House Republicans delay vote on resolution thanking Obama, Congress for auto bailout

Republicans who control the Michigan House last week delayed voting on a non-binding resolution sponsored mostly by Democrats thanking President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress for coming to the rescue of Chrysler and General Motors.

House Resolution 189 has remained stalled in the House Commerce Committee since state Rep. Douglass Geiss, D-Taylor, introduced the resolution on Feb. 22.

On Thursday, Geiss sought to bypass the committee process and get a vote on the resolution on the House floor. The Republicans delayed a vote on whether to discharge the resolution by a day, meaning the issue may come up again on Tuesday. Rep. Marty Knollenberg of Troy is the only Republican co-sponsor of the resolution.

Geiss claims Republicans are stalling so they don’t have to be on record saying nice things about the Democratic president’s auto bailout, which is largely credited with helping the Michigan-based automakers work through a structured bankruptcy.

“It appears that Republicans are fearful of saying ‘thank you’ to all who supported our state’s most important industry during its darkest hour,” Geiss said in a statement.

Geiss is using the House leaders’ stalling to take a political shot at Obama’s Republican opponent, Detroit-born Mitt Romney, who opposed the auto bailout.

“The key for all of us in Michigan is that the auto industry not only survived the Great Recession, but today is leading our economic recovery. Jobs are being added and new products are being introduced. If President Obama had followed Mitt Romney’s plea to “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt,” our economic plight in Michigan would be much worse today. So, whether or not you supported the emergency loans to Chrysler and General Motors, the fact remains that we are better off as a state today with three strong automotive producers and numerous suppliers.

“Why is it wrong to say ‘thank you’ once in a while?”