Clinton offers Detroit automakers health care aid

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Reuters

Clinton offers Detroit automakers health care aid
Sat Jun 9, 2007 6:20PM EDT

By Kevin Krolicki

DETROIT (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday offered a double-barreled campaign message for the struggling U.S. auto industry: accept tougher fuel economy standards in exchange for federal help with the costly burden of retiree health care.

Speaking at a union hall, Clinton also pledged new U.S. government investment in technologies that promise sharp gains in engine efficiency, such as lithium-ion batteries, an area where Japanese suppliers lead the pack.

"I know we have to do more to support the American auto industry and to support the American auto worker," she said.

Clinton's speech before a loud and supportive crowd of several hundred mostly AFL-CIO members marked a contrast in tone on the ailing U.S. auto industry from Sen. Barack Obama, Clinton's leading challenger for the Democratic nomination.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN0941883220070609

[Donnachaidh]

1. WHY support an industry that has FOUGHT fuel economy standards

and has also shipped thousands of jobs to Mexico?

Personally, I'd like to see quite a bit more GIVE from the automakers, before we offer them yet more handouts.

[Journeyman]

2. I'll reduce my carbon footprint by X% in exchange for help with retirement health care. . .

'cause you know what, Hillary -- me and mine are going to grow old, too, and won't have much by way of help in our twilight years, yet we've done more (percentage-wise) as a family to reduce our impact than the whole bleeding auto industry (domestic and foreign.

[dflprincess]

5. Exactly

Sounds like it's just pandering for the union vote to me.

[Journeyman]

7. The Union Vote and the Corporate Cash. . .

it disgusts me, when nothing is done for those of us who cannot gain Union representation or who feel that equality should extend to all from cradle to grave.

[defendandprotect]

3. Why subsidize an industry which has created Global Warming?

Do we really believe that the auto industry isn't allied with the oil industry?

And, Hillary wants to subsidize it?

What we need to do is have government raise a corporation to create electric cars --
See: "Who Killed The Electric Car?"

And, we need to have government subsidize the removal of gasoline-engine autos from our roads.

[madrchsod]

4. stupidest thing i have heard in a long time...

who in the hell is advising her?

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

6. Shrewd postition to take by Hillary...

... I see it as a win/win situation. The US automakers moan every time CAFE comes up. This gives them some incentive to improve fuel efficiency, get help for the retirement/benefits system they underfunded in the past 10 years (thanks to GOP deregulation) and keep their present employees healthy, i.e. ... productive.

It also would serve to drive a wedge between the automakers and big oil, as higher fuel efficiency means you need less of big oil.

It also tells blue collar workers that someone takes their top concerns as seriously as they, themselves do.

Now to see what comes of this proposal.

[Nickster]

17. The same system that allowed the auto industry to underfund their retirement plans

remains in place, so any benefit of the "cost" savings will still go straight into the pockets of the auto industry CEOs.

[Neshanic]

20. Proposal outcome. You give us money and we send the jobs to China anyway.

The extra savings on the health end will be helpfull for that new plant in China....

Thanks Triangulating Hillary!

[Jackpine Radical]

8. A single-payer HC plan would automatically alleviate the problem--

not just for Detroit, but for the whole country. It would be the biggest single boon a Democrat could give to small business. Hill's proposal shows that she's still into the Frankenstein's Monster approach to health care. Yuk.

[benny05]

10. She is not into single payer

or leading to it. That was a misnomer in her husband's presidency, and she gets a lot of money from insurance companies, just as Joe Lieberman does.

[Jackpine Radical]

16. That's one of the big problems I have with her.

Single-payer may not be attainable overnight, considering the forces arrayed against it, but we need to start moving that way. Ross Perot's criticism of "HillaryHealth" was exactly correct.

[Nickster]

18. Exactly. Just imagine how much of a burden would be taken off of the backs of the auto industry.

I believe they said that GM pays 5 billion a year in health benefits. That would make the auto industry a lot more competitive.

[benny05]

9. Why is it in every msg, "we have to do more"

When she and other Dems aren't doing diddly, except at election time. I haven't seen Clinton feel the pain of workers. Her hubby gave away their jobs. And she has said, "Clinton Second Presidency".

[Lasher]

11. OH good. Healthcare for those who already have healthcare.

And none for those who have none. :thumbsdown:

What a stupid plan. We would have universal healthcare today if Hillary would have come out with single payer back in 1993. It doesn't look like she has learned anything in that respect since then.

[LaPera]

13. Exactly my thoughts...Why doesn't she really go out and do something...

with so many places and jobs that don't have Unions or health care, and offer to start helping and creating some...Hillary is offering next to nothing here...Typical corporate backed DLC rhetoric, (i.e. Using language effectively to please or persuade).

[ccinamon]

12. Hillary -- I want health care, too!!!

I have to quit a job I love because they can't afford to give employees health and dental care, and I'm getting to the point where I have to have it.

How is paying RETIREE health care for the auto industry going to help ME?????

I want to be pandered to for a change -- and so does the 100+ million of us who don't have health care.

This is so friggin' infuriatin'

[MannyGoldstein]

14. Then Pay Up

Gotta "pay to play" with the Clintons... it worked for Mark Rich, it'll work for you.

[Vinca]

15. NO!!!! Health care for EVERYONE.

This really pisses me off.:mad: I'm self-employed, but sadly not in the gold mining business so I can't afford to buy health insurance. Why is an auto worker's life more important than mine?

[Neshanic]

19. Is it my imagination or do Clinton and Obama seem like they come out with the most moronic items?

Obama's Health Insurance Continuity Act, and now the Clinton "We will save your misguided ass" act for the big giveaway to auto companies that can't make product anyone wants.

It's like they are running for office in a United States they don't even get.

I am waiting for the big supermarket scanner moment like Bush I had.