Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Judiciary Committee Hearing Postponed

We have received word from Chairman Conyers that the Judiciary Committee has decided to postpone the hearing originally scheduled for Thursday morning on our auto dealers issue given the pendency of ongoing negotiations between dealer groups and the two automakers. Please note that the hearing is postponed and not cancelled, meaning that it could be rescheduled at any time.

We understand that many of you were planning to come to Washington and attend as part of our show of support for the dealer cause. We regret that you may have been inconvenienced, but we only just now (6PM Eastern) have learned that the hearing would not take place on Thursday.

Chairman Conyers and other Members of the Judiciary Committee continue to be very interested in the dealer issue and we are encouraged by their willingness to dig deep into the issue and to study all its facets from our perspective.

We will keep you informed of any new developments as they arise.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Upcoming Judiciary Committee Hearing


Now I know why it’s called grass roots, because so much of our work is done underground. I’m forever grateful for the work that dealers, their employees and their customers are doing across this country of ours to keep our issue of the taking of dealer businesses on the front burner.

To summarize, we have two bills we’re tracking in Congress, and the language from one of our bills was attached to a spending bill, HR3170, that we call the LaTourette Amendment because Congressman LaTourette from Ohio put this amendment on to the Appropriations bill, and preserved it. That appropriations bill with the amendment is awaiting action in the Senate, under Senator Durbin’s direction.
In the meantime, NADA, NAMAD, our group CRDR and the ATAE’s are working in concert to bring about a “non-legislative” solution at the urging of our congressional supporters. On October 3rd, 2009 Speaker Pelosi said that will only be possible as long as “fairness” is injected into the process. Meetings with the manufacturers are ongoing.

In new developments, Congressman and Chairman John Conyers has called for a FULL Judiciary Committee Hearing on Thursday, October 15th 2009 at 10:00am in the Rayburn building (2141) that’s open to the public. This is part IV in the review of the effects of the bankruptcies, but this upcoming hearing is expected to focus on the facts considered by the Auto Task Force, who have been invited to testify. There is also a rumor that a senior retired executive from one of the automakers is appearing under subpoena who has questioned the so-called “experts” who advised the Auto Task Force.

Where did they get these experts?