The big news today is that GM will be closing the Janesville plant that makes SUVs. This is not a huge surprise considering gas prices as they are. It does seem drastic considering some SUVs get fairly good gas mileage. Plus some businesses and individuals need a truck or SUV for towing or hauling purposes.
What is surprising to me is Senators Kohl and Feingold and Governor Doyle acting like they bear absolutely no responsibility in creating an economic climate unfavorable to manufacturing and large vehicles.
Update: GM plant closing stuns pols
"It's a tragedy that General Motors plans to
close its plant in Janesville, leaving behind thousands of skilled
and dedicated employees," said U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis.
"The community of Janesville depends on these
jobs, and I will do everything in my power to convince General
Motors to reconsider their decision or help their employees find
new work."
AND
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin) said
the people of Janesville "poured their heart and soul into General
Motors."
Feingold said all will be done by local,
state and U.S. officials to try to support "a continuing GM
presence" in Janesville.
"The people of Janesville have worked too
hard for too long to deserve anything less," Feingold said.
Hmm, Kohl says, "I will do everything in my power to convince General Motors to reconsider their decision" and Feingold says, "all will be done by ...U.S. officials to try to support 'a continuing GM presence' ."
GM should change their mind about the closing, but what about both of our Senators voting against the Cap-and-Trade Lieberman/Warner bill? Or voting to approve drilling in Anwr, Montana/North Dakota, and off our shores? Or reversing the ethanol mandates so people could get better gas mileage?
In GM closing Janesville assembly plant by 2010 Doyle compared the news to a death in the family.
"It was just a kick in the gut," Doyle said.
Gov. Doyle issued the statement that "It should've been clear that GM wasn't focused on the future...Now we stand here, carrying the burden of those bad corporate decisions..."
Considering all the bad decisions Wisconsin government has made in blatantly increasing taxes and making Wisconsin a very unfriendly state to do business in, I have to wonder who else is not focused on the future!
Unless we change our ways in Washington and in Wisconsin, I think we can expect more and more manufacturer closings. Many bad decisions by General Motors and our state and federal government have brought us to this point. The death of this SUV manufacturer could be thought of as the canary in the mine--a warning of coming troubles.
Will our elected officials heed the warning?
Please contact Senator Kohl (Phone: (414) 297-4451, (202) 224-5653) and Senator Feingold (Office
of Senator Russ Feingold | 202/224-5323) about S. 2191 Lieberman/Warner Cap-and-Trade bill
Read Fairly Conservative Cindy Kilkenny's slant on GM's closing of the Janesville plant
Links:
Brookfield7,
Fairly Conservative,
Betterbrookfield,
Mark Levin , Vicki Mckenna
