- Eun Kyung Kim
News Journal Washington bureau
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jeff Miller voted against the $14 billion rescue plan for the auto industry, which passed 237-170.
"This has to stop somewhere, and regardless of what's its called, it is still a bailout bill," the Chumuckla Republican said before the vote Wednesday.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where several Republicans said it would be better if the automakers declared bankruptcy.
Miller agreed, calling such a solution more of a market-based response to the problem and "not just a handout to the auto workers unions in Detroit."
Miller dismissed the notion that people would not buy a car from a company in bankruptcy. He pointed out that he and other passengers continued to fly Delta as the airline worked its way through financial problems.
Congressional Democrats, in an effort to secure a bill President Bush would sign, met with White House officials to draft the auto bill.
Miller said even if the measure eventually reaches the White House, lawmakers might be called to vote on another rescue package for automakers.
"Pushing money to the automakers does not solve the problem when you don't have consumers buying cars," Miller said.
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