general motors

Fouling the Clean Air Act

Mar 4, 2011
In a largely hidden component of its attack on the federal budget, the House of Representatives has approved a key Republican campaign promise to big business: protecting it from what the new majority calls the handcuffs of environmental safeguards. If the Republicans prevail in the Senate and overcome a White House veto, they would hobble the Clean Air Act.

Hummer Going the Way of the Dodo

Feb 26, 2010
The days appear to be numbered for General Motors' brand of oversize musclemobiles that we know as Hummer. The Detroit automaker has failed to seal the deal with a Chinese buyer in time to save the SUV line, which is looking more and more like the relic of pre-recessionary excess (not to mention gas-guzzling impudence) that it is.

Chavez’s Muffler Rattling

Dec 24, 2009
Hugo Chavez muffler-rattled against the likes of Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Fiat in a speech to the country Thursday, attacking those companies for not sharing technology with local industry and threatening to kick them out of business if they did not comply.
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Here Comes the ‘New’ GM

Jul 11, 2009
General Motors Chief Executive Fritz Henderson tooted his company's horn plenty when he ushered in a new, post-bankruptcy era for the Detroit automaker -- but he couldn't promise that GM 2.0 would be able to pay back the billions of dollars his company got from taxpayers.

More Aid, Please

Feb 18, 2009
General Motors, recipient of the 2009 "Nation's Most Resistant-to-Change Company That Still Gets Federal Assistance" award, wants more. The auto giant on Wednesday asked for $16.6 billion in loans, on top of the $13.4 billion already granted. All this amid GM plans to shed 47,000 jobs worldwide.

Post-Bailout, Lobbying Continues

Jan 23, 2009
Without skipping a beat, once-troubled financial entities are continuing to spend big to lobby Congress as they pocket billions in TARP bailout money. The lobbying is defended by the bail-outted firms as a "transparent and effective way" to be heard on policy issues.

End of a Supersized Era

Dec 24, 2008
Gas prices and fiscal concerns are causing the demise of the American-made sport utility vehicle, a welcome development in the eyes of many fellow drivers but one that also spells the end for thousands of American jobs.

To the Bailoutmobile!

Dec 19, 2008
In an avowed effort to save capitalism from itself, President Bush announced Friday that he would throw the Big Three failing auto companies a $17.4 billion lifesaver, siphoning that money from the initial $700 billion bailout slush fund authorized by Congress in October.

Bailout to Jump-Start Detroit

Dec 10, 2008
Agreement has been reached between the White House and congressional Democrats to offer the U.S. auto industry a $14 billion emergency package aimed at keeping the Big Three going until spring. Also, in the grand tradition of state socialism, the deal includes a new auto "czar" to oversee the restructuring of Detroit.

Poll: Auto Bailout Low on Fuel

Dec 4, 2008
With a bailout of the Big Three hovering over our political landscape, popular opinion has signaled a considerable voice against any federal support for the failing auto industry. A poll shows 61% of Americans oppose a bailout, believing any government assistance would be both unfair and ineffective in fixing the economy.

Ford Asks Gov’t for $9 Billion

Dec 3, 2008
After a dismal November, Ford Motor Co. is hanging by a thread, but the automaker told Congress on Tuesday that it is in better shape than Chrysler and General Motors and could make it through its current economic crisis with a little help -- to the tune of $9 billion in standby loans.

William Pfaff on General Motors

Jul 18, 2008
Are workers to blame for the fix that General Motors (along with many other corporations) is in? A new book by Roger Lowenstein argues that they are. He couldn't be more wrong.