House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed to include at least $25 billion in government loans

[AZEqualizer]

According to an article byDavid Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau: (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080911/AUTO01/809110472/1148)

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/09/washington-dc-us-capitol-s.jpg
WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed to include at least $25 billion in government loans for automakers in legislation before the year ends.
"We are still hearing back from (automakers). But $25 billion was in our energy bill last year," Pelosi told reporters at a briefing today. "We certainly will have it in something, whether it is a stimulus, a supplemental, a (continuing resolution). It is very essential to the industry, and it goes in the right direction of new technologies. And so there is great support for it. What vehicle it is in just is a question of what will pass and what will be signed by the President."

Separately, the ranking member and chairman of the Senate Finace Committee, Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Max Baucus, D-Mont., introduced a wide-ranging $40 billion energy tax bill Thursday that would reduce tax breaks for oil companies but also provide incentives for renewable energy.

The bill includes tax credits of up to $7,500 per plug-in electric vehicle (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080911/AUTO01/809110472/1148#), a move that GM says is essential to helping defray the cost of new vehicles like the rechargeable Chevrolet Volt, due out in 2010.

An energy bill introduced by House Democrats Thursday would require all gas stations to add one alternative fuel E85 pump, a fuel of 85 percent ethanol. Currently, less than 2,000 of the nation's 185,000 gas stations have an E85 pump.

[RAN]

If they want to offer tax credits, I can get behind that, as it actually helps the average tax-paying American get a return on their investment, and help usher in the new technology that we need.

Forcing every gas station to carry E85, and other silliness is what you'd expect of government, but not what we need.

[ziggy951]

True ignorance run rampant. They dont even know what is good and bad anymore do they?


Z

[Mark Tomlinson]

The core of the problem is that they are getting behind specific technologies. E85 and PHEVs are just two alternatives out of many. A Brayton cycle engine like the StarRotor, for instance, could triple MPG, but wouldn't be eligible for tax credits or funding.

The other side of the coin is that at least the government is doing something, even if it is not entirely right. Their hands are tied because they have to write a bill that is specific enough to avoid loopholes. And, lest we forget, most of what they hear comes from lobbiests and special interest groups. Not only that, but the congressman from Michigan wants to keep jobs in Detroit while the congressman from Iowa wants to promote ethenol from corn.

Hey! It's YOUR government. You don't like it, change it. Too busy earning a living and providing for a family? Then do like me and get behind technologies like the Venture One and force the marketplace to decide.

[ziggy951]

Well we do agree on where the problem lies. But Congress's problem overall is ignorance to the after affects. Since they really only hear or listen to lobyists "MOST" of them only get the one side of any argument. Instead of doing what is right for all they focus on the few they represent without seeing how a different solution could benefit their own constituents as well as the rest of the country even more. Its a tough act to sell because it kinda sounds like socialism if you start saying the good of all. But I think most of those people that have done even a small amount of research into Corn based ethanol realize that its use is pretty devestating on many levels. Price of all food rises, carbon emissions increase, more taxes through subsidies, etc, etc, etc. Pretty much the only positives about it are a decrease in our reliance in oil based petrol and the direct (not actual) cost at the pump to those that can use it. My father in law was bragging the other day that he only paid $275 a gallon the other day for E85. I asked him if it was worth spending $.75/lb more for meat, $.28/ear for corn, and $200 more in taxes every year. He looked at me with a blank stare like I was a jerk for ruining his parade. He litterally had NO clue about the opportunity costs of the use of E85.

Obviously I am not saying biofules are stupid as that would be spewing more ignorance into the discussion. But it is ignorant to take the approach Congress has taken to this point imo. So I still stand by the statement that ignorance is the topic at hand. If Congresmen/women were truly educated people rather than just elected politicians, I think most of the issues this country faces would be solved in a far better and more efficient manner. By truly educated I mean people that have the ability to gather their own information about the topics and make their own decision rather than look at the issue and decide whom or what organization they will support.

I do what I can to encourage education on the topics. It is relatively easy because I am still on a college campus. I have written letters to my local and state reps as well. I even sent our congressmen a small research paper I did on the associated costs of Corn based ethanol. Didn't even get a form letter response. I live in Colorado by the way and it is pretty obvious where our Congrassoles stand on the issues of education and ignorance. Pretty sure they will be a shakeup this year at the state level, at least I hope and vote so.



Z

P.S. Michigan will only lose jobs if they refuse to change for the current market, just like any other industry. I know there is more at play than"not wanting to change how they do things" but most sucessful companies can move with or adapt to change without a complete overhaul of their structure and facilities. I say they cut the fat and get on with doing what they need to do to meetthe current market demands.

[Mark Tomlinson]

We may be reading from different books, but still ended up on the same page.