Indiana senator makes plans for local auto industry

by Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)

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Evan Bayh Auto Industry

Indiana Senator Evan Bayh greets local business and union leaders during a visit in South Bend Wednesday. He was in town to talk about the crisis facing the auto industry. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Dec 17, 2008 at 10:38 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 17, 2008 at 11:57 PM EST

SOUTH BEND — The same day Chrysler announced it's closing all 30 of its manufacturing plants for a month, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh stopped in South Bend to talk about the auto industry and the economy.

If the industry isn't bailed out soon, Bayh said it could cost the state 140,000 jobs.

He also said allowing that many job losses isn't sensible. But Bayh is being cautious when it comes to bailing out the Big Three — saying the industry needs to be stabilized in a smart way.

"I find it frustrating that we take a trillion dollars and give it to the banking industry, and they've spent $350 trillion of that with no regulation," UAW Local 5 CAP Chair Bruce Schweizer told Bayh at Wednesday's "Main Street Meeting".

Local UAW representatives like Schweizer are fed up and worried about the future.

"They didn't run anybody else through the ringer like they've ran the UAW through the ringer, Schweizer said. "They've made the UAW out to be some kind of villain through all this."

Senator Bayh told local automakers and business leaders there are reasons an auto bailout hasn't happened yet.

"We can't just give them money," Sen. Bayh explained. "But if they're willing to do the hard things necessary to turn that industry around, it's in all of our best interest to help them do that."

Bayh also said he's well aware of the trickle down effect in our area if help does not come soon for the auto industry — aside from parts suppliers and dealerships.

"It's the retailers, it's the restaurants, the charities in the community that would get hit by all these kind of things."

Indiana has the third highest number of automotive-related jobs in the country. Bayh said once the industry gets back on its feet, he has ideas to keep our workers on the job. He wants to start with the "fuel of the future."

"Indiana is ideally situated to produce biofuels," said Bayh.

Then, he said for a small fraction of what was provided to Wall Street, the state can invest in hybrid cars, electric cars, green energy transportation of the future.

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said Wednesday the Detroit automakers should press the Bush administration for a specific time by which it would come up with a bailout plan. She said every day of delay is another day General Motors and Chrysler are going under.

As far as 2009, Bayh and other state senators are lobbying Congress for another stimulus package to revitalize the economy and create jobs. He also said he anticipates an energy bill in the future, which he plans to support.

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