Once again, the Bush administration has duped the Congress.  First, it was going along with the rush into Iraq.  “Fight them over there so we wouldn’t have to fight them here.”  Very few in the Congress held back. It took a lot of courage and leadership to question the President.  Few had it.

Now, the issue is the  handing over of $700 billion to the nation’s banks. Get the economy going again.  Loosen credit.  And, the Congress went along.  No strings attached.

Today, the Associated Press is reporting that banks are refusing to reveal how they’re spending the money. The AP contacted 21 banks that received at least $1 billion in government money and asked four questions: How much has been spent?   What was it spent on?   How much is being held in savings?  and What’s the plan for the rest?

None of the banks provided specific answers.  A few examples:

• JPMorgan Chase ($25 billion)   “We have not disclosed that to the public. We’re declining to.”
• SunTrust Banks Inc. ($3.5 billion)  “We’re not providing dollar-in, dollar-out tracking.”
• Regions Financial Corp ($3.5 billion)  “We manage our capital in its aggregate.”
• Bank of New York Mellon ($3 billion) “We’re choosing not to disclose that.”
• Comerica Inc. ($2.25 billion)  “We’re not sharing any other details. We’re just not at this time.”
• Morgan Stanley  “We are going to decline to comment on your story.”

So far, the banks have received $350 billion.  We do know that around $1.6 billion went for pay, bonuses and other perks of top executives of failing firms.

I can’t remember requesting a loan from a bank and not having to tell them how I was going to spend the money, whether it was to buy a car, a house or make improvements to a home.  But these bankers get the money and don’t have to provide specifics.  Actually, they refuse to.

When dealing with the automakers, the Congress demands plans for restructuring the auto industry, even suggesting the current leadership of the companies that got them to this point should step down.

The Congress needs to demand accounting for the money they’ve handed out so far and hold on to the rest until the banks learn a little more about transparency.  Put them on the hot seat in Washington just like they did with Mullaly, Nardelli and Wagoner from the Big Three automakers.  Demand answers.  The public deserves to know where their tax dollars are going.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard’s decision to buy 85 Toyota Camby Hybrids rather than Chevrolet Malibu Hybrids isn’t in the league of the Big 3 Automotive CEOs corporate jet flights to Washington D.C.  to ask for a handout, but it might make for a mini-chapter in Public Relations Faux Pas’.

Both are good cars but the Ballard administration spent $2.2 million for the Camrys, about $148,000 more than the price tag for the Malibus.  The deciding factor, according to officials, was the superior city gas mileage of the Toyota, about seven miles per gallon while driving at slower speeds in the city. At an average 15,000 miles each year, the foreign brand should save about 10,700 gallons a year, assuming all driving is in the city.  On the highway, mileage for both cars is reported at the same level.

The cars are to be used by the police department as unmarked cars for detectives and others. The city bean counters priced gas at $3/gallon and showed the decision was expense neutral after five years.  If gas continues to hover at current levels it will only take ten years to break even on the decision.  And, some analysts say, as demand drops, prices are headed even lower. One is talking about $1.25 by the first quarter of 2009.

To the administration’s credit, they bought through local dealers, both solid Indiana citizens.

The political faux pas that should put this in an adjacent chapter to the CEO’s missteps is that the Malibus have an Indianapolis tie -the General Motors stamping plant in Indianapolis makes parts for the Malibu.   The automotive giant is in trouble and the local GM workers/taxpayers are hunkering down for a big hit, possibly the loss of their jobs.

At the end of the day, the Ballard administration may have saved the taxpayers a few thousand dollars but the mayor has lost a lot more in political capital.  The use of the corporate jets to fly to D.C. probably penciled out as the best fiscal decision, but the symbolism screamed.  This one’s pretty loud too.

We’re trying something in a couple of weeks that I don’t believe has been done locally. During the week of July 7, the Chevrolet Division of General Motors will sponsor 6News at 7PM with Todd Wallace and Trisha Shepherd.

It will not only sponsor the news, Chevrolet will be the sole sponsor and will present only one ninety second commercial in each newscast. Some of the network newscasts have done this, with some success. The ninety second commercials, shot by our folks, feature several Chevy models that get more than 30 miles per gallon.

Each newscast will feature a special report from 6News Live Drive Reporter Tom Davis. Tom’s One Tank Trips will showcase different places around Indiana that viewers can visit with their families and use less than one tank of gas. If someone was driving one of the featured Chevy models they could probably make it on a lot less than one tank. Four of the vehicles featured are the Aveo, the Cobalt, the Malibu and the HHR.

The single-sponsored week of news will also feature the Gas Card Watch & Win contest. Right now viewers can register to win $100 gas cards by visiting the theIndyChannel.com. 6News Chief Meteorologist Kevin Gregory will announce a registered name during his forecast that week. That person will have six minutes to call and claim the $100 gas card.

It’s pleasing to work with a company of Chevrolet’s status on this innovative venture. By offering more content in our 7pm newscast and only having one commercial break, we’re aiming to give more impact to their important message. They’re showcasing vehicles that deliver more mileage per gallon; 6News at 7PM will give them more “MPG” with a single, clear message about their vehicles.

I hope you’ll watch.