Posted on 11/13/2008 4:32:00 PM PST by BGHater
Sen. Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, warned Thursday that the chamber lacks Republican votes needed to move along a rescue package for American car manufacturers.
"I don't know of a single Republican who is willing to support" the auto bailout, said Dodd (D-Conn.), who would be in charge of steering the $25 billion package to support the auto industry through the chamber during the lame-duck session.
The money would come from the $700 billion financial rescue package passed last month, but leadership has pushed for additional legislation to explicitly direct some of that money to car companies.
While Democrats hold a 51-49 majority in the chamber, they need to peel away a few Republicans to get the 60 votes required to limit debate.
Furthermore, Democrats are likely to be without three important votes. President-elect Barack Obama is resigning his seat Sunday. Vice President-elect Joe Biden may be busy with the transition. And Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is recovering from a brain tumor.
Dodd said that the administration has the authority to parcel out the bailout money directly to automakers, but the legislation “doesn’t require that [the treasury] use it.” Dodd suggested that it may make more sense for President-elect Barack Obama's administration to use the authority, instead of bringing the bill to the floor and see it fail.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is committed to moving the aide package during the lame-duck session, his spokesman said.
“But we cannot do it without the support of Senate Republicans, who I hope will join us to pass a bill that saves the jobs and protects the livelihoods of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Reid.
A spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Dodd’s assessment of the votes will not deter Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and leader negotiator in that chamber, from working with senators to craft a bill that includes “proper accountability, oversight and protection for the taxpayers.” Frank has scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday to hear testimony on behalf of the Big Three automakers and the United Auto Workers union.
“We would hope that all members of Congress would work together to aid the employees and retirees and their families and stabilize an industry that is crucial to our national economy and our national security,” said Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) issued a statement earlier in the day questioning the aide package for automakers.
“Spending billions of additional federal tax dollars with no promises to reform the root causes crippling automakers’ competitiveness around the world is neither fair to taxpayers nor sound fiscal policy,” Boehner said in the statement.
No republican should vote for any bad legislation PERIOD.
We need to be forceful with the republicans and let them know that if this steaming pile comes up for a vote.
Dems are a lost cause but don’t let the Republicans take the blame.
Unfortunately, the Repbulicans in Congress are scared little rabbits.
I thought the FBI was investigating Dodd. If so, he should be out of site until the investigation is complete as should all the dems involved in the collapse of the economy.
Translation...there are Dems that won’t vote for it either, but it’s convenient to blame the Republicans.
Well, in this case, blame the Republicans. The unions already support Dems, and there are many voters, on both sides of the aisle that are sick of the bailouts and just waiting for somebody to stand up to the Democrats.
If Dodd was smart, he’s say there are Dems and Republicans who won’t vote for it, by giving all the credit to the Republicans, he’s doing them a favor.
Expanding credit helps the loaner more than the borrower. It puts the borrower in bondage. This is particularly true when the loaner packaged the debt and sold it off.
If any seek proof that this is truly Satan’s world, they need look no further than the fact that the congressonal thieves who are responsible for most of the chaos now going on around us were rewarded by the voters with re-election and enhanced power only a week ago.
The Devil Drives.
What should Dodd care about the few Republicans left? The 15+ seats they gained in the House should make the remaining Republicans a non-entity/non-issue for anything the Democrats think or want to do. Who cares what Republicans think? They are only in Congress for looks now. Bothh Houses of Congress were given a mandate-majority. They're steadily marching towards their golden 60-seat super-majority with at least a half dozen RINOS to cross the aisle and bend over. Go Snowe! Go Specter! Go Collins! Go Lugar! Go Hagel! Go McCain!
Why do they jump to the conclusion that they need to limit debate? It is excuse making.
Maybe they should propose it, have an actual debate, and then see based on the results of the debate who wants to vote for it. Who knows, maybe the Republicans won’t filibuster it, and will let the 51 Democrats go on the record for it and pass it all by themselves.
Duh....well it looks like Obama and the Dodd democrats will have the American people right where they want them....IN BONDAGE.
Then it would be smart of W to parcel out the rest if the money now. The big three will only survive so long without freeing themselves of the onerous retirement and pension packages they are currently saddled with.
Gosh yes ! Why not fund the Unions that gave hundreds of millions of Dollars to the Democrat cadidates and party. Makes sense to me !
Every one of these senators should be hung for treason. It’s not their trucking money! Gone.
All 3 should file Chapter 11 tomorrow morning!
Void their union graft agreements and either go non union (preferable) or demand a contract equal to the foreign plants in the south.
If Senate Republicans support this crap then all ties need to be severed. Democrats are masters at politics - they suckered enough Republicans to support the bailout which they used against them, now they want to sucker more Republicans for the auto-bailout so when it hits the fan they can blame the Republicans again. The GOP is a big friggin’ joke.
This guy is a lying sack of shyte.
I hope after Obama is inaugurated the Republican minority continues to fight all these insane bailouts. We need to draw a distinct line in the sand for 2012.
what do we have to gain by following these shysters. The next election is 24 months away!
The Dims are such gut-less cowards. “No, we can’t do it without the GOP! Please join in and take the blame with us”!
That could be the only real plan left. All Republicans stick together and let the world see that the Democrats staged a coup and what their real agenda is. Not one Republican on any of their socialist moves.
Could the Republicans ever stick together though? Seems unlikely.
I’ve been thinking along the same lines. Maybe it would be best not to filibuster every piece of garbage the dims crank out. Just don’t vote for it. Do not provide the dims with any cover. When it falls apart, the dims will be the only ones left holding the bag.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.