Trump Slams General Motors CEO in Person Over Plant Closures - Report

The US President blasted the automaker’s top executive for its decision to close a number of plants in the US and Canada and its reluctance to sell the factories to a different owner, forcing thousands of people out of their jobs.

US President Trump said that he spoke with General Motors CEO Mary Barra in person over the company's decision to close a manufacturing plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

"Just spoke to Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors about the Lordstown Ohio plant," Trump tweeted Sunday. "I am not happy that it is closed when everything else in our Country is BOOMING. I asked her to sell it or do something quickly. She blamed the [United Auto Workers] Union — I don't care, I just want it open!"

This is the third time Trump took to Twitter over the weekend to express his frustration over the General Motors' decision to shut several factories in the US and Canada that employ some 15,000 workers.

"G.M. let our Country down, but other much better car companies are coming into the U.S. in droves," Trump tweeted earlier Sunday. "I want action on Lordstown fast. Stop complaining and get the job done!"

He also called on UAW Ohio division president David Green "to get his act together and produce" in the same tweet.

Earlier Saturday, Trump also suggested that the factory would do better under a different owner, but that the decision must be made swiftly.

"Because the economy is so good, General Motors must get their Lordstown, Ohio, plant open, maybe in a different form or with a new owner, FAST!" Trump tweeted. "Toyota is investing 13.5 $Billion in U.S., others likewise. G.M. MUST ACT QUICKLY. Time is of the essence!"

In an interview earlier last week, Trump said the company "is not going to be treated well" over its "nasty" decision to shutter its factories. He also criticized the company for focusing on electric cars only, calling it a "big mistake" and threatened to remove the automaker's tax credit for electric vehicles. General Motors have two models — Chevrolet Bolt and Chevrolet Volt — that qualify for a tax credit.

"They've changed the whole model of General Motors," Trump said. "They're going to all electric. All electric's not going to work. I don't run a car company, but all electric is not going to work."

Earlier in November, General Motors announced plans to cut 15,000 jobs and close manufacturing plants in Lordstown as well as Michigan and Canada's Ontario. The company also announced it would close auto parts factories in Michigan and Maryland.

Trump made it a pillar of his economic policy to bring US companies working offshore back to US soil and create large number of jobs for US citizens.

https://sputniknews.com/us/201903181073327904-trump-general-motors-plant-closure/

Freshman Republican Senator Wants To Get Congress Out Of A Rut By Taking Away A Prized Cash Cow

Freshman Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Mike Braun of Indiana are the cosponsors of the Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust (BLAST) Act.

Scott and Braun want to put an end to lawmakers stepping into the so-called “revolving door of K Street” — using their connections to become well-heeled lobbyists once they are out of office.

“I think that here you’d attract better people if you didn’t have them make a career out of it,” Braun told The Daily Caller News Foundation.

Republican Indiana Sen. Mike Braun, co-sponsor of a recently introduced bill banning ex-congressmen from lobbying Congress, said his bill would help get Congress out of a “rut” — but he’s not expecting the legislation to gain traction anytime soon.

“I think that here you’d attract better people if you didn’t have them make a career out of it,” Braun told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “But so many incentives are put in place with pensions, the ability after you’re done to become a lobbyist, so you do nestle in, and then you start maybe not making the right long-term decisions. You basically make a decision: what will be best for me to nestle in further, be around here longer.”

Braun and Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott are the cosponsors of the Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust (BLAST) Act, introduced Feb. 28. Braun connected the legislation to his reform agenda, including doing away with taxpayer-funded pensions for members of Congress.

Although the lawmakers are “barking up the right tree,” their solution might not be realistic, a government transparency expert told TheDCNF.

https://dailycaller.com/2019/03/17/mike-braun-rick-scott/