Recently, the news broke that as part of a joint partnership with GM and Stellantis, LG Energy Solution would be making a nearly $2 billion dollar investment to expand electric vehicle battery production in Michigan – creating over a thousand good-paying jobs.
This is the direct result of Governor Whitmer’s commitment to restoring Michigan’s standing as the leader in the auto industry. Earlier this year, she secured GM’s $7 billion dollar investment in “making Michigan the ‘hub’ of electric vehicle development and manufacturing.” This “big win for Michigan” represented the auto giant’s “single largest investment announcement” in the company’s history.
Meanwhile, Republicans running for governor have already signaled that they would reject these efforts to boost Michigan’s economy and attract good-paying jobs.
Tudor Dixon panned the GM deal in her prebuttal to Governor Whitmer’s State of the State address. Garrett Soldano attacked Whitmer’s successful efforts to secure the record investment from GM.
Kevin Rinke similarly voiced his disapproval of the massive job-creator.” The out-of-touch millionaire also said he would have vetoed the $400 refund checks Michigan drivers have begun receiving for every auto-insured vehicle in the state – the result of Governor Whitmer’s bipartisan auto insurance reform.
Additionally, Dixon, Soldano, and Rinke were joined by James Craig, Mike Brown, and Ryan Kelley in cheering on a blockade on Ambassador Bridge that impacted $356 million of goods daily, caused the auto industry to to suffer “$299.9 million in direct losses,” and force assembly plants at GM and Ford to cancel shifts, which resulted in workers weathering up to $51 million in lost wages.
MDP spokesperson Rodericka Applewhaite issued the following statement:
“At every turn, this entire crowded slate of Republicans running for governor have shown that they won’t do what it takes to keep our economy and working families first. What’s worse, they have actually encouraged situations that have grounded major parts of Michigan’s economy to a halt to fit their backwards political agendas. Meanwhile, Governor Whitmer has demonstrated time and again that she will work with anyone to boost Michigan’s economy – a key reason why Michigan’s robust economic recovery from the pandemic rivaled every other state in the country.”
