Clinton bargains for better fuel economy
Presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton makes campaign offer to Detroit automakers: tougher fuel economy standards in exchange for health care aid.
June 9 2007: 10:02 PM EDT
DETROIT (Reuters) -- U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton Saturday offered a double-barreled campaign message for the struggling U.S. auto industry: accept tougher fuel economy standards in exchange for federal help with the costly burden of retiree health care.
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In what she called a "win-win" policy prescription for Detroit, Clinton advocated reducing average fuel consumption and shoring up the payroll of an industry that has lost over 150,000 jobs in the past three years.
She repeated her backing for stricter U.S. fuel economy standards in pending legislation aimed at the heart of the still truck-heavy lineup offered by Detroit automakers.
General Motors Corp. (Charts, Fortune 500), Ford Motor Co. (Charts, Fortune 500) and Chrysler Group have lobbied to slow the proposed increases in fuel economy standards.
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Clinton said the U.S. automakers would have to accept the changes, but said in exchange the government could also help offset the retiree health care costs seen as the ailing industry's single biggest liability.
http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/09/news/clinton_automakers/index.htm