UAW Members Statewide Criticize Young’s Belief that Saving 100,000 Hoosier Jobs Is “A Waste”
INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosier United Auto Workers (UAW) members came out in force today to call out Congressman Todd Young on his opposition to the auto industry rescue—which saved more than 100,000 Hoosier jobs—and to criticize his claim that the auto rescue was “a waste.”
Workers appeared in Indianapolis, South Bend, and Fort Wayne to unveil a new ad from the Evan Bayh Campaign to media showing Todd Young attacking the auto industry rescue and saying he believed that Indiana’s auto plants and suppliers should have gone “belly up.”
Sen. Evan Bayh joined Republicans, including Sen. Dick Lugar, to save auto jobs and has fought for Hoosier workers, voting in favor of retraining and assistance programs for Hoosiers laid off because of outsourcing—the same assistance programs that Todd Young is “philosophically opposed” to.
“It’s a red flag that Congressman Young thinks our livelihoods aren’t worth saving,” said Amanda Meier, Chair of the Greater Allen County UAW CAP Council in Fort Wayne. “Hoosier workers contribute so much to Indiana’s economy, but when our jobs are at risk, Todd Young turns the other way.”
As Young has been scrambling to win this election, he has backtracked on his support for free trade without any constraints despite his support for fast-tracking TPP, which could put thousands of Hoosier jobs on the line.
“We’ve seen how Todd Young doesn’t think much of Hoosier workers,” said Rob Williams, Financial Secretary of the UAW Local 9 in South Bend. “Congressman Young believes we should be left unprotected from dangerous trade deals and that we don’t deserve assistance after we’re laid off when companies outsource jobs overseas—a move that is made easier by the bad trade deals that Todd Young is in favor of.”
“It’s hard to take Congressman Todd Young seriously as a candidate to represent Hoosiers in the U.S. Senate when he espouses views that are so blatantly harmful to Hoosier workers,” said Jim Bewley, UAW Representative in Indianapolis. “This is a man who was willing to let our auto industry go ‘belly up’ and is fine sending Hoosier jobs to foreign countries all while taking campaign cash from corporate special interests that favor bad trade deals like the TPP.”
Evan Bayh’s commitment to supporting Hoosier workers and willingness to work across party lines to protect tens of thousands of Hoosier jobs stands in stark contrast to Todd Young’s anti-Hoosier behavior that threatens Hoosier jobs.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
YOUNG SAID AUTO RESCUE WAS A “WASTE,” COMPANIES SHOULD GO “BELLY UP”
Young: Auto Rescue Was A “Waste,” Companies Should Go “Belly Up.” Young: “Taxpayers are required to bailout a multinational automobile company, that very inefficient. What a waste. All the more reason to let it go belly up.” [YouTube, Todd Young Corydon Meeting, 6/16/10]
Todd Young Said He Would Have Opposed The Stimulus And Rescue Programs Passed By Congress, Including Assistance For The Auto Industry. “Republican Todd Young said Monday he would have opposed the major stimulus and bailout programs Congress has passed the last two years – including assistance for the auto and banking industries – had he been in office.” [Courier-Journal, 9/27/10]
Young Said It Was Not The “Role Of Government To Select Which Private Businesses Survive” Even If Failing To Act Would Have Meant The Collapse Of GM And Chrysler. “Young, who is trying to unseat Democrat incumbent Rep. Baron Hill, told The Courier-Journal’s editorial board that it’s not ‘the appropriate role of government to select which private businesses survive and which ones do not,’ even if failing to act would have meant the collapse of GM and Chrysler, which have significant operations in Indiana.” [Courier-Journal, 9/27/10]
Young Opposed Industry Rescues. “Young spoke on topics Hill has voted for and that he opposes, including: Bailouts. ‘We don’t bail out in this country. We rise and fall by our own merits.’” [Madison Courier, 11/10/09]
The Center For Automotive Research Found That The Financial Collapse Of Chrysler and GM Would Have Cost Indiana Over 100,000 Jobs. According to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, “More than 1 million U.S. jobs – and more than 100,000 in Indiana – are riding on whether the bankruptcies of Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. are quick and orderly, according to a prominent research center’s study. But if Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock is successful in stopping the proposed sale of Chrysler – in which state bondholders would take a $6 million loss – it could drag out that bankruptcy and convince some GM bondholders to do likewise, experts said. […] But if the bankruptcies are protracted, consumers will desert the carmakers, creating massive disruptions in the supply chain and huge job losses, the study said. In Indiana, 13,000 jobs would be lost by 2011 under the best- case scenario. But if the bankruptcies become open-ended, 124,000 Hoosier jobs could be lost, the study said.” [Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, 6/0/09]
YOUNG HAS BEEN A “PASSIONATE PROPONENT” OF FREE TRADE DEALS THROUGHOUT HIS YEARS IN CONGRESS DESPITE THE RISK TO HOOSIER WORKERS…
Young Opposed Restrictions On Trade Agreements. “So when it comes to trade agreements, and this wasn’t even the question that was asked, I’ll pivot a bit, we have these thousands of pages of trade agreements, that we call free trade. And buried within these trade agreements are a lot of regulations and a lot of restrictions, and it’s not exactly free trade. Free trade is one without all those different rules and whatnot.” [Todd Young Town Hall, 5/16/10]
Young Praised Trade With Mexico, Arguing That It Was “Part Of Our Relationship With Mexico.” “We’re both to varying degrees free people, and we exercise our freedoms by exchanging things with one another, by trading with one another. […] There are some markets, that we send things there too, so no one’s asked any questions about trade, I know there are some strong feelings about that, but I’m not one of these people who wants to build a wall around the United States. We live in a globally competitive economy, I believe people should have access to goods and services. And I believe that our businesses ought to have access to foreign markets, so we can sell things over there too. So that’s part of our relationship with Mexico.” [Todd Young Town Hall, 5/16/10]
2014: Young Said He Was A “Passionate Proponent Of Free Trade.” According to Congressional Transcripts, “I am a passionate proponent of free trade because we have the most productive workers in the world, the most productive businesses in the world. Frankly, we need to open up new markets for our commodities, for our manufactured items, for our services. That is what this initiative is all about. Trade promotion authority, or TPA as it is popularly known, reflects decades of debate, cooperation, and compromise between Congress and the executive branch in finding a pragmatic accommodation to the exercise of each branch’s respective constitutional authorities over trade policy.” [Congressional Transcripts, 4/28/14]
…AND ARGUED IN FAVOR OF THE TRANS PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP…
Young Argued That The Trans Pacific Partnership Would Benefit Indiana Farmers And Manufacturers. “Free trade is a big win for Hoosier manufacturing and farming. TPP increases access to consumers for Indiana’s farmers and manufacturers.” [Todd Young via Twitter, 10/5/15]
…BUT AFTER COMING UNDER CRITICISM FOR HIS STANCE ON TRADE WHILE RUNNING FOR SENATE, YOUNG CLAIMED HE SUPPORTED “FAIR TRADE”
Young Said He Would Support “Fair Trade” Deals Despite His Comments During The Summer Of 2016 Urging The Need To “Continue To Make The Argument For Things Like Free Trade.” “U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Todd Young on Monday said he supports ‘fair trade’ as the Republican faces increasing criticism from Democrats over his backing of free trade policies. Young’s reaction followed the campaign for his Democratic opponent, Evan Bayh, pointing to comments the Republican congressman made over the summer about the need to ‘continue to make the argument for things like free trade.’” [Indianapolis Star, 8/29/16]
Young Said The U.S.’s Trade Deals “Have To Be Good Deals.” “When asked about his stance on free trade Monday, Young said ‘our deals have to be good deals.’ He spoke at a news conference where he accepted the endorsements of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Indiana Chamber of Commerce.” [Indianapolis Star,8/29/16]
YOUNG VOTED AT LEAST TWICE TO PROTECT TAX BREAKS THAT REWARD U.S. COMPANIES FOR SHIPPING JOBS OVERSEAS
Young Voted Against Denying Corporations Tax Deductions For The Costs Of Sending American Jobs Overseas. In September 2014, Young voted against a: “Bishop, D-N.Y., motion to recommit the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee and report it back immediately with an amendment that would allow businesses to claim a tax credit of up to 20 percent of expenses related to returning American jobs from overseas. It would deny tax deductions for the costs of sending American jobs overseas. It also would prohibit U.S. companies from reincorporating overseas through an inversion if the combined foreign entity is managed and controlled in the U.S. and conducts a significant percentage of its business activities in the U.S. It also would deny the tax benefits in the bill to inverted corporations.” The motion was rejected by a 191-218 vote. [CQ, 9/18/14; motion to recommit H.R. 4, Vote 512, 9/18/14]
Young Blocked Bring Jobs Home Act To Eliminate Tax Incentives For Companies Moving Jobs Overseas. In July 2012, Young voted for a: “Sessions, R-Texas, motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and the possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 724) that would provide for House floor consideration of the bill to repeal the 2010 health care law.” “The Previous Question would amend the rule to allow for consideration of H.R. 5542 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage domestic insourcing and discourage foreign outsourcing.” The motion was agreed to by 238-184. [CQ, 7/10/12, H.R.5542, Vote 456, 7/10/12; 112th Congress Previous Questions]
- The Hill: The Bring Jobs Home Act “Would End Tax Breaks For Companies That Send Jobs Overseas.” “Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would end tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas. On Wednesday, the Senate voted 54-42 to end debate on S. 2569, the Bring Jobs Home Act — 60 votes were needed to advance the measure. Sens. John Walsh (D-Mont.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) introduced the bill, which would give companies incentives to bring jobs back to the United States, including a tax write-off for the relocating costs and an additional 20 percent credit. Currently, U.S. companies can deduct from their corporate taxes some expenses of moving facilities overseas. Democrats said 2.4 million jobs have been outsourced in the past 10 years.” [The Hill, 7/30/14]
YOUNG WAS “PHILOSOPHICALLY OPPOSED” TO TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE AND VOTED AGAINST REAUTHORIZING THE PROGRAM
Young Was “Philosophically Opposed” To Trade Adjustment Assistance. According to the Indianapolis Star, “Young agreed to allow the worker assistance to advance out of committee because he realizes. ‘TAA is often a necessary component to finalizing trade legislation,’ said spokesman Trevor Foughty. But because Young is philosophically opposed to trade adjustment assistance, he registered his opposition through the floor vote, Foughty said.” [Indianapolis Star, 6/13/15]
Young Voted Against Reauthorizing, Through June 30, 2021, Trade Adjustment Assistance Programs And Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance For Workers Laid Off Because Of The Impact Of Foreign Competition. In June 2015, Young voted against: “Division II of the Ryan, R-Wis., motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would provide Trade Promotion Authority for trade agreements negotiated by the administration, under which they would be considered by Congress under expedited procedures without amendment, and would extend Trade Adjustment Assistance programs to help displaced U.S. workers. The portion of the Senate amendment covered by the division would reauthorize, through June 30, 2021, trade adjustment assistance programs and alternative trade adjustment assistance for workers laid off because of the impact of foreign competition. Offsets would include an extension of certain customs fees and prevention of certain taxpayers with high levels of foreign income from receiving the refundable portion of the child tax credit.” The motion was rejected 126-302. [CQ, 6/12/15; H.R.1314, Vote 361, 6/12/15]
Congressional Quarterly, 6/12/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1314]
Young Spox: Young’s Vote Intended To “Register His Opposition” To TAA. “Young agreed to allow the worker assistance to advance out of committee because he realizes. ‘TAA is often a necessary component to finalizing trade legislation,’ said spokesman Trevor Foughty. But because Young is philosophically opposed to trade adjustment assistance, he registered his opposition through the floor vote, Foughty said.” [Indianapolis Star, 6/13/15]
YOUNG RECEIVED AT LEAST $18,000 IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM A COMPANY THAT PLANNED TO SHIP HOOSIER JOBS OVERSEAS, INCLUDING A DONATION FROM AN EXECUTIVE WHO PROMOTED LAYOFFS IN PRESS
In 2016, Young Received $2,500 From United Technologies PAC. [OpenSecrets.org, Accessed 5/13/16]
In 2014, Young Received $5,000 From United Technologies PAC. [OpenSecrets.org, Accessed 5/13/16; UTC Federal PAC Candidate Contributions, Accessed 5/13/16]
In 2012, Young Received $10,000 From United Technologies PAC. [OpenSecrets.org, Accessed 5/13/16; UTC Federal PAC Candidate Contributions, Accessed 5/13/16]
Alex Housten Gave $500 To Friends Of Todd Young On 4/1/16. [Federal Elections Commission, accessed7/12/16]
Alex Housten Was The Managing Director At United Technologies Electronic Controls; Spoke On Plans To Outsource Jobs. “‘This plan is intended to address the challenges we continue to face in a rapidly changing industry, with a continued and steady migration’ of equipment manufacturing customers and competitors to northern Mexico, said Alex Housten, managing director at United Technologies Electronic Controls.” [Hartford Courant, 2/12/16]
Carrier Was A Division Of United Technologies. According to the New York Times, “Overall, United Technologies earned nearly $7.6 billion last year, and $2.9 billion of that came from the climate, controls and security division that includes Carrier. Those profits aren’t under pressure; in fact, margins in the unit have steadily expanded in recent years.” [New York Times, 3/19/16]
February 2016: Two Indiana Plants Employing 2,100 Workers Announced Shifted Operations To Mexico. According to the Indianapolis Star, “Two Indiana plants that make products for the heating, ventilating and air conditioning industry are shifting their manufacturing operations to Mexico, which will cost about 2,100 workers their jobs, company officials announced Wednesday.” [Indianapolis Star, 2/12/16]
Carrier’s Indianapolis Workforce Would Begin To Be Laid Off In 2017; Layoffs Would Continue Through 2019. According to the Indianapolis Star, “Carrier announced it would begin eliminating its Indianapolis workforce in 2017 and continue the layoffs through 2019. The company’s plan is being discussed with United Steelworkers Local 1999, which represents the employees who face termination.” [Indianapolis Star, 2/12/16]
