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Columbia Missourian

Fenton officials support auto industry bailout

By The Associated Press
December 5, 2008 | 12:01 p.m. CST

FENTON — Officials in the auto manufacturing town of Fenton are among those asking the federal government to help the U.S. auto industry with $34 billion in loans.

Fenton Mayor Dennis Hancock says he supports government intervention but with some strings attached.

Chrysler idled the Fenton South minivan plant in October, but a Canadian facility that makes the same vehicles is running three shifts. That frustrates Hancock, who wants lawmakers to require the Detroit Three to change that as a condition of the loan.

Hancock made his request to Sen. Kit Bond, a lead negotiator on a loan compromise, when the Republican visited Fenton in late November. A spokeswoman for Bond says the senator supports the idea.