Lawmakers weigh in on the future of the auto industry

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Lawmakers stopped by the Washington D.C. Auto Show to discuss the future of the auto industry on Thursday.

Makes and models of all types are parked at the Washington D.C. Auto Show.

When lawmakers weren’t looking at cars of the future, they were discussing a future the future of cars. Ohio Republican Congressman Bob Latta said his state is number one in engine manufacturing and third overall in production. Latta is optimistic about the future if the government doesn’t try to take the wheel and mandate regulations or new technologies.

“The Federal government shouldn’t be dictating again what the American people are going to drive,” Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH) said. “That’s a consumer choice issue. The laws and regulations that follow, make sure the manufacturers can produce the product people want.”

His counterpart, Democrat Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur says American transportation is moving into a different era and the country needs to invest in new ways to get around.

“We need to make sure the kind of cars and trucks we build are very efficient,” Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) said. “(We need to make sure) that we have the types of power systems to serve everyone. Transportation is absolutely an anchor of the economic strength and growth of our country.”

Kaptur even went as far to say that the overall transportation system – not just cars -- needs to be overhauled.

Members of congress on both sides of the aisle agree that American independence is the best road to a bright future for the auto industry.

“Our most important objective is to be strong inside our borders,” Kaptur said. “Not to be dependent on imports. Not that we want to close our doors, we don’t but we want fair trade among free people.”

“We have to take care of ourselves in this country,” Latta said. “The permitting system in this country to get things done is slow. Nobody is out there saying no regulations, but we have to move things along. If we stop the production of the rare earth minerals, we have in this country we will fall behind.”

Another subject the lawmakers agree on, Ohio is doing its part to produce the workforce needed to keep the wheels turning in the Auto Industry.

“I look at our high school career centers, two-year colleges,” Latta said. “They are doing a great job in Ohio getting them educated for the careers for the future.”

“We are one million mechanics short in this country, they changed the name to technician. Workforce development in this field is critical. We aren’t planting the seeds for the seed corn of the future.”

New technologies, emerging energy sources, growing the workforce – all things lawmakers and the industry leaders are looking to cultivate to make sure American Auto rolls over the global competition.

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