News and Music Discovery
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

McConnell Responds to Automakers' Situation

By Rick Howlett

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-801071.mp3

Louisville, KY – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says he's not sure yet which approach he supports to help the nation's domestic automakers out of their financial predicament. Kentucky Public Radio's Rick Howlett reports.

---------------------------------------------

The leaders of GM, Ford and Chrysler have been making their case this week in Washington for a $34 billion government bailout. McConnell and his Capitol Hill colleagues will debate the matter when the lame-duck session of Congress resumes next week.

"I haven't decided yet which course I think is best. One thing is not in dispute, no one wants the American automobile manufacturers to go down."

McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, says everyone involved agrees that the automakers must change their business model, and government assistance will only come if there's going to be a major restructuring of the industry.