미국 연방 상원에서 다수당인 민주당과 소수당인 공화당이 어려움을 겪고 있는 국내 자동차 산업에 대한 금융 구제계획을 협상했으나 합의에 실패했습니다.
민주당의 해리 리드 상원 원내대표는 민주당과 공화당의 입장차이가 너무 커 협상이 결렬됐다고 어제밤 밝혔습니다. 리드 대표는 이번 협상 실패로 미국이 크나큰 손실을 입게 됐다고 말했습니다.
공화당 의원들은 미국자동차노조가 임금 삭감 일자에 동의하지 않아 협상이 실패했다고 밝혔습니다.
리드 대표의 협상 결렬 발표가 있은 직후 상원은 자동차 산업 구제법안 상정을 위한 표결에 들어갔지만 부결돼 법안이 사실상 폐기됐습니다. 백악관은 상원의 협상 결렬은 실망스러운 일이라고 밝혔습니다.
*****
Majority Democrats and minority Republicans in the U.S. Senate have failed to reach agreement on a financial rescue plan for the nation's struggling auto industry.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced the talks had collapsed late Thursday night, saying there were too many differences between Democrats and Republicans. Reid called the failure "a great loss for the country."
Republican lawmakers say the talks failed because the union that represents employees, the United Auto Workers, refused to agree to a date to slash wages.
Shortly after Reid announced the talks had failed, the Senate held a procedural vote that effectively killed the legislation. (The vote was 52 to 35, falling short of the 60 votes necessary to move the bill forward.)
The Bush administration issued a statement describing the collapse of the talks as "disappointing." The White House says the bill was the best chance to avoid a "disorderly bankruptcy."
Democrats have been urging the administration to use part of the 700 billion dollar fund aimed at rescuing the nation's financial industry to help the automakers. The White House says the administration is evaluating its options.
General Motors has issued a statement saying it is "deeply disappointed" by the bill's failure. The company says it will assess its options in order to stay in business.