Toyota recall hearings - Lawmaker opening quotes
Lawmakers delivered opening statements today during a hearing investigating Toyota's and the government regulators' response to complaints of unintended acceleration in the company's vehicles.
The following are selected quotes from various members of Congress.
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Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.)
Cars have become moving computers.
There is no evidence that Toyota or NHTSA took a serious look at the possibility that electronic defects could have caused unintended acceleration, said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif).
As the car industry has entered the electronic era, NHTSA seems stuck in a mechanical mindset, he said.
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas)
The issue here is about the battle between economics and safety, and safety comes first,
It is important that we get the full answer to resolve these problems going forward.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R- Tenn.)
This should not be a trial but a hearing to get to the bottom of consumer safety issues.
This is too important an issue to play around or play politics with.
Rep. Phil Gengrey (R-Georgia)
Gingrey said more time could have been taken to review documents and prepare ahead of the hearings.
We have to be cognizant of perception, in this post-bailout world, where the government has taken on the task of picking the winners and losers, he said, referring to the government's ownership of General Motors.
Rep. Donna Christensen (D- Virgin Islands)
It will take much more than press releases and lobbying. It's time not to just rebuild your image, but to rebuild your trust.
Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio)
Trust is a fragile thing. It's hard to win and easy to lose.
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