Toyota Congressional Hearings Reveal Bias, Serve Government Self-Interest
With Congressional Committees acting on the latest government assault against Toyota, AWF issued the following press release:
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Toyota is set to meet before the House Oversight Committee on February 24 and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on March 2 regarding its recent recall of 650,000 models. While Honda recalled 636,000 models last month and Ford recalled more than 4 million vehicles last year, neither company was subjected to a Congressional Hearing.
“With the United States Government owning a majority of General Motors and Chrysler, Toyota’s main competitors, these hearings should raise some eyebrows,” said Brain Johnson, Executive Director of the Alliance for Worker Freedom. “Congress’ decision to drag Toyota executives through the mud is unprecedented. Auto recalls are somewhat of a common occurrence, yet, these hearings are the first of there kind.”
President Obama’s Transportation Secretary Appointee Ray LaHood told owners of a recalled Toyota to “stop driving it.” LaHood’s comments could be viewed as a violation of the government’s own “non-compete” commitment.
“The government, in this case backed by the union saturation of GM, has a clear conflict of interest in owning companies that are in direct competition with Toyota. The problems have been determined, the solutions are in process. Sec. LaHood and the union-supported Democrat heads of the committees holding hearings on this matter should step back and allow the private sector to function without biased interference,” added Johnson.
A recent Zogby poll found 64% of those surveyed feel Toyotas are, on average, more safe (18%) or equally safe (47%) as other vehicles.
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