On Feb. 22, 2012, I introduced House Resolution 189, a resolution of "gratitude to the people of the state of Michigan, the people of the United States of America, the President and Congress for their continued support of the domestic automobile industry." The resolution was quickly sent to the House Commerce committee and sits there without action.
On April 19, 2012, as we marked the milestone of Michigan reaching its lowest unemployment rate since mid-2008, I felt it was right to give our thanks. That is why I made a motion to discharge HR 189 from the Committee on Commerce in the hope that my colleagues would unite in supporting my resolution. Unfortunately, even though my colleagues demanded a record roll call vote on my motion, my motion was nevertheless passed for the day and a vote was not taken.
It appears that Republicans are fearful of saying "thank you" to all who supported our most important industry during its darkest hour.
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 for Chrysler and GM, 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?