Bush orders emergency bailout of the auto industry
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 26 mins ago
WASHINGTON – Citing imminent danger to the national economy, President Bush ordered an emergency bailout of the U.S. auto industry Friday, offering $17.4 billion in rescue loans and demanding tough concessions from the deeply troubled carmakers and their workers. Detroit's Big Three cheered the action and vowed to rebuild their once-mighty industry, though they acknowledged the road would be anything but smooth as they fight their way back from the brink of bankruptcy.
The autoworkers union complained the deal was too harsh on its members, while Bush's fellow Republicans in Congress said it was simply bad business to bail out yet another big industry.
Bush, who signed the massive $700 billion rescue for financial institutions only this fall, said he was reluctant to approve yet another government bailout of private business. But he said that allowing the massive auto industry to collapse in the middle of what is already a severe downturn "could send our suffering economy into a deeper and longer recession."
Speaking at the White House, he also said he didn't want to "leave the next president to confront the demise of a major American industry in his first days of office."
read entire article:
Bush orders emergency bailout of the auto industry - Yahoo! News