'Keep America Strong'

" In the Senate says bankruptcy for the Big Three is off the table Michigan senator Carl Levin says he has a bipartisan plan in place to save the Big Three auto makers. But what can congress really do as America's car companies continue to burn through several billion dollars a month. Talk about it with Texas congressman Joe -- he's the senior Republican member of the house energy and commerce committee. He also has an auto maker in his district and joins us now congressman thanks very much for being here. My pleasure I'm sure you know that you know this is not necessarily split down party lines there are Democrats who really want this bailout there are some Republicans really want it. But let me read a quote from your fellow Republican Spencer bachus of Alabama who says he's got hundreds of employee's car employees who work in his district. Foreign carmakers he said congressman I'm working on I work at Mercedes I get forty bucks an hour. Why are you talking about given my tax dollars to people who make 75 dollars an hour for GM up in Detroit."

" Well the folks that work at the GM assembly plant in Arlington Texas in my district don't make 75 dollars an hour. -- take up their health benefits and pension benefits it might be in that range but their actual hourly salary. Wages. Have been around 20/20 dollars an hour something like that. It's kind of ridiculous that with a Democrat elected president Democrat senate democratic house. We can't make up by men what to do to help one of the mainstays of the autumn of the an American manufacturing base. It's ridiculous in madman. All the money we're going to -- to Detroit. His borrowed money anyway what difference does it make whether it comes the it comes out of the the financial bailout pot -- the money that's already been set aside so you're an experimental. Regulations you're in favor of some kind -- helping the workers I'm in favor of helping the workers of America that make automobiles and all the vendors and dealers it. Depend on yes sir I'm I want keep America strong."

" What about the argument though that if you just let them file chapter eleven they'll still continue to build cars but they will -- have to clean up their operations make them more efficient."

" Well I think that you can make an argument that labor and management need to sit down and workouts more flexible work rules laid down -- the GM assembly plant in my district in Arlington and they make a fine product. -- drive -- Tahoe flex fuel vehicle gets over twenty miles a gallon it's made grad in in Arlington Texas. But that did this to say. Let's. They've got pneumonia. If they still alive and a month or two. We'll try to help foam. I don't think that makes a lot of sense."

" There's an aspect of the argument you're just making that I wondered about which is at that point five billion to make cleaner engines and so forth more efficient cars. That is taxpayer money so if you're going to tap into that I mean why not go ahead and do it the other way tap into the 750 billion in federal bailout money."

" Well. The advantage of is in the many and it's already at the Department of Energy is that it's there and it's there to help Detroit. The other Manning which I'm not opposed to use it again it's all taxpayer money it's all borrowed many. Let's sit down with. The workers sit down with the man couldn't figure out how best to keep them viable. But I that we need to give them alone sooner rather than later if you go to the doctor and the doctor says what's wrong said got walking pneumonia. The doctor -- and so we'll come back in a month or so and if you're still alive I'll help you. The doctor help she immediately where the doctor we ought to try to help this. The -- play US manufacturers in my opinion right now and it's it's the Democrat leadership he's not."

" Both senators eleven men bond and a couple of others have indicated they have this bipartisan agreement though are you on board with that."

" I would if that's you know I would vote for a few came. I don't think kids and it's. Crazy to let there be several amendments let the house and the Senate worked there will. Have a quick conference. You know Pelosi and Reid and gotten in this -- to -- one bill together it's that bill -- nothing. In the old days not that long ago. We let there be amendments on the floor we let there be debate. And then you do you develop a consensus. But in any event I think we -- to do something sooner rather than later so little Texas horse trading it sounds like you'd like to see the effects of congressmen and department thank you."