Senate reviews closing of GM, Chrysler dealerships

[dbackjon]

Top executives from General Motors and Chrysler face tough questions from lawmakers about sweeping plans to close hundreds of car dealerships as the auto companies undergo government-led bankruptcies.

The executives will appear before a Senate committee Wednesday to talk about their dealership plans.

Lawmakers contend the dealership closings will put thousands of people out of work and offer few savings to GM or Chrysler, which have received billions in federal aid as they attempt to restructure and return to profitability.

Chrysler LLC has identified 789 dealerships that it plans to close next week, about a quarter of the company's dealership network. The Auburn Hills, Mich., automaker's plan has drawn fire from lawmakers because dealers received only three weeks' notice.

General Motors Corp. told 1,100 dealerships that it does not plan to renew their franchise agreements in late 2010 and expects to shed another 900 dealerships through attrition and by selling or discontinuing its Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn brands.

"The egregious time frame and terms of these franchise terminations seem unprecedented to me," wrote Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, which will hold the hearing.

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[Appaholic]

This would be the part of the play where the legislators decry the "unfairness" of the closings (in their districts)....they'll all have serious looks on their faces when they ask the probing questions due in an effort of transparency in the process so our citizens are treated "fairly and with dignity".....then they'll go play golf and have some scotch and a cigar....and discuss their re-election campaigns....

[TwinTownBisonFan]

This would be the part of the play where the legislators decry the "unfairness" of the closings (in their districts)....they'll all have serious looks on their faces when they ask the probing questions due in an effort of transparency in the process so our citizens are treated "fairly and with dignity".....then they'll go sit on the phone for 3 hours grinding through callsheets to discuss their re-election campaigns....

FIFY

[native]

This would be the part of the play where the legislators decry the "unfairness" of the closings (in their districts)....they'll all have serious looks on their faces when they ask the probing questions due in an effort of transparency in the process so our citizens are treated "fairly and with dignity".....then they'll go sit on the phone for 3 hours grinding through callsheets to discuss their re-election campaigns....

FIFY

Hmmmm. Sounds like a good reason not to be a politician.