Trump promised to save American workers, but he's tweeting and helping the rich instead
At an October 2016 campaign rally in Warren, Michigan, then-candidate Donald Trump promised that not one plant would be lost on his watch. Now, just two years later, General Motors says it plans to shutter five manufacturing plants and lay off up to 14,000 workers. The General Motors facility in Warren — where Trump made his campaign promise — is among the factories being closed.
These manufacturing layoffs show two things. First, the president made promises to the American people that he has not kept. And second, his administration’s economic policies have overwhelmingly benefited the biggest corporations and the richest people, not the American worker.
When Trump signed the Republican tax bill into law, he promised that businesses like General Motors would use their huge corporate tax cuts to improve the lives of American workers. Corporations got their fair share — the Republican tax plan has already saved General Motors over $150 million. The company also earned more than $50 billion in gross profits over the last three years. Nevertheless, General Motors is now shutting down U.S. manufacturing plants, moving car production and American jobs overseas.
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The thousands of American workers and their families being laid of from General Motors right before the holidays understand the president’s policies are not benefiting the working class.
In addition to the Republican tax plan, the president’s ongoing trade war with China has driven up prices for consumer products, including automobiles. Now, Trump is threatening to end electric vehicle tax credits, which will only stifle innovation and drive more jobs overseas.
To keep jobs in the United States, the Trump administration and Congress must have a coherent manufacturing policy that incentivizes ‘Made in America’ manufacturing, including for electric vehicles. Instead, the president’s tax, trade and economic policies have often made it harder for companies to compete, hurting American workers. General Motors’ recent layoffs, which the president said would never happen under his watch, prove that.
Plenty of blame for both Trump and GM
To be clear, Trump’s failed policies do not absolve General Motors of its own corporate responsibility. During the Great Recession, the American people made significant sacrifices that allowed the company to survive. The taxpayers rescued General Motors. Its workers — those who were not laid off — endured heavy pay cuts, reduced health care benefits and uncertainty to ensure the automaker's survival and ultimately the success it currently enjoys. General Motors needs to honor these contributions, reverse this recent decision and keep jobs here in America.
American taxpayers didn't rescue General Motors to save Mexican jobs. We did it to support the millions of American families with jobs tied to the auto industry.
General Motors says the recently announced layoffs are a reaction to market forces and consumer preferences. And there is no doubt that although the economy is strong, navigating a dynamic global economy for a company like General Motors is challenging. But shipping jobs out of America is not the answer when it comes to the long-term sustainability of the industry.
American workers are the best and most innovative in the world. And when General Motors invests in them, it strengthens the company — allowing it to innovate, react and compete in the global market place. Simply put, without skilled and experienced workers, it will be harder for General Motors to thrive in the long term.
We need a real manufacturing policy, not tweets
My dad’s family moved to Flint because my grandfather got a job at General Motors’ Buick factory. That’s the story for many of us, especially in the Midwest. Over the last several decades, Flint has unfortunately borne the brunt of manufacturing losses. Flint used to support nearly 80,000 automotive-related jobs. Today, the city has under 10,000. My community has experienced the trauma associated with massive job losses caused by policy decisions that drive jobs overseas. And, unfortunately, the communities impacted by these recent layoffs in Michigan, Ohio and Maryland will feel similar pain.
Instead of managing the decline of U.S. manufacturing, it is incumbent on the Trump administration to work with Congress to enact policies that not only protect American workers but support them. This includes a coherent national manufacturing policy, instead of governance by tweet. A new Democratic majority in the House is ready to work on passing ‘Make it in America’ policies that will incentivize U.S.-based manufacturing and ensure that American workers have the skills they need to compete for high-wage jobs.
The American people stepped up to save General Motors. Now it is incumbent on General Motors and the Trump administration to step up and keep jobs in the United States. In the long term, the company, and the country, will be better for it. And that is a promise that will prove true.
Rep. Dan Kildee represents Michigan's 5th Congressional District. Follow him on Twitter: @RepDanKildee
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump promised to save American workers, but he's tweeting and helping the rich instead
