New York (HedgeCo.Net) – Auto executives stood before Congress yesterday and requested a $25 billion rescue package, pleading that their industry was going under fast. After allocating billions to bailouts in recent months, the auto industry was met with quite a bit of reluctance from many of the same individuals who were all for the $700 billion in handouts to financial firms.
"Detroit’s basic problem is that they created a business model that doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of surviving in a global economy," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina.
Alabama Republican Senator Richard Shelby agreed, saying that the automakers, aka “failed models,” should just file for bankruptcy.
The hearing was held a day after Senate Democrats proposed the $25 billion in rescue loans. However, the auto industry just happens to be at the end of the line after the government handed out funds to AIG, Bear Stearns and mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
“This is about much more than just Detroit,” Rick Wagoner, head of General Motors, said in his testimony. It’s about saving the U.S. economy from a catastrophic collapse.”
General Motors is seeking approximately $10 billion from Uncle Sam while Ford and Chrysler are asking for about $8 billion and $7 billion respectively.
"While the domestic auto industry has made mistakes in the past, the current problems have been exacerbated by one of the worst economies in nearly three decades," Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford Motor Corp. said in his testimony.
Mulally and Wagoner, along with head of Chrysler Robert Nardelli and Ron Gettelfinger, head of United Auto Workers Union were all part of the team that testified before Congress.
Gettelfinger added, "If one of these companies was to go into bankruptcy, I would almost bet it would take two of them or possibly all three."
Julie Scuderi
Senior Editor for HedgeCo.Net
Email: julie@hedgeco.net
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