have the full knowledge of the 45 but another recent example is we ha a small town that had it she buick gmstore and the conclusion initial plan would be to consolidate the two and a conclusion after the reconsideration was no, let's leave that to for example the would be another one. >> mr. press, in light of what we have heard mr. henderson say about the need to have an appeal process because fairness requires it, equity requires it, how do you feel about that in light of the fact chrysler has no such thing for those who have been shut out? >> interesting question, i understand contrast. the fact is the situations are different. >> but the employees are affected the same way and the dealerships are affected the same way. >> they are both dealerships and auto companies but the factors that led to the appeal process don't exist for chrysler and that's a completely different situation because we don't have a term agreement that comes up that has -- >> with all due respect the fact that was a determining factor whether or not they were going to have a peace process was fairness and that a app

gm will rise or fall on the quality of its products. like the taut, athletic design of the new buick enclave. it is more than transportation. it is a modern drivers retreat. come on, work with me here. i have got cars to move here, people. [laughter] [applause] in all seriousness, despite the jokes i have told, i am here tonight because i appreciate all of the work that you do and the role that you play. you report the news as it happens and you cover history as it is made with a hand-held camera or a microphone. you bring the truth to people and allow people to bring truth to the world. we are seeing that now as history is unfolding in the sounds and images of broadcasts from around over the last week. we have seen professional and citizen journalists act as a voice for those who want to be heard. bearing witness to the universal aspirations of democracy and freedom, often at great risk and sometimes with great sacrifice. they do it because the rest of us need to hear the stories that they tell. we have seen the same courageous reporting and iraq and afghanistan, congo, every danger

buick was the stuff of american dreams. today those images have faded. for the first time the domestic market, ford, chrysler, gm have slipped before 50% going from 66% in 2001 to just 40% today. 47% of today's market. u.s. industry has long abandoned a diversified product mix instead have had to play catch up with foreign transplants only now have they recognized they must shift their focus from suvs and pickups to marketing more fuel-efficient automobiles. fortunately, one thing has remained constant, the skill, determination and ingenuity of the american worker. even in tough times americans are resilient and they are proving it these days. given the proper tools our domestic industry will keep fighting until we are back on top once again and i believe that can happen so i look forward to the hearing today on how, mr. bloom, and dr dr. montgomery are helping. mr. bloom has been intimately involved i would point out with negotiations with various stakeholders as well as the decisions on on how best to invest taxpayer dollars, in gm, gmac and chrysler. i look forward to exploring the rationale behind these deci

gm to our customers. personally and professionally, i feel strong, deep ties to dealers. i personally have worked at dealerships in my summer in college. my father, 39 years calling on buick dealers. my brother, 25 years. it's in my family. through my career and over my career i visited dealers in 48 countries around the world, including the united states. i have walked through stores, i have shared stories with them, i've had dinner with them and we celebrated their success and good times. and dealt with bad times together. i don't see dealers as dots on the map or lines on a spreadsheet. they are members of the larger gm family which makes this process so heartwrenching for me and for the corporation. a dealer closing is as painful as a plant closing. but we have no choice. we are all being called upon to sacrifice in order to build a stronger, more viable general motors. this is our last chance to get it right, to fix permanently those parts of the business that have diverted us from consistently matching and building winning cars and trucks and a consumer experience to match. our dealer network must match a smaller, stronger, leaner gm built for today's market and com

gm dealer an eerie dodge chrysler unlike elmo. what is so puzzling for so many other dealers in minnesota is a the some of these dealers are actually doing pretty well. walter buick years has been number two in sales for all buick pontiac gmc dealers in minnesota, if you're a dodge chrysler had an 85 year record for sales in january with 103 new cars sold in beat the record again in may with 113 new car sales, carona motors increased as new-car sales by 30% last. service work increase by 75%. yet these three dealers received termination notices. so understandably they have questions they want answered today about how these decisions were made, why they were given so little time and if there is any time that can be extended. and they feel that these decisions may have been made in the boardrooms and enshrined but they are affecting people in the living rooms in minnesota. this is about local communities as senator hutchinson described as senator rockefeller described throughout this country, and is about home grown locally owned businesses as well as the employees and customers to depend onç them. gm and tom letter to are here today are co-owners of. josh chrysle