Car dealers may get some help from bankrupt automakers Chrysler and General Motors if the automakers don’t live up to their end of the bargain, according to legislation filed Thursday by U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.

Sen. Corker’s Auto Dealers Assistance Amendment would require the automakers to use funding they receive from the U.S. Treasury during their bankruptcy proceedings to reimburse dealerships for their inventories and parts. It also gives the dealers 180 days to close their operations.

“We hope Chrysler and GM will take these appropriate actions and make this amendment unnecessary,” Sen. Corker said in a statement.

In a news release from Sen. Corker’s office, GM and Chrysler’s treatment of their dealerships was characterized as “inconsistent” and “without justification.”

Alexander frets over abandoned windmills

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., a critic of what he says are unsightly power-generating wind turbines, worries that wind energy enthusiasts may be full of hot air.

During a Senate hearing, Sen. Alexander told Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar that he wants wind energy developers to put up performance bonds before they put up windmills.

“If we can think of an appropriate place to put these enormous renewable energy projects, we should require the developers to put up a bond to take them down in case they stop being used,” Mr. Alexander said. “The current subsidies for some energy projects might end and prices and technologies could change and, if that happens, we need to make sure we have something in place to restore our landscapes.”

Sen. Alexander likened the prospect of abandoned wind generators to the 47,000 abandoned mines in California.

“We need to make sure we aren’t destroying the environment in the name of saving the environment,” he said.

Mr. Salazar said that requiring a bond for developers “makes sense,” and said that ensuring the environment is restored back to its original condition after a project has been decommissioned is a priority of his department.

davis to host tornado roundtable

U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., and U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., will host a roundtable discussion in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Monday to discuss the tornadoes that ripped through the area in April.

Participants in the discussion will include emergency management workers, local officials and meteorologists.

The event is at 10 a.m. CDT at Murfreesboro City Hall at 111 W. Vine St.

twitter updates

Twitter is a social networking tool politicians often use to send updates to supporters. Here’s what some local officials and candidates were saying this week.

Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, GOP gubernatorial candidate, Monday: “Great kickoff event last evening. Will have a blog post and pictures for you to see later today. Thanks to all that attended!”

Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons, GOP gubernatorial candidate, Monday: “Heartened by the standing ovation from the Shelby County Republican Women’s Club at their annual picnic this evening.”

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, GOP gubernatorial candidate, Tuesday: “I’m honored by the 88 early members of my finance team. This is only the beginning!”

Former state Rep. Kim McMillan, D-Clarksville, Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Wednesday: “Just did a radio show, stopping by the campaign office then heading to Knoxville! Coffee has to be scheduled in there somewhere ...”

State Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, Wednesday: “Watched NBC’s Inside the White House last night and am going to emulate our President by going to lunch at Five Guys.”

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., GOP gubernatorial candidate, Thursday: “My vision for Tn has children reading well early, healthier people and a production agenda for econ dev centered in manufacturing and agric.”

Nashville businessman Ward Cammack, Democratic candidate for governor, Thursday: “Potluck dinner tonight with the Williamson County Democratic Party. Good times.”

Compiled by staff writers Matt Wilson and Dave Flessner

E-mail Matt Wilson at mwilson@timesfreepress.com

E-mail Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com