PORTLAND (AP) – Democratic Reps. Tom Allen and Michael Michaud of Maine voted with the majority in favor of $14 billion in emergency aid for ailing U.S. automakers, but Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins have reservations about the bill.
Michaud says he reluctantly supported the bill, which he defended as far different than the unpopular $700 billion Wall Street bailout. The House approved the plan by a 237-170 vote Wednesday night.
Now debate moves to the Senate, where Collins and Snowe both say they have concerns about whether the so-called “car czar” has enough authority to force Ford, General Motors and Chrysler to restructure.
Another concern is that the bill as written allows the automakers to continue clean-air litigation.
AP-ES-12-11-08 0951EST
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