Minority Leader U.S. Rep. John Boehner (R-West Chester) wrote in support of the American Automotive Reorganization and Recovery Plan that House Republicans introduced as its preferred legislation to assist the U.S. auto industry in his eBulletin Wednesday.

Boehner said that Washington should address the challenges facing the auto industry, but should not do it through what he called "taxpayer-funded bailouts that prolong workers' pain and put your tax dollars at risk." Boehner instead called for "fixing problems and removing barriers that make it harder for families to prosper." 

Boehner said that the House Republicans' American Automotive Reorganization and Recovery Plan "will protect taxpayers and help working families by allowing the auto companies to become competitive again without nationalizing an industry that needs real reform or forcing taxpayers to pay for a bailout."

"I want to be clear: Ohio and our nation need a healthy auto industry that produces vehicles that Americans want to buy and provides good-paying jobs," Boehner wrote. "But the proposal Democratic leaders are attempting to push through Congress is unworthy of American auto workers and unworthy of American taxpayers." 

Boehner said that the Democrats' proposal does not lay the groundwork for long-term stability of the industry, but instead "asks taxpayers to further subsidize a failing business model that does not meet the needs of American workers and consumers."

"Their proposal will keep the auto industry dependent on taxpayer money instead of giving auto workers the security of a viable industry that is back on its feet and ready to compete," Boehner told supporters.  "A responsible plan should protect taxpayers and help workers and their families by allowing the auto industry to become self-sufficient again." 

Boehner said that the introduced Republican alternative does this. 

He quoted Conference Chair U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) as saying the GOP alternative will "lock in the restructuring promised over the last few weeks with firm benchmarks and a tight timeline.  And in place of a short-term government bailout, [it] taps private investment to finance the Detroit recovery."