Bush, Big 3 Meeting Now Slated for November

Top executives of the Detroit-based Big Three auto makers are to meet with President Bush one week after the November elections, news reports say.

Karl Rove, the President’s chief political advisor, tells WJR Radio in Detroit a meeting is scheduled next month at the White House.

Citing unnamed sources, The Detroit News reports Nov. 14 is the designated date for the summit, which likely will include the CEOs of Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group.

Bush has made it clear the federal government will not help auto makers pay for health- care agreements negotiated with hourly workers. The auto makers insist they are not interested in a bailout, but want to discuss health-care costs, energy and fuel prices and trade policy.

The meeting has been postponed several times since its original May date. Both Republican and Democratic politicians in Michigan have criticized Bush for delaying the summit.