Hybrid Cars: Auto industry spends $70 million on Congress

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Auto industry spends $70 million on Congress

Save our guzzlers

The auto industry spent $70 million in 2007 trying to influence Congress, up from $59 million the year before. All in all, lobbyists spent $2.70 billion to lobby Congress last year. (DetNews)

Labels: Congress

7 Comments:

Anonymous said...: And yet, Michigan rep Joe Knollenberg is seaking $1.2 billion in aid for US automakers over 5 years.; 8:11 AM
jmechals said...: And on top of that: (from CNBC)
DETROIT (AP) - Bowing to grim reality, General Motors Corp. followed Ford's lead and cut its U.S. sales forecast Wednesday after a tough first quarter that saw a $3.3 billion loss.

Keep building those Hummers.; 9:09 AM
Nozferatu said...: It this isn't proof enough that companies, people, etc, simply don't give a shit about the environment, future, etc...then I don't know what is.

There simply is no discussion needed beyond this point for that topic. They are as transparent as glass in what they truly think and want to do.

And GM and Ford want people to believe them? They can kiss my....

As I have said before many times over, they would do the world an incredible environmental gesture by going out of business.; 9:22 AM
Dahcredyns said...: Well, let's hold on a sec.

If I'm not mistaken, the US auto industry accounts for something like 1 in 6 jobs, in terms of auto suppliers,etc. Yet, $70 million isn't even close to 1/6th of the total amount of money spent by lobbyists.

Also, that $70 million also includes companies like Honda and Toyota, so blaming just American automakers isn't quite fair.

Other industries seem to be spending a lot more money, such as maybe the oil industry, for example - although I don't know this to be true, but something else is going on.; 9:51 AM
Nozferatu said...: Come on Dahc...

There's no excuse whatsoever for these companies to make what they make. They are to blame and no one else.

I don't know why this job thing is such a big deal. It's the same with the logging industry. That environmentally disastrous bunch whines 24/7 about their jobs, their jobs...blah blah blah. So get freaking retrained.

Instead of screwing up the environment, SAVE IT...that pays too doesn't it?

Why does big money mentality always have to be destruction and not constructive? Why does making money always have to have the connotation of "you're destroying jobs", not making them?

Does anyone in the auto, power, and oil industry realize HOW MANY jobs can be created by developing new energy technologies and trying to implement them? The erection of new solar panels, etc...their maintenance? Their repair?

What people need is a real taste of how bad things are...right at their doorstep. Then you won't believe how quickly people will move their dumb collective asses to change things.; 10:24 AM
Dahcredyns said...: well, i'm not trying to defend the auto industry, just to add some perspective. and, your point about "big money" is one i've made as well.

i question capitalism - if that's what you want to call america's consumerism-driven economy. it values money more than people. no doubt about it in my opinion, and that just doesn't seem sustainable.

yet, another part of the problem is that too many consumers buy into this bling-bling bllsht. and, while we might be feeling some pain on our doorstep today, as soon as things get better, we'll fall back into our hedonistic ways.

as a species, despite our technological progress, we're pretty damned stupid.; 10:44 AM
Anonymous said...: Southern California Edison is starting to rent space on top of Building in So. Cal and install solar panels on them. It should be law...if you have a big flat tar covered rooftop...put a panel on it. SoCalEd should be 'given' as many rooftops as they need.; 1:16 PM

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Auto industry spends $70 million on Congress

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