Remember when Detroit 3 came to nation’s rescue, senators? -- Tom Walsh, DFP columnist

[Bozita]

http://www.freep.com/article/20081211/COL06/81211068

Remember when Detroit 3 came to nation’s rescue, senators?
BY TOM WALSH • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • DECEMBER 11, 2008


When Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana and Alabama on Aug. 29, 2005, the automobile companies of Detroit did not harrumph that the Gulf Coast should have been better prepared.

They didn’t sit back and wait for New Orleans to submit a detailed plan for future repair of the ruptured levees.

General Motors Corp., on Aug. 30 donated $400,000 to the American Red Cross 2005 Relief Fund, pledged to match up to $250,000 more in employee contributions and sent more than 150 vehicles to the stricken area for use in relief work.

Ford Motor Co. and the UAW quickly made a joint donation of $100,000 to the Red Cross. The Chrysler Group gave $150,000 to the Red Cross and $200,000 to local New Orleans charities; DaimlerChrysler Services chipped in $200,000 for the Red Cross and pledged to match employee donations up to $50,000.

Between them, the three Detroit auto companies gave more than $18 million in cash and vehicles to the Katrina relief effort in the ensuing months. No strings attached.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-Louisiana, should think about that before he casts his vote on a Senate bill to provide $14-billion in emergency rescue loans to GM and Chrysler.

Vitter said Wednesday that he plans to vote against the bill because, in his words, it is “ass-backwards” to give money to the distressed companies before Congress sees more detailed survival plans.

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[BrklynLiberal]

1. Excellent article!!

Vitter is such a POS!!!

[depakid]

2. Time to start weaning the dsyfunctional and unproductive deep southern states off the federal teat

They've been taking in far more federal tax dollars than they return for decades. Essentially, their economies are subsidized more more forward looking states along the West Coast and Northeast.

If their representatives aren't interested in the good of the nation, and would rather wallow in "free" market and religious fundamentalism- let them do so.

ON THEIR OWN DIMES.

Start re-directing the money for projects elsewhere. See how they like the results.

[bertman]

3. Didn't know that. Thanks for posting it, Bozita.