remain open?
Take that, Zero.
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