Barney Frank "Car Czar Award"

Barney Frank gets "Car Czar" award
By: Susan Ferrechio
Chief Congressional Correspondent
06/08/09 5:51 PM EDT
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., took to the Senate floor today to sarcastically issue a "car czar award" to Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., for blocking an automotive warehouse from closing in in is district.
Frank said he was just working on behalf of his constituents, as any representative would, according to the Wall Street Journal, but Frank is no ordinary lawmaker. He's chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, which is playing a key role in the restructuring of the automotive industry. The Journal reports that Frank's efforts to keep the General Motors distribution center from closing at the end of the year were successful, and it saved 90 jobs. The Journal reports that Frank put in a call to GM CEO Fritz Henderson and the paper labeled him a "car czar" in a June 5 editorial.
Alexander says he is picking up from where the Journal left off.
"This is the first in a series of Car Czar awards to be conferred upon Washington meddlers who distinguish themselves by making it harder for the auto companies your government owns to compete in the world marketplace," Alexander said.
Alexander is apparently serious about bestowing more awards in the future and is seeking public suggestions for who should be honored.
"Please e-mail me at CarAward@Alexander.Senate.gov, and I will give you full credit in my regular Car Czar reports here on the floor of the United States Senate," Alexander said.