Speaker won't meet auto CEOs

A 'scheduling conflict' keeps Pelosi from seeing Big 3 leaders in town for manufacturing summit.

David Shepardson / The Detroit News

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- back from a trip to see melting glaciers in Greenland -- will skip a meeting with the CEOs of Detroit's automaker today.

General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner, Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally and Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda are expected to be on Capitol Hill today to attend a manufacturing summit sponsored by Senate Democrats. The CEOs will zigzag through the Capitol all day, holding at least four hours of private meetings with the Senate and House leaders.

They also will meet with the entire Michigan congressional delegation.

Pelosi isn't on the CEOs' schedule because of a "scheduling conflict," said Drew Hammill, a spokesman for the California Democrat.

He said the House speaker had events scheduled in connection with the 20th anniversary of her election to Congress. "It's a very difficult day of meetings" for her, Hammill said.

Pelosi and other California Democrats don't like a provision in a draft fuel economy bill introduced Friday by U.S. Rep John Dingell, D-Dearborn, a key ally of the automakers. Dingell's bill prevents California and 11 other states from imposing far more aggressive fuel economy mandates.

It also requires automakers to average 36 miles per gallon for passenger cars by 2022 and 30 miles per gallon for trucks by 2024. The bill will be discussed at a House hearing Thursday.

Next week, the Senate will debate on a proposal to raise fuel economy mandates by 40 percent by 2020, to 35 mpg.

All of the auto CEOs will make their entrance today in fuel-efficient vehicles. Mulally will drive up to the east front of the Capitol in a Ford Escape Hybrid, Wagoner in a hybrid Saturn Aura and LaSorda in a flex-fuel Town & Country minivan. On Tuesday, the CEOs added another meeting to their schedule -- with ally U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo.