Photo Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook
The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee was one of 11 governors who signed a letter sent to U.S. Congressional leaders opposing legislation that would incentivize electric vehicle manufacturers using union labor.
The letter, which was sent Wednesday, also was signed by governors in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.
“We oppose this legislation that seeks to exclusively increase tax credits for electric vehicles built by U.S. factories where employees have a collective bargaining agreement,” the letter reads. “One proposal would provide as much as $4,500 more in tax credits for the purchase of vehicles produced by union labor. We cannot support any proposal that creates a discriminatory environment in our states by punishing autoworkers and car companies because the workers in their plants chose not to unionize.”
The Tennessee General Assembly approved $884 million in state spending last week related to a $6.5 billion Ford electric vehicle plant to be built on 3,600 acres of a state-owned Memphis megasite.
Throughout last week’s special session, Lee and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe said Ford was coming to Tennessee for its “business-friendly” approach and each wanted Ford to determine whether the operation and construction of the project would be conducted by union labor.
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“This legislation is not about supporting emerging technology but is instead a punitive attempt to side with labor unions at the cost of both American workers and consumers,” the letter read. “By putting certain vehicles at a cost disadvantage, this legislation works against our states, undercuts our residents, and negatively impacts the U.S. economy. Congress should not enact proposals that favor vehicles produced by one workforce over another, particularly when doing so dramatically limits consumer choice and undermines larger carbon emission reduction goals.”
General Motors and LG Energy Solutions announced a partnership earlier this year to build a $2.3 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Spring Hill. That 2.8-million-square-foot plant is expected to employ 1,400 and be ready to open in late 2023.
About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.
One Response
IF Ford wants to come here they should know this state is a Right To Work State. The Gov. should stress that there will be NO UNION Workers here in our state and take jobs away from people of this state. This is totally a NO BRAINER. If Ford doesn’t want to play be TN. rules let them go somewhere else. The Federal Gov can give people incentives to buy a electric truck but I don’t think there are that many stupid people in TN that would do that. If a new gas truck cost almost $ 100,000.00 What do you think an electric truck is going to cost?? This is totally nuts to begin with. They only reason this companies like Ford are building them is they are getting TAX PAYER MONEY to do it but the government doesn’t have my permission to spend my money on something so nuts.