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The Associated PressAuto dealers are increasing the pressure on Maine's congressional delegation to back a bailout for the industry, letting lawmakers know that potential problems are not confined to Detroit.
A news conference is planned for today at Portland's Hadlock Field to detail how Maine's economy is tied to the industry, with suppliers and dealers providing jobs and tax revenue in the state.
The heads of the Big Three automakers -- Chrysler, Ford and General Motors -- are appearing before Congress seeking a $34 billion rescue package, and the United Auto Workers union is trying to drum up support in Maine and among its four-member delegation.
The UAW is running TV ads in Maine, Kentucky, Indiana and Minnesota. It's unclear why the union is targeting Maine. A union spokesman could not be reached Thursday for comment.
Union President Ron Gettelfinger told The Associated Press that the ads are designed to put forward the faces of union workers affected by the controversy over the loans, and to explain how the auto industry differs from the financial sector, which received a $700 billion bailout from Congress.
Republican U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe say they are reluctant to take a position on a bailout plan without seeing details.
Snowe, who met Thursday with representatives of Maine's auto dealers, said in a prepared statement that she would continue to review the testimony and any future proposals.
"Indisputably, automakers are in a critical situation, with serious ramifications for American jobs, our economy, and specifically the U.S. manufacturing sector up and down the supply chain," Snowe said.
"After witnessing the testimony today and the questions from the committee, it remains abundantly clear we still must ascertain exactly how the automakers would be required to follow through on promises to restructure for the long term, if those plans would, in fact, ensure sustainability, and how taxpayer dollars would be repaid."
Collins said the automakers' plans put before the Senate were "a step in the right direction," but more information is needed.
"I am very concerned about the detrimental impact of the manufacturers' financial crisis on Maine's automobile dealers and their employees, as well as on other innocent parties," Collins said in a statement.
"I will carefully review the industry's new proposals and the additional information they promised to provide in today's hearings," she said.
Today's news conference is set for 11 a.m. at Hadlock Field. It is planned by Maine Ford dealers, and hosted by the Portland Sea Dogs baseball team. Organizers say similar events are scheduled in states around the country.
The ballpark is owned by the city of Portland, but city spokeswoman Nicole Clegg said the Sea Dogs are allowed to host politicially themed events at Hadlock under the team's lease with Portland.
Speakers will include Wally Camp, president of Rowe Ford; Brenda Brochu of Bailey Brothers Ford in Livermore Falls, and Lisa Martin, executive director of the Manufacturing Association of Maine.
"We feel that this is going to have a domino effect if the Congress doesn't help the auto industry," said Dave Starkey of Starkey Ford in York. "It's going to affect a lot of people in Maine."
Organizers said in a statement that there are 31 Ford dealerships throughout Maine, employing 1,106 people.
As well, there are three significant auto-parts makers in Maine that collectively employ as many as 650 people: Brewer Automotive Corp., Formed Fiber Technologies in Auburn and ZF Lemforder Corp. in Brewer.
"It's just important for Maine people to know the car industry has a big footprint in Maine," said Brochu.
Brochu and Starkey said that Ford is in a better financial position than General Motors or Chrysler and doesn't need the money right now. But if either of the other two companies goes bankrupt, it would...
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