Issue Position: Creating Jobs - Fighting Outsourcing and Supporting Michigan's Auto Industry

Issue Position

The outsourcing of American jobs to China, Mexico and other nations has had a devastating impact on Michigan. We need a plan that fights back. Gary Peters supports closing tax loopholes that reward corporations that ship jobs overseas while sticking U.S. taxpayers with the bill. Scare taxpayer resources should not encourage the exportation of our jobs. Instead, the U.S. should reward companies that hire American workers and invest in new equipment here at home. Under Peters plan, companies that add workers to pay roll or invest in new facilities in America would see an immediate tax reduction paid for by the elimination of tax breaks for outsourcing.

When GM and Chrysler were threatened with bankruptcy, Peters stood up to those in Washington who would have simply let the American Auto industry collapse and slip into history. He was a national leader in standing up to the big banks who were trying to profit by forcing Chrysler into liquidation. When GM announced they were shutting down the Lake Orion plant, Gary Peters launched the Make it in Michigan campaign and 30,000 people joined the fight. The effort was so successful that instead of closing the plant, it helped convince GM to become the first automaker to build a subcompact car here in America. His leadership helped save thousands of jobs in Oakland County by protecting two General Motors plants from permanent shutdown and saving Chrysler from liquidation. Now American auto companies have started to bounce back and have begun to create jobs again in our community.

Peters was also a leader in the effort to boost the economy through the Cash for Clunkers program, which provided consumers a rebate for trading in older, low mileage vehicles in order to purchase new fuel efficient models. The program spurred the sale of 700,000 new cars and increased overall GDP, giving our industry and economy a badly needed boost. Peters fought for a Clunkers program in which only North American built cars could participate, but some said that would violate international trade rules. Of course, Japan later announced that its Cash for Clunkers program would effectively bar American vehicles. This is exactly the sort of outrageously unfair trade policy that has cost Michigan so many jobs. Peters has assembled a coalition of other Members of Congress to stand up to Japan and force them to play by the rules and allow American cars to compete with theirs on a level playing field.

Peters' Plan to Fight Outsourcing and Support Michigan's Auto Industry will:

* Eliminate tax breaks that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas;

* Provide immediate tax credits for employers that hire unemployed workers;

* Provide tax incentives for companies that expand or build new facilities in Michigan and across the country;

* Fight for fair trade policies that level the playing field for our workers;

* Enforce trade agreements and crack down on Chinese currency manipulation.

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