CNBC asked Republican senators about the big issues facing the economy and what they expect from the Obama administration.
Auto Sector Reform
“The big issue this quarter actually for the Obama administration and the [auto] companies is for their capital structure to get where it needs to be, the VEBA issue solved and certainly the competitiveness issue with the UAW. This is actually a huge quarter for U.S. automakers.”
Sen. Bob Corker, R-TN
Obama's Stimulus Plan
“I would say Republicans are skeptical to the max on this stimulus. You don’t see the immediate benefit. It has a lot of government jobs, whereas we would rather see jobs in the private sector; we think that’s what would spur the economy.”
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-TX
TARP Transparency
“Near-term there are going to be significant issues about overseeing the TARP funds. One of the things we’re working on now as an oversight panel for the TARP is improving the communication…making sure there’s good public information about lending levels [and] about who’s receiving funds…I think there’s going to be a lot of pushback from Congress on the use of the TARP funds, the communication between Treasury and Congress and communication between Treasury and the general public.”
Fmr. Sen. John Sununu, R-NH
Bipartisan Solutions
“We take the president at his word that he wants to work in a bipartisan way. I can tell you he’s talked to me on the phone a few times, which shows that his heart is in the right direction.”
Sen. Charles Grassley, R-IA
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