No Auto Bailout Without Strings

After years of resisting technological change, including scrapping electric car programs, auto manufacturers are asking for a taxpayer handout. Let's make sure that any bailout is contingent on the auto companies retooling to make the clean cars we want and need.

Tell your elected representatives to hold out for clean cars.

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Updates

12/10/08

From the AP

Majority Democrats and the White House have finalized a deal to spend $15 billion on emergency loans for struggling U.S. automakers, congressional officials said Wednesday. The White House did not go quite so far, saying it has made "very good progress." The measure could see a House vote later Wednesday and be enacted by week's end.

12/8/08

White House says it could be making a deal today. Send those messages in!

Day 4

Linda refers to our campaign in a post in the Green Inc section of the New York Times

Day 3

More campaign mentions:

Day 2

We've had over 1,243 people send 2,406 emails to 316 elected officials.

The campaign is popping up all over the net:

Day 1

Congress has postponed this decision. They want automakers to submit viability plans on Dec. 2nd, and will meet again the week of Dec 8th to consider aiding them.

It's clear that Congress still wants to give this money to the automakers. And the compromise plan that is most likely to pass, spearheaded by Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), is based on dropping the fuel-efficiency requirements that were the driving force behind the $25 billion fund. Not surprisingly Michigan's senators are strong advocates of dropping these requirements.

On the other hand, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn) indicated that he wants to hear the automakers talk about "retooling and reorganization".

We must keep up the pressure. Congress needs to hear that Americans demand progress. The best path to viability for automakers is to sell us the fuel-efficient vehicles, including plug-ins and EVs, that we want and need.

In the first 12 hours of this campaign, Plug In America members and supporters sent their elected officials over 2,000 messages to over 300 elected representatives opposing this "no-strings" bailout. Send yours now.

The following senators agree with the plan to drop fuel-efficiency requirements. If you live in one of these states, make sure to let them know how you feel:

George Voinovich (R-Ohio)
Carl Levin (D-Mich)
Christopher (Kit) Bond (R-Mo)

Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich)
Arlen Specter (R-Penn)
Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)

"Almost no one believes that the U.S. auto industry can be competitive in its current state.."
"Automakers ran into resistance from House lawmakers, who chastised the executives for fighting tougher fuel-efficiency standards in the past.."
"..The Big Three leaders utterly failed to give any willing admission of their own culpability in the situation they’re in."