July 14, 2009
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett joined a Bipartisan coalition of Senators and Members along with more than 100 auto dealers from across the country to discuss the progress of the Automobile Dealer Economic Rights Restoration Act of 2009 (HR 2743). Rep. Bartlett had held a news conference on June 2 with Jack Fitzgerald, Tammy Darvish and other Maryland dealers at the Fitzgerald Auto Mall in Frederick, Maryland to protest Chryslers cancellation of franchise contracts. He joined a bipartisan coalition at a June 10 news conference at the Capitol to announce the introduction of the bill by Congressmahn Maffei.
To date, the Act has more than 240 co-sponsors in the House. Senator Charles Grassley has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. This is part of a bipartisan effort by the Congress to ensure the Rule of Law prevails to protect the private property rights of auto dealers. The auto dealerships targeted for closing are all independently-owned and operated small businesses and pillars of our communities. These men and women deserve better than the capricious closings by Chrysler and specious claims that eliminating or alienating their best customers will help Chrysler or GM, our economy, consumers or taxpayers.
