Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tanya Chakraborty, (202) 772-3566
Washington, July 2 — The Committee to Restore Dealer Rights, representing many of America’s hometown automobile dealerships recently – or soon to be – terminated by GM or the pre-merger Chrysler, today released the following statement from Jack Fitzgerald, owner of Fitzgerald Auto Malls in three states, Alan Spitzer, owner of Spitzer Auto Group in Ohio, and Tammy Darvish, vice president of DARCARS in Maryland:
“As the nation prepares to celebrate the 4th of July and our independence from the tyranny of King George III, we are reminded that at our nation’s founding, human rights and economic rights were top priorities for America’s leadership. It seems fitting that this holiday weekend, we should also recognize the plight of the terminated Chrysler and General Motors dealers who have lost or will soon lose their businesses and the 169,000 Americans whose jobs are directly at risk as a result of the trampling of the state-granted economic rights of auto dealers by these auto manufacturers, the White House Auto Task Force, and the bankruptcy court in New York. These actions have also implicated the futures of all auto dealers, since the bar to ending a dealer relationship has been effectively lowered.
“In 1776, legislators meeting in Philadelphia conceived a plan to guarantee our liberty and rights. We call upon our legislators in Congress to do the same for the disenfranchised auto dealers, our employees, consumers, and others whose livelihoods depend on a vibrant auto industry. The pending Automobile Dealer Economic Rights Restoration Act (H.R. 2743/S. 1304) would restore the dealer franchise agreements terminated or coercively modified by GM and Chrysler and the White House Auto Task Force and sanctioned by the bankruptcy court. Thanks to the grassroots efforts of auto dealers from around the nation, our valued employees, customers and friends, the House bill has 205 cosponsors as of today and the Senate bill is supported by 10 Senators. We salute the bi-partisan bill sponsors such as Representatives Chris Van Hollen, Dan Maffei, Frank Kratovil, and Steny Hoyer as well as Senator Charles Grassley, who have demonstrated leadership worthy of their 18th Century predecessors in trying to restore our rights.
“When Congress returns next Monday, the House and Senate should designate a specific timeline for consideration of the Automobile Dealer Economic Rights Restoration Act. We call upon Congress to complete activity on this time-sensitive legislation before adjourning in early August.
“In the meantime, we wish all Americans a happy and safe holiday weekend.”
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The Committee to Restore Dealer Rights represents many of America’s hometown automobile dealerships recently – or soon to be – terminated by GM or the pre-merger Chrysler. It is co-chaired by Jack Fitzgerald, owner of Fitzgerald Auto Malls in three states, Alan Spitzer, owner of Spitzer Auto Group in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, and Tammy Darvish, vice president of DARCARS in Maryland. The Committee was formed in the wake of the Chrysler and GM bankruptcies to protect the rights of thousands of terminated auto dealerships and the customers and communities they serve. The Committee’s primary current focus is on securing passage of the bipartisan Automobile Dealer Economic Rights Restoration Act of 2009, which presently carries more than 140 Congressional co-sponsors. For more information please visit www.hometownautodealers.org
