by DFA Staff [courtesy of Blog for America]

Reuters reports on Ford laying off 2,500 workers:

Ford Motor Co said on Monday it would eliminate shifts at four U.S. plants and lay off some 2,500 workers -- or almost 5 percent of its remaining work force -- as part of an effort to cut costs and return to profitability next year.

Danny
Communications Director

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

A few weeks news broke that the U.S. Department of Transprtation was conducting a Congressional lobbying campaign to try and fight California's waiver request to fight greenhouse-gas emissions from cars. Requests for documents resulted in over 70 pages of internal memos and emails, where agency officials openly state their opposition to California's request. They directly coordinated with the auto industry to create a list of legislative targets for lobbying. LADN:

The documents also show that the Auto Alliance — a trade group representing Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler and others — provided the agency with a breakdown of auto facilities and employees in each congressional district. DOT officials then used the list to systematically target lawmakers likely to oppose California's request. "Just hit the members/senators with the really big facilities. No need to call those with small distribution centers or anything," Simon Gros, deputy chief of staff to Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, instructed his staff in a June 7 e-mail.

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