futureXterra
01-09-2007, 04:58 PM
By NICK BUNKLEY
Published: January 9, 2007
DETROIT, Jan. 9 – General Motors still sells more cars than Toyota in the United States, but it says it’s seen as nothing more than an also-ran these days on Capitol Hill.
G.M.’s vice chairman, Robert A. Lutz, said the company, which is closing numerous plants and cutting tens of thousands of jobs in a bid to become profitable again, has not been able to keep up with the lobbying efforts made by Toyota and other Japanese automakers.
“They outspend us,” he told reporters at the Detroit auto show today, “and I will tell you today – mind you, today – it is my considered opinion that Toyota has more clout in Washington than we do.”
Mr. Lutz said elected officials have shown little interest in G.M., nor Detroit’s other automakers, noting how long it took President Bush to agree to talk with the leaders of the traditional “Big Three.” After months of delays, the meeting occurred at the White House in mid-November.
“It was, ‘Tough luck guys, you made the deal with the unions decades ago, now live with your mistakes of the past,’” Mr. Lutz said. “There was zero sympathy.”
He went on, “One of the sad things is, Toyota is so profitable and has plants in so many states that, frankly, they’ve got more congressmen and senators than General Motors does.”
According to the Center for Responsible Politics, which tracks campaign donations and lobbying activity on the Web site opensecrets.org, G.M. spent $7.8 million lobbying lawmakers in 2005, compared to $5.7 million by Toyota. Estimates for 2006 are not available.
cry babies!
Published: January 9, 2007
DETROIT, Jan. 9 – General Motors still sells more cars than Toyota in the United States, but it says it’s seen as nothing more than an also-ran these days on Capitol Hill.
G.M.’s vice chairman, Robert A. Lutz, said the company, which is closing numerous plants and cutting tens of thousands of jobs in a bid to become profitable again, has not been able to keep up with the lobbying efforts made by Toyota and other Japanese automakers.
“They outspend us,” he told reporters at the Detroit auto show today, “and I will tell you today – mind you, today – it is my considered opinion that Toyota has more clout in Washington than we do.”
Mr. Lutz said elected officials have shown little interest in G.M., nor Detroit’s other automakers, noting how long it took President Bush to agree to talk with the leaders of the traditional “Big Three.” After months of delays, the meeting occurred at the White House in mid-November.
“It was, ‘Tough luck guys, you made the deal with the unions decades ago, now live with your mistakes of the past,’” Mr. Lutz said. “There was zero sympathy.”
He went on, “One of the sad things is, Toyota is so profitable and has plants in so many states that, frankly, they’ve got more congressmen and senators than General Motors does.”
According to the Center for Responsible Politics, which tracks campaign donations and lobbying activity on the Web site opensecrets.org, G.M. spent $7.8 million lobbying lawmakers in 2005, compared to $5.7 million by Toyota. Estimates for 2006 are not available.
cry babies!