Bush to Meet With Big 3 Tuesday

The long-awaited meeting between the heads of Detroit-based auto makers and President Bush is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 14, the White House says.

The CEOs from General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group are expected to emphasize the competitive pressures they face as a result of the skyrocketing cost of employee health care and unfavorable exchange rates, as well as lobby for a more comprehensive national energy policy.

Bush has said he is against any measures that would act as a bailout for the Detroit auto makers, which are struggling financially and undergoing massive restructuring programs.

But some analysts say the swing in favor of the Democrats in this week’s election may put the President in a more receptive mood when he meets with GM’s Rick Wagoner, Alan Mulally of Ford and Chrysler’s Tom LaSorda.

Meetings between the auto makers and Bush have been scheduled and subsequently canceled several times over the past year.