DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Just in time for today's congressional hearings, companion resolutions urging Congress to come to the financial rescue of the domestic auto industry have been introduced in the Ohio Senate and House.

A bipartisan group of state senators on Wednesday, Dec. 3, introduced a resolution urging Congress to "provide immediate assistance to the domestic auto industry to enable it to weather the current financial crisis."

The resolution said such aid should be "conditioned on documented commitment by the industry to use the assistance to restructure, improve operating efficiency and accelerate the production of fuel-efficient vehicles, thereby ensuring its long-term survival."

Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, a retired auto dealer, said he agreed with the resolution "in concept." Before committing to vote for it, Harris said he wanted to make sure his business dealings wouldn't present a conflict of interest.

In the House, Rep. Peter Ujvagi, D-Toledo, has introduced a resolution asking Congress to approve a $25 billion bridge loan plan to help U.S. automakers.

Today, leaders of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford are scheduled to begin two days of hearings in Washington on bailout proposals.

"Losing our automobile industry would take us a long step toward becoming a second-class nation, primarily servicing what other countries make," Sen. Dale Miller, D-Cleveland, sponsor of the Senate resolution, said at a press conference attended by representatives from organized labor and Ford.

Republican Sen. Mark Wagoner of Toledo, a co-sponsor, said the industry supports the American middle class and the proposed bailout plan represents "shared sacrifice."

Sen. Tom Roberts, D-Dayton, said he supports the resolution.

Miller said about 100,000 workers in Ohio are directly employed in the auto industry and the number grows to about 200,000 if related industries are included.

Legislative resolutions aren't legally binding, but are used to show Congress what voters back home are thinking.

Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.