I want to take an opportunity to express my appreciation to you Mr. Chairman for accompanying me back up to Washington earlier this month as we went to go and again make an appeal on the behalf of some folks who are very important to the Shreveport community, the Shreveport economy, the Northwest Louisiana economy, for that matter. And also want to express my appreciation for the action taken by our President and stepping forward to provide the necessary bridge financing that’s needed to ensure that we continue to have a domestic automotive manufacturing industry in the United States of America and to make sure that folks understand that from the congressional side of the equation there were clear majorities in both houses to get this done. It passed the House of Representatives with the strong support of our own congressman, outgoing congressman Jim McCrery as well as the vast majority of the rest of the delegation and even over in the Senate where it never came to a vote, there were at least 52 votes committed to vote in favor of the measure as well. Unfortunately, in the Senate it takes 60 votes in order to be able to end discussion and so it was not possible to be able to get to that point where a vote could be held, but had it been voted on it would have also met with a majority of support from those Senators who would have been present and voting as well.

It’s given us a chance to be able to see this situation further down the road, the commitment has been made to ensure that the detailed plans are in place by mid-February that fully articulates how it is that GM as a whole ends up managing to get itself down the road to profitability and solvency and we have great hope and great expectations that Shreveport-GM is going to be a part of that effort.

I was very proud to have the chance on yesterday to come out and meet with the new General Manager there Mr. Bruce Pierson as well as to have a chance to be able to meet with and hear from a good number of the employees who were out there as well, who expressed in a very warm and genuine manner, their appreciation for our collective efforts and the support of this council by the resolution that you all passed, as well as those

members of the congressional delegation who stood up and expressed their support for what needed to be done as well.

We’re thankful for lots of things this Christmas, not the least of which is health and happiness, but also to know that while things are not as ideal as we would like for them to be here in Northwest Louisiana, when we look at our fellow citizens not only around the country, but around the world we have to acknowledge that the possibility exists that they could be much, much worse.

So we are thankful, as I used to hear my grandparents say that “things are as well as they are”.

Thank you Mr. Chairman, thank you council and Merry Christmas to you and to each or your families.