---
title: "Bailing Out Automakers"
description: "Only 30% of the public supports extending government loans to GM and Chrysler."
date: "2009-03-26"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2009/03/26/bailing-out-automakers/"
---

# Bailing Out Automakers

The public expresses considerable skepticism about extending loans to General Motors and Chrysler to help the automakers stay in business with only three-in-ten saying this is the right thing for the government to do, down from 39% in December. More than six-in-ten (63%) say this is the wrong thing for the government to do. Democrats are slightly more supportive than Republicans and independents, but still only 37% of Democrats says this is the right thing for the government to do. Nearly three-in-ten independents (28%) agree, as do 21% of Republicans. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1153/obama-job-approval-economic-policy-views-divided-iraq-afghanistan)