Wednesday, June 18, 2008
WHAT ELSE WOULD A CONGRESSMAN FROM INDIANA SAY?
RV Business
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The recreational vehicle industry is under attack and will be in the spotlight of a Senate hearing in July as the “industry undergoes a "demagogue-style campaign," said U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, R-Fort Wayne.
As reported by the Goshen News, Souder made the remarks Monday (June 17) at the Elkhart Rotary Club before meeting with local RV industry leaders.
The congressional probe of four Indiana RV companies that made travel trailers used as temporary housing for victims of the Katrina hurricane in Louisiana will take place to try to show profiteering by the RV makers, Souder explained.
Gulf Stream Coach Inc., Nappanee, Pilgrim International Inc., Middlebury, Goshen-based Keystone RV Inc. and Forest River Inc., Elkhart are slated to appear July 9 before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Souder blamed overambitious attorneys for filing suit in the Louisiana case and complaining about formaldehyde in the new trailers.
"What were the number of complaints before Katrina, three to five?" Souder said. He said there were 20,000 of the trailers sent to Florida to house victims earlier with no complaints about formaldehyde.
But after the Katrina hurricane, "all of a sudden you have lawsuits."
Actions have consequences, Souder said. He explained he recently met with representatives of eight RV firms at his Goshen office.
"When are the facts going to catch up with the debate? It is an embarrassment to Congress and a political agenda to destroy an industry," Souder said.
He commented further on the auto industry's need to support the RV industry. He pointed out that large motorhomes need big engines to power them, and there are not enough engines being produced now.
"You will see a scaling down of motorhomes," he predicted.
He also noted the importance of tow vehicles, as 75% of RVs made are towable. He said manufacturers may decrease the number of tow vehicles made, further impacting the industry.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The recreational vehicle industry is under attack and will be in the spotlight of a Senate hearing in July as the “industry undergoes a "demagogue-style campaign," said U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, R-Fort Wayne.
As reported by the Goshen News, Souder made the remarks Monday (June 17) at the Elkhart Rotary Club before meeting with local RV industry leaders.
The congressional probe of four Indiana RV companies that made travel trailers used as temporary housing for victims of the Katrina hurricane in Louisiana will take place to try to show profiteering by the RV makers, Souder explained.
Gulf Stream Coach Inc., Nappanee, Pilgrim International Inc., Middlebury, Goshen-based Keystone RV Inc. and Forest River Inc., Elkhart are slated to appear July 9 before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Souder blamed overambitious attorneys for filing suit in the Louisiana case and complaining about formaldehyde in the new trailers.
"What were the number of complaints before Katrina, three to five?" Souder said. He said there were 20,000 of the trailers sent to Florida to house victims earlier with no complaints about formaldehyde.
But after the Katrina hurricane, "all of a sudden you have lawsuits."
Actions have consequences, Souder said. He explained he recently met with representatives of eight RV firms at his Goshen office.
"When are the facts going to catch up with the debate? It is an embarrassment to Congress and a political agenda to destroy an industry," Souder said.
He commented further on the auto industry's need to support the RV industry. He pointed out that large motorhomes need big engines to power them, and there are not enough engines being produced now.
"You will see a scaling down of motorhomes," he predicted.
He also noted the importance of tow vehicles, as 75% of RVs made are towable. He said manufacturers may decrease the number of tow vehicles made, further impacting the industry.
