By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – U.S. Senator Charles Schumer strongly favors helping the auto industry, but doesn't want to call it a bail out. However, he says there must be tough criteria if the auto makers receive the financial help from Washington.
"We want to make sure they are going to get some help from the government, which I think we are going to see on a bipartisan basis. That they put together a plan on how they are going to get out of this mess. And they make sure they the same kind of excess and pay for people at the top that we saw on Wall Street can't be allowed here," said Schumer.
Senator Schumer says there should be no "golden parachutes" for auto industry leaders. Schumer noted a collaspe of the auto industry would have big effect on the Western New York region, where about 8,0000 are employed by the U.S. auto makers. Schumer says Washington can not let auto industry to go under.
Schumer appeared at the Federal Building in Buffalo Wednesday. He also told reporters that he believes Obama will help Buffalo and Western New York. Schumer says Obama is expected to make infrastructure funding a number one priority. This would mean funding for projects in the region that would generate jobs. Schumer says the Nation is on the brink of unprecedented change and he believes this new democratic administration will give the right attention to the region.