Reps. Knollenberg, Agema, Amash, Booher, Daley, Genetski, Green, Haines, Hansen, Horn, Kowall, Opsommer, Proos, Rogers, Paul Scott and Walsh offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 70.

            A resolution to urge the President and the Congress of the United States to refrain from excessive interference in the operations of private corporations, allowing the shareholders and boards of directors to make their own decisions on who should lead those companies and control the day-to-day operations of the enterprise.

            Whereas, The recent White House move to oust the chair and CEO of General Motors as a step to revamping the country's largest auto manufacturer has raised concerns across our state and nation. Given the scope and complexities of the financial problems facing the entire economy and not just this industry, this particular federal action in dictating who will be the day-to-day manager of a private corporation raises a specter of concern and precedent that goes beyond any single company or industry; and

            Whereas, Government-initiated decisions for a business that competes in the global marketplace run the risks of inflexibility; conflicts of interest with other governmental, lobbyist, or special-interest goals; and ignoring the very strength of our system of free enterprise. The long-term historical track record of governmentally run endeavors provides cause for concern in the eyes of many people. To subject this state's primary industry to such a granular level of federal governmental control is especially worrisome to the people of Michigan; and

            Whereas, The actions and attitudes of the administration demonstrated toward the domestic auto industry also seem to stand in stark contrast to how failing financial companies seeking federal help have been treated. While the public justifiably seeks and demands oversight, accountability, and transparency in how its federal tax dollars are spent, and the corporations of the auto industry accepting such money should accept and be prepared to openly account for their use of such monies and provide transparency in their reforms, the federal government should not micro-manage those companies once it has chosen to grant loans or in the alternative not grant them. This contrast is even more profound when noting that the failing financial industry, by creating a tight loan environment and overall economic uncertainty, may have contributed to the condition of the auto industry and all other industries in economic stagnation. The seemingly discriminatory treatment bestowed upon the auto industry through the course of this governmental intervention is even more precisely outlined when noting that while the government has loaned and given the financial industry at least 20 times as much money, it not only has not replaced financial company presidents but it infamously allowed, in a completely non-transparent way, the executives of one notorious financial institution to receive nearly $170 million in bonuses. The disparateness of these actions, coupled with the concern of the historical precedent this action sets as the first "nationalization" of an industry, move us to determine and declare our grave concern; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That, if the federal government decides to assist a private industry during economically hard times, we urge the President and the Congress of the United States to allow such companies to make their own leadership decisions and otherwise run the day-to-day operations without undue interference; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.