My understanding is that she wanted to help the auto industry suppress new tech (the catalytic converter in this case) that would cost them money, but be good for the environment. The porn film everyone was chasing was a thinly veiled expose about it. TheI don't think her relationship with the auto industry supportsis explicitly explained, but presumably the auto industry gives her runs for officebribes and she covers up their criminal activity. It is possible that she is covering up their crimes purely out of altruistic notions about helping America but helping out a large domestic industry, but I doubt it. She must have been engaging in some illegal activity though, since she protects them with helpful legislationis arrested at the end of the film. The "good for Detroit is good for America" line must refer to the prominence of the Detroit auto industry to the US GDP, so anything that hurts the auto industry would hurt the US economy.
As for her feelings for her daughter, I think they were totally estranged at that point but their past relationship, while strongly hinting at being tumultuous, isn't really detailed either.
A pretty detailed plot summary is here
Quite frankly Kim Basinger's horrible plastic surgery was so distracting I don't remember much of what she said :P