You're watching...
Former Governor of Missouri Matt Blunt weighs in on the Keystone Pipeline and how the auto industry is on the rebound.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Thank you for that and let's stay with all of this for a moment and talk a little bit more about.
Energy we bring in former governor Matt -- Republican have Missouri.
Who's with us here in studio today president of the American automotive policy council thank you governor for coming -- -- -- wanna talk about.
Well automotive the car shows here in New York this week -- first on this energy issue and the Keystone Pipeline I don't know -- joking around whether there's awkward moments at the White House today but what.
You make of this back and forth it's a big economic issues well with a distinction be approved show I have that pronounced personal views but obviously we need more North American energy and certainly hope that the president prime minister can can work together to to do that.
They can work together on important issues Canada's our most of one of our most important trading partners there's actually an op Ed today by myself and my Canadian counterpart.
-- praising the president and the prime minister further works to.
Really -- transit.
Along the border and increase trade along the border the automotive industry's highly integrated on both sides of the US Canada border.
Often -- -- North America up parts of cross the border.
Multiple times and everything they can do this -- -- important they've made a number of important to commitments and we wanna ensure that -- and keep those.
It's so integrated them in the automotive industry if you go to General Motors headquarters -- just look out the window you know there's absolutely right there so.
The now we've had some time to think about it and assess that.
And I know a lot of people are going to be talking about it more this week even if you watch the NCAA tournament.
Over the weekend it was another -- time in America commercial and about got a lot of attention to Super -- The auto bail out.
We've come a long way and -- that you know people weigh in with.
Their grades what would be yours you.
What we have come a long way and -- -- fundamentally different companies today their companies that are profitable that -- thrive in the free market place and they're doing that the regaining.
Market share and creating.
Thousands of American jobs are committed to create tens of thousands of jobs in the auto sector over the next few years I would assume -- -- -- -- maybe I'm wrong before you took your current position you would -- got say bailouts are good idea where your.
Well you know there's no question what's happened is worked -- -- might have been other paths to achieve the same results but what it's happened what the president so bush.
And Obama dead and the auto sector has worked and has been successful.
And the companies are thriving now is free enterprises.
That are focused on being profitable enterprises that create American jobs so when you -- somebody like -- Mitt Romney or the other Republican candidates attack it and say hey we would never supported this and you know we're not for bailouts and we think they should have been allowed to go through bankruptcy without government funding you say what well I think it's an -- since it's debatable point whether there might have been another.
Another path to the sort of success the companies -- joined today but I don't think you can debate with the fact that there what president's bush and Obama did.
Did work the industries thriving and they're fundamentally different companies that have gone through the same sort of -- fundamental restructuring that everybody.
From for Mitt Romney to the president right I believe needed to occur.
I'm sensing a little bit I mean at -- to understandably because position your and you don't want to -- you don't wanna say one way the other hey this is a good idea it wasn't you know it's debatable point that kind of.
I think what happened worked there's no question of what happened worked and that Chrysler Ford and General Motors are all three profitable companies today.
And that the auto sectors of fundamental importance to the American economy it's a big part of our gross domestic product.
Eight million jobs out of sector just in the United States -- and their competitive position around the world you'd -- what about that but clearly growing.
You know the largest export income largest sector at least in terms of that exports is in the automotive sector -- -- for General Motors -- Don't exported nearly a million cars last year alone or -- we're definitely back we're gaining market share you're gonna see a lot of exciting.
New models at the New York auto show -- this week will cover a lot of that we thank you for coming in the start that off this week governor thanks very much thank you very much former governor Missouri -- what was.
