| Give American auto manufacturers a break by | | | | a solution even though United States made about |
| giving a $3,000 tax credit to US consumers for | | | | eight times the amount from tariffs on imported |
| purchasing American manufactured cars. Most | | | | shoes than from imported cars |
| people are not willing to switch their favorite | | | | American auto makers are the most productive |
| brands without the right incentives. US can attract | | | | workers in the world. We can create more jobs in |
| foreign manufacturers to build their cars here, if | | | | the US by helping ourselves without trade |
| more people buy cars that are manufactured in | | | | embargoes .The best idea to help ourselves would |
| the United States instead of overseas. More | | | | be to give a $3000 tax credit to consumers for |
| than half of all Toyota’s that are sold in the | | | | purchasing new cars that are manufactured in the |
| United States are manufactured right here in the | | | | United States. The credit should include every |
| US. Toyota realized the big movement in the | | | | auto maker that builds a plant in the US and |
| United States in the 80’s towards buying | | | | manufactures their car here, even if the auto |
| products that are manufactured in the United | | | | maker is based overseas. The labor cost for |
| States. Other car makers followed suit including | | | | every car that is manufactured in the United |
| BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Mercedes | | | | States is roughly $1400. The benefits are not just |
| and Subaru. But most of their cars are still | | | | for the people that work directly in the |
| manufactured overseas. | | | | manufacturing plant but it will include the people |
| There are 640,000 | | | | that build the plants, workers that maintain the |
| active members in the UAW throughout the | | | | plan, the administrative needs of the plant, and all |
| United States, Canada and Mexico. In 2007 | | | | the other local businesses that will benefit from |
| approximately 70,000 UAW workers lost their | | | | the economic resources that will be spent in the |
| jobs in the United States. These jobs are very | | | | area. Here is an example of the economic |
| high paying jobs with generous pension plans and | | | | benefits from a family of four with two |
| health benefits. An average UAW worker makes | | | | employees in the UAW and two children |
| $26 an hour, with benefits and contributions to | | | | compared to collecting unemployment. |
| pension plans that average is $65 per hour. In | | | | . |
| 2008 the total job cuts is expected about | | | | Average income for two adults working in the |
| 100,000, by the end of the year. In November | | | | UAW. |
| 2008, GM had a 45 percent drop in sales , | | | | $108160 |
| Ford’s sales dropped 30 percent and Chrysler | | | | Federal income Tax collected after standard |
| sales dropped 36 percent compared to last year. | | | | deductions and two exemptions for two workers. |
| If this trend continues, the big three will be forced | | | | $13,816 |
| to go out of business. In 2007 GM posted a loss | | | | Unemployment compensation for two at $364 a |
| of $38.7 billion, Ford posted a loss of $2.7 billion | | | | week for 26 weeks. |
| and Chrysler posted losses of 2.92 billion. While | | | | $37856 |
| Toyota recorded record profits near $14 billion. | | | | Federal Income Tax collection from benefits after |
| American automakers | | | | standard deduction and exemptions. |
| need more money to save themselves from | | | | $1,358 |
| bankruptcy. They need people to actually buy the | | | | Average tariff collected on $20,000 import car |
| cars that they produce. US taxpayers are shelling | | | | $500 |
| out $700 billion dollars to salvage the financial | | | | There are approximately four million cars that are |
| sector and hundreds of billions still pending. With | | | | imported into the United States. Just imagine how |
| the uncertaintity of the economy, almost every | | | | many jobs that we can add or retain by |
| industry is struggling to stay alive. Some parts of | | | | manufacturing the cars right here in our own |
| Michigan that use to survive from the auto | | | | backyard. We have the technology and the |
| makers now look like ghost towns. To help the | | | | people that can make it happen. Instead of bailing |
| auto industry and the people that rely on | | | | out the industry, let’s give the consumers |
| manufacturing, Governor Jennifer Granholm of | | | | incentives to buy American made cars. |
| Michigan went to Washington to ask for higher | | | | Manufacturing is the backbone of the American |
| tariffs on foreign imports. If we put higher tariffs | | | | economy; we cannot afford to ship these jobs |
| on imports, there is going to be an international | | | | overseas. This country became great because of |
| crisis with trade embargos. The average tariff on | | | | our great manufacturing tradition. We must |
| most import cars is two and one-half percent. | | | | preserve our manufacturing jobs, to get our |
| Increasing tariffs will create a bigger problem than | | | | economy strong again. |