“In a perfect world, it’s not government’s role to subsidize businesses.” – Kevin Rinke
Much to former Toyota salesman Kevin Rinke’s apparent disappointment, yesterday GM announced a $7 billion dollar investment in “making Michigan the ‘hub’ of electric vehicle development and manufacturing.” This “big win for Michigan” represents GM’s “single largest investment announcement” in the company’s history and includes:
- $2.6 billion to build a new battery factory in Lansing
- $4 billion to convert its existing factory in Orion Township to make electric pickups
- $510 million to upgrade two existing vehicle assembly plants in Lansing
- 4,000 new jobs and the retention of 1,000 more jobs
Showing up outside the announcement event where Governor Whitmer spoke and Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey praised the deal as a “historic” job-creator, Rinke voiced his disapproval of GM’s decision to invest in Michigan, claiming that it was somehow reflective of the state not having a “properly constructed business climate.”
This is the same out-of-touch obstruction from Rinke that resulted in his opposition for putting money back in the pockets of Michiganders, while leaders across the aisle praised the news that Michigan families will receive a $400 refund check for every auto-insured vehicle in the state – the result of Governor Whitmer’s bipartisan auto insurance reform. In November, he described the reform as a “mistake” and said he would have vetoed it had he been governor instead.
MDP spokesperson Rodericka Applewhaite issued the following statement:
“As we saw with his opposition to the auto insurance refund checks, Kevin Rinke came out hard against a major win for Michigan’s economy and working families. It is exactly what you get when you have an out-of-touch gubernatorial candidate that confuses leadership with obstruction at all costs – rather than working with anyone to keep Michigan first. Michiganders deserve better, and are fortunate to have Whitmer at the helm to put politics aside and ensure our state continues to set the tone for the longevity and future of the auto industry.”
