The Auto Plan Appears to be Intended to Break the Unions and End Pensions

[kpete]

The Auto Plan Appears to be Intended to Break the Unions and End Pensions
By: Ian Welsh Monday December 8, 2008 3:48 pm

The auto plan, as currently written, gives the Auto Czar the absolute ability to decide if he or she likes the auto restructuring plan presented by the Big 3. If the Czar doesn't, the loans can be immediately recalled, which would cause the companies to go under immediately. Added to the ability to approve or disapprove of any expenditure in excess of 25 billion, and this puts a ton of power in one person's hands.

That person does not answer to Congress and is chosen by the current President: George W. Bush. As best I can tell, the next president will not be able to fire him, though Obama could ask for his resignation, I guess. I don't think the Czar would have to give it, however.

I cannot imagine that any Auto Czar appointed by Bush would not make it a priority to make the companies viable by breaking the unions and probably by ditching the companies' pension obligations. As best I can tell, then, this bill's effect will be to ensure that both of things happen.

Obviously the bill is this bad because Bush will veto anything that doesn't let him break the unions. Indeed, Bush is even making noises about how this bill doesn't go far enough in ensuring viability of the companies going forward, which I think is the administration's way of saying "let's make it even more explicit, just in case my auto Czar isn't loyal to me once I'm gone".

more at:
http://firedoglake.com/2008/12/08/the-auto-plan-appears-to-be-intended-to-break-the-unions-and-end-pensions/

[liberal N proud]

1. Completing the mission Raygun began

They have been busting the unions since he was elected in 1980.

[Titus Andronicus]

2. They should force the foreign automakers in the US to unionize.

Level the playing field.

[doc03]

3. Why does that f---g Bush always get his way?

That god damn Pelosi should have been kicked the hell out when she said impeachment is off the table. That f----g Read should be one of those stinking tourists he complains about.

[dysfunctional press]

6. because ultimately, he and both parties are on the same side- that of the rich corporocrats.

it's their world- we just live in it.

[Obamanaut]

14. And we reelected how many incumbents for the new term?

Time and again we read things that suggest the congress are not doing their jobs, yet we keep the same members election cycle after election cycle.

[AzDar]

4. K & R ...

[Chemical Bill]

5. Bet the golden parachutes will still be there.... n/t

[sarcasmo]

7. I have been saying this since those three idiots took separate private planes.

They knew that would create a shit storm.

[lonestarnot]

8. Nope that simple pimple bushitler should not be allowed to do one more goddamned thing but ruin his

own apple fucking pie and have to eat it!

[Hawkowl]

9. Pelosi and Reid are WHORES!!

Useless, spineless fucking corporate whores who can't out maneuver the dumbest, least popular, most criminal lame duck in the history of the USA.

Disgusting bastards. The only political contributions I will make next cycle will be to their opponents.

[DainBramaged]

11. You and I both my friend, you and I both.

Spine, something lacking in a large percentge of Democrats.

[Bolo Boffin]

10. Let me be frank about Bush being able to name this "auto czar"...

...it's BULLSHIT. Being able to appoint someone like that as a carryover into the next administration? 100% corn-fed bullshit.

[amborin]

12. and remember how poppy bush allowed strike replacements to break the uaw's catepillar strike n/t

[robinlynne]

13. And this great plan was written by the democrats?