For the Congressional Record
December 10, 2008

MR. STARK: Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to yet another taxpayer funded bailout of an industry that has been poorly managed for years.  I voted no when Wall Street came asking for their handout in September and I will vote no to bailing out corporations that have refused to evolve and build products that people want to buy.
 
The automakers are in trouble because they have been mismanaged.  For years they built gas-guzzlers, stifled innovation, and lobbied against reasonable environmental and safety standards. Even when credit was flowing freely, Americans weren’t buying Detroit’s products.  
 
Workers are not to blame – they have already accepted deep wage and benefit cuts.  If there were anything in this bill that provided protection for those workers, then I might think differently. What I see, however, is a repeat of the September bailout scenario; a large commitment of taxpayer money with very little explanation of how these funds will address the significant problems of the industry.  Indeed, the CEOs tell us that the $15 billion will “get them through January.” And then what?
 
If you want to see quality cars being made by unionized workers, go to my district.  At the NUMMI plant in Fremont, UAW-organized workers build cars, such as Corollas, that people want to buy.  This plant is a joint venture between GM and Toyota and has made a profit for both companies.  They are not here asking for a bailout.
 
Let’s not repeat the mistakes of three months ago by throwing good money after bad.