CENTRAL OHIO -- Auto leaders are back in Washington appealing for aid, and their success or failure could have a critical impact on the economy of the Buckeye state.
NBC 4's Tom Brockman reported with the bottomline.
Those in the auto industry told Brockman if Congress refused this bailout, the implications will be dire.
As executives with the top three American automakers prepared for a new round of hearings in which they will ask congress for a bailout in the billions of dollars, local community and business leaders made it clear to officials in Washington what implications a decision not to offer a bailout will have on the state of Ohio.
As congress considers whether to grant Ford, General Motors and Chrysler with as much as $34 billion in loans, people such as Chris Haydocy, president of Haydocy Automotive, said anything but action wouldn't just be bad news for Ohio, it would be devastating.
Brockman caught up with Haydocy at his General Motors dealership moments before he was to take part in a Wednesday conference call with other community and business leaders to discuss the impact of an auto crisis.
"Look at it from a local issue: At Haydocy, every time we sell a new car, we contribute $4,200 to federal, state and local government. Multiply that $4,200 dollars by 800 domestic automobile dealers in the state of Ohio. The impact would be felt hard and wide."
While all three U.S. auto giants are based in Michigan, according to the Ohio Department of Development, nearly 24,000 people are employed at manufacturing plants throughout Ohio that are owned by Ford, Chrysler or GM.
"I assure you. The quickest way to make a recession a depression is not to move forward on this," Haydocy said.
At a noontime Statehouse news conference, Senator Dale Miller discussed a resolution he planned to introduce in the General Assembly to express support of the U.S. auto industry.
Another major Central Ohio employer will be moving ahead with the next generation of clean cars. Honda announced Wednesday that the 2009 Insight hybrid will debut next month at the North American International Auto Show.
According to Honda, the Insight is expected to be the most affordable hybrid car available.
Stay tuned to NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest news and information.
To send a news tip or submit a story idea, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement