INDIANAPOLIS – Congressman Messer accepted campaign donations from Carrier’s parent company, United Technologies Corporation (UTC), after it had announced layoffs for thousands of Hoosier workers that sparked a national controversy. The decision to keep their donations was part of a year where Congressman Messer also voted against legislation that would have taken away tax incentives for companies like Carrier that outsource Hoosier jobs.

UTC controversially announced in February 2016 that it would be laying off 2,100 Hoosier workers from two plants in Indiana. Despite intense criticism that Carrier received for the decision and the spotlight that remained on them, Congressman Messer barely a year later had no problem accepting $1,000from United Technologies Corporation PAC.

One month after Congressman Messer accepted UTC’s donation, the first wave of layoffs began at Carrier’s Indianapolis plant for workers whose jobs were being shifted to Mexico.

Later in 2017, Congressman Messer stood against Hoosier workers when he repeatedly voted against bills that would have cracked down on outsourcing and inverting companies. He voted against the Bring Jobs Home Act, which would have ended tax giveaways for corporations who ship jobs overseas. He also voted to stop a bill that would have prevented companies from offshoring their headquarters to avoid paying U.S. taxes.

This release is part of Trade Madness, a three-week long series in which the IDP is highlighting Congressmen Messer’s and Rokita’s and Rep. Braun’s mad record of supporting disastrous trade deals and policies that make it easier to ship Hoosier jobs overseas.

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