Coleman to meet with senior Ford official

by Minnesota News Network, MNN

St. Paul, Minn. — Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., meets with a top Ford Motor Company official this afternoon in Washington to talk about the long-term viability of the auto industry.

Auto executives say they need another $25 billion in emergency loans to stay afloat.

Coleman spokesman, Leroy Coleman, said before the GOP senator will support an auto-industry bailout package, he needs some assurances.

"He's going to say 'What is your model for the future, to return to profitability? What's the long-term solution?' As well, he wants to know what role can the St. Paul plant play as a producer for fuel-efficient vehicles," Leroy Coleman said.

The Ford Ranger Plant was originally to have closed this year but executives have since pushed that back to 2011.