McConnell: Auto manufacturers not making enough changes

Published February 21, 2009 5:00am ET



The Senate’s Republican leader says U.S. automakers seeking government aid still aren’t doing what’s necessary to save themselves.

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says that failure, in his view, is leading to a long-term policy in which the government simply props up the auto industry.

The government has already loaned $17 billion to General Motors Corp. (GM) and Chrysler, and they are seeking nearly $22 billion more.

McConnell says he opposed the bailout money in December because the companies were not willing to restructure as needed. And he says the companies still aren’t making the restructuring decisions that are called for.

McConnell appeared Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”