Reed, Whitehouse don't expect quick passage for carmaker bailout
3:00 PM Tue, Nov 18, 2008 | Permalink
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WASHINGTON -- Rhode Island's senators expressed doubt today that a bailout package for Detroit's Big Three auto makers can soon be enacted over Republican opposition, but they expressed hope that Congress can pass extended jobless relief during the current lame-duck session. An expansion of federal unemployment benefits ``is something that has to be done,'' said Sen. Jack Reed, noting that Rhode Island's jobless rate is now the nation's highest. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said he thinks many Republicans would be ``hard-pressed'' to go home to their constituents after the current post-election session and explain a vote against extra benefits for those out of work. The two Democrats agreed that swift passage of a proposed $25 billion rescue for domestic carmakers would ``be very diffficult,'' in Reed's words, but they differed on the merits of the proposal offered by their party's leadership. Reed said he supports the rescue proposal, in part because ``thousands of jobs'' in Rhode island are tied to the auto industry and in part because the Democratic plan is ``not a blank check'' for Detroit. Whitehouse said he is not yet sold on the package. The question may be moot, however, since the Bush administration and Senate Republican leaders are opposed to the auto-industry rescue package. Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky told reporters that many Republicans oppose the Democratic plan to set aside for Detroit a $25 billion portion of the $700-billion package enacted before the elections to preserve the nation's financial system. ``The rescue package that we passed a little over a month ago was designed to get the credit system in this country flowing again,'' McConnell said. ``And many of us supported that, not believing that that would be a precedent for industry-by-industry relief, that it was essential to the entire economy that we get the credit system functioning again.'' 
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Why don't Reed and Whitehouse bring some jobs to Rhode Island. That's what Senators are supposed to do.
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Why don't Reed and Whitehouse bring some jobs to Rhode Island. That's what Senators are supposed to do.
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Why don't Reed and Whitehouse bring some jobs to Rhode Island. That's what Senators are supposed to do.
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Don't expect quick passage???? It shouldn't pass at all!! But it will because so many members of Congress have premium stock in the three car makers.... They have to protect their interests you know!
Thank God I moved out of RI.... Youo people have worthless representatives in Washington! At least my reps in DC bring pork barrel money to my state....
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re the question from other comments listed e.g.
"Why don't Reed and Whitehouse bring some jobs to Rhode Island. That's what Senators are supposed to do." Well I guess that the apparent plunder and spoils system that you must be referring to is what has helped corrupt our country and congress down in Washington plus the General Assembly / unions back home here in RI.
Well you must be living on another planet or under a rock! That is even the US Government never mind private Industry must give pause before coming to and relocation of jobs to the state of RI.
RI has the reputation of a third world banana republic. Yes, where wealth is seized through excessive taxes causing companies, investment capital (that is money), and finally highly skilled workers to flee the state in ever increasing numbers. Things will not be improved here in RI until the General Assembly and its companion Unions of ALL kinds are eliminated along with a total reform of RI government including reduction in the over all cost and size of government in this little backwater city state called RI. Yes where the social fabric is tainted by corruption of all kinds. The state motto must be changed from Hpe to the fix is in state. Yes, a pseudo socialist left liberal largeness client provider union utopia.
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