Yarmuth, Pelosi tour Ford plant before campaign stop
By Deborah Yetter
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hopped behind the wheel of Ford's prototype Escape plug-in hybrid SUV yesterday on a visit to the automaker's Louisville Assembly Plant and declared herself impressed.
"It is the future," she said of the gleaming white vehicle that remains in the research stage and has not been designated for production at any Ford plant.
Pelosi, a California Democrat, visited Ford yesterday with U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-3rd District.
Yarmuth, who is facing a challenge this year from former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup, the Republican he beat two years ago to win his first term in Congress, acknowledged the event could provide him a political boost.
It also could boost money to try to re-elect Democrats. Yarmuth and Pelosi were headed directly from the late-afternoon visit to Ford to a $5,000-a-plate fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
But Yarmuth and Pelosi said the main purpose was to showcase work Ford is doing to develop new ways to move the U.S. auto industry forward by creating vehicles that use less gas and are better for the environment.
"We're committed to making sure American industry prevails," he said.
Yesterday's visit came a day after Ford, which has two plants in Louisville, announced it will cut back production of its F-Series Super Duty trucks at its Kentucky Truck Plant in eastern Jefferson County. It already had announced it will drop one of two shifts this summer at the Fern Valley Road plant Pelosi visited yesterday because of slow sales of the Explorer sport utility vehicle.
Before their public appearance, Pelosi and Yarmuth met privately with Ford executives, union representatives and Louisville and state economic development officials to discuss the state of the auto industry and what the federal government can do to improve it.
Suggestions include more federal funding for research, tax incentives and other measures to spur innovation and new technology, said Joe Reagan, president of Greater Louisville Inc., who attended the 40-minute talk.
He said local officials stressed the importance of Ford's two plants to the community and the need to keep them healthy. "We want to make sure the plants and the work force are ready for the future," he said.
Reagan said he found Pelosi to be "informed and engaged" during the discussion.
Alfonso Cash, an official with United Auto Workers Local 862, which represents 5,700 workers at the two plants, said he was just happy to see all sides represented in the discussion.
"I'm excited to see the government, Ford and the UAW come together as one," he said.
As for the plug-in hybrid, which offers drivers 20 to 40 miles per gallon and a battery charged with an electrical plug, Ford hasn't announced a possible production date or location.
Yarmuth said he is hopeful for an announcement soon.
Cash, the union official, said he would love to see the vehicle built in Louisville. "It would be great," he said.
6/22/08
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