By a 10-9 vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $175 million in state taxpayer incentives for the Gotion, Inc. EV battery plant which will be located near Big Rapids.
Opponents of the project included those who are philosophically opposed to corporate welfare to those who are alarmed at the company's ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to those who have legitimate environmental concerns.
"The new Democratic majority is putting big corporations over struggling families by squandering our state's historic budget surplus on bad business deals," noted Senate Republican leader Aric Nesbitt.
"If you choose to give these funds to Gotion, you are a Benedict Arnold. You are a traitor to this Republic," said Kristina Karamao, MIGOP chair, at today's committee meeting.
State Senator Lana Theis, who voted no, stated, "The Gotion plant is set to be built near the Muskegon River - the plan has yet to receive the environmental impact study and/or approval necessary for such a project."
Three Democrats voted no to the transfer - Senators Rosemary Bayer, Jeff Irwin, and Sylvia Santana. Sen. John Damoose, who serves on this committee, was also a no vote.
Supporters of the project claim it will bring over 2000 jobs to the area.
Let's hope it's not another Solyndra.
Photo: Artist rendering of potential Gotion Inc plant.
Once upon a time, long, long ago, the Republican Party was exclusively pro-business and pro-job creation, with modest regard for environmental implications and few concerns for workers. My how things have changed! Not sure how Kristina Karamo's prepared remarks are relevant here, but at least now we know that she knows a historical figure and a can throw some rhetorical firebombs.
Both are correct. It is conclusive that a senate committee voted for the boondoggle. It is also conclusive that the full senate has not voted on the committee's recommendation. However, it is likely that both the senate and house, with Democrat majorities, will vote in favor of this crony capitalism bill, and a Democrat governor will sign it into law. Once a time, long, long ago, the Democrat party was the party of the little people. Now it is the party of the entitled rich, mostly old, white, very rich men, burdened with a psychiatric condition called "white guilt."
It is conclusive! Read the article embedded in the link.
MI Lawmakers? Sounds conclusive. Truth be told this is a committee or subcommittee vote?