Chevy Volt on assembly line  The Center for Automotive Research
has released a new study detailing the impact of the auto
bailout of 2009. According to The Detroit Bureau, the group
found that the government's involvement in the automotive
industry saved 1.14 million jobs and $96.5 billion in personal
income in 2009. The study also says that in 2010, around 314,400
jobs were saved by the bailout and that, in total, the loans to
General Motors and Chrysler allowed $28.6 billion in social
security and income taxes to be paid back to the federal
government.  If these figures are accurate, they mean that,
despite the fact that the two carmakers have only repaid $13.4
billion of the $80 billion that was loaned out, the government
only needs to receive another $38 billion to cross a theoretical
break-even point. That would be a pretty rosy picture compared
to the doom and gloom that opponents to the bailout predicted
before the treasury opened its doors. The full study is
available at the Car Group web site.  [Sour