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Nov 18, 2008 6:44 am US/Central
Auto Bailout Concerns GM Arlington Workers
ARLINGTON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
A new bailout battle is brewing on Capitol Hill. Democrats want to extend a financial lifeline they say is needed to save American carmakers. The debate hits home for many North Texans working at Arlington's General Motors Plant.
CBS 11 News did live reports from Arlington two weeks ago, when GM announced its billion-dollar third quarter deficit.
Then, employees were cautiously optimistic but that optimism has turned into concern as they wait on word from Washington.
Monday CBS 11 News asked one worker 'On a scale of 1 to 10, how worried are you?' She responded: 'I'm a 12!' "
It appears fear of the uncertain is settling in at the GM plant in Arlington.
Worker Carla Brame said: "All of us are concerned. We're all worried right now."
They're worried that without the aid of a $25 billion government bailout the plant could go under putting the brakes on their income and their future.
GM worker and mother Lakesha Butler says she has a lot on her mind.
"I have two children and a husband - so it's [the bailout] very important to me. How am I going to feed and clothes my kids? I need the bailout bad!"
A government bailout or the lack of one could also affect thousands of GM retirees.
"Now I don't know if I'm retired or just kinda between jobs," explained Audie Brannon, who retired from General Motors.
Many GM employees find themselves planning for the possibility of life without benefits and attending training classes for other trades.
"I really don't know what's going to happen with our insurance benefits. It seems like we just keep losing little by little now," Brannon said.
If GM goes under the loss in Arlington could be catastrophic.
"Over $393 million. That's money that won't be coming in taxes, spent at grocery stores - buying all kinds of products," said United Auto Workers representative Enrique Flores.
It's a scenario Congressman Joe Barton doesn't want to see happen, despite remaining hesitant in approving a bailout that lacks accountability for the automakers.
The current bailout plan proposal is heavily supported by Democrats, but Republican Sen. John Cornyn joins Barton in his opposition to the proposal.
Over the weekend Cornyn issued a statement that said in part, "Democratic leaders in Congress want to pass a $25 billion handout to Detroit with no promises of reform, accountability, or transparency by the automakers and their union base. This is bad public policy and an affront to taxpayers who are demanding fiscal responsibility and accountability from their government."
Brannon repeated the slogan 'Baseball, apple pie and Chevrolet', but without some assistance the American icon could crumble, taking with it thousands of North Texas livelihoods.
"We have families to take care of," Brame said with concern. "We have bills to pay like everyone else."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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