Obama auto bailout draws fire Dozens of lawmakers fear impact on dealers, workers, lenders




Gordon Trowbridge and Deb Price / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington -- Members of Congress, who left GM and Chrysler on the brink of collapse five months ago, sought Friday to take control of the auto bailout, with dozens of lawmakers pressing claims for dealers, workers and lenders.

The complaints came from the political left and the right in a series of indignant press conferences and letters to administration officials: Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, one of Congress's most liberal members, compared the Obama's auto rescue to smothering a hospital patient with a pillow.

And Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, a staunch conservative, wrote Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner accusing the administration of waging "a war on capital" in seeking concessions from lenders.

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A bipartisan group of Congress members, including Republican Steve Latourette and Democrat Dennis Kucinich, are writing to the White Houser today to ask President Barack Obama to stop deciding on his own the fates of auto companies.

Press conference Transcript

The full list of signers: cleveland.com