Lawmakers Reach Out To Toyota [As Toyota Decides to Pack It Up in the Golden State]

Sacramento Bee ^ | July 23rd 2009

[Steelfish]

Lawmakers reach out to Toyota

Jul. 23, 2009

WASHINGTON -- Members of California's congressional delegation are asking Toyota Motor Corp., officials what they could possibly do to help keep an automotive plant open in Fremont that employs 4,500 people.

Toyota has decided to liquidate its stake in the California manufacturing plant, which it jointly operated with General Motors, a Japanese news agency reported Thursday. The plant was established in 1984.

In their letter to Toyota President Akio Toyoda, lawmakers say the plant has been a great asset to the state's work force as well as to the company.

They say they look forward to hearing from Toyota and are eager to work together on what they called a "very important challenge. The contingent of lawmakers includes the state's two U.S. senators as well as 15 House members.

[Willie Green]

The plant was established in 1984.

Good grief, even back in '84 the handwriting was already on the wall...
What moron suggested they build a manufacturing plant in Kalifornia to begin with?
Geeeze... that was just plain stupid.

[GeronL]

really, who blames them?

[artichokegrower]

Are these the same California legislators that passed AB 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) which requires that by 2020 the state’s greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990 levels. This auto plant was not operating in 1990 so GM and Toyota’s decision to hit the road makes sense. Thanks Arnold for signing this bill. Now if all of the illegals who entered the state after 1990 would leave we might be making some progress.

[vetvetdoug]

The Unions are sniffing around NE Mississippi at the Blue Springs plant. With the Unions and the new Congressman in the area being one of Obama’s lapdogs, Toyota has stopped building the plant. My bet is they are gone but nobody has noticed it yet.

[meyer]

It's time for a new 'closing the plant tax'.

Fine - leave it open, with no machinery, no power, and no employees.

[Yankee]

How does one say “up yours” in Japanese?

Whatever it is it’s just been said to the Golden Nanny State.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

When Obama Car sales begin to set worldwide sales records, he can use the profits to replace this plant.

Don't you read/watch the liberal MSM? The Messiah personally created 1,500,000,000,000,000,000 jobs last month alone.

[Interesting Times]

Californistan is no longer a suitable climate for capitalist endeavors.

[editor-surveyor]

"I think they've done enough already"

And then some! - A 46% tax rate was a hell of a starter.

[editor-surveyor]

" These vermin will try to put the UAW in your other non-union American plants."

That is a given. As of now the combined tax rate in California will be 46% plus numerous insane fees plus the crap and tax. Why would they want to leave?

[TYVets]

Founded in 1947 in California, Sierra Bullets is an American manufacturer of bullets intended for firearms. Based in Sedalia, Missouri since 1990...

Only one of many to leave Rust Belt West.

Corporations have been leaving California for years. No headlines like Toyota, not much fanfare, just packed up and left.

[OrangeHoof]

How does one say “up yours” in Japanese?

Bonzai!

[14erClimb]

Holy crap it's like a scene right out of Atlas Shrugged...

[Gator113]

And that’s just on THIS planet.

;>)

[wayoverthehill]

Mississippi is a right-to-work state so they can pretty much tell the unions to go pound sand.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

ping

[HIDEK6]

I've had a supplier that moved to California from Ontario Canada in 1990. In 2005 they moved to Vegas.

The owner wanted to go somewhere where he could smoke.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Are you at liberty to mention the name of the company and/or the number of employees?

[TYVets]

Mississippi is a right-to-work state so they can pretty much tell the unions to go pound sand.

Nissan opened their Canton, Mississippi plant in 2003.(on I - 55, just north of Jackson )

I drove by there recently but did not think to check my odometer, but that is one hugh and huge plant.

I thought I read they were discussing plans for additional lines. Can you shed any light on this?

[Chode]

bingo...