NJ Lawmaker: Trump Deserves Praise After Blasting GM For Layoffs

A state lawmaker who represents parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties is offering President Donald Trump a round of applause for his recent criticism of General Motors.

Senator Joe Pennacchio (District 26) praised Trump after the president laid into GM earlier this week when the corporation announced it plans to close five U.S. factories and eliminate about 14,000 jobs.

Pennacchio, a Republican, represents Butler, Fairfield, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Montville, Morris Plains, North Caldwell, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Rockaway Township, Verona, West Caldwell and West Milford.

According to Pennacchio, GM has received approximately $33.5 million in federal funding over the past year.

“GM has taken billions from the federal government, and yet they have the gall to lay off thousands of innocent people,” Pennacchio said.

“Where did all of that money go?” the senator queried. “This is unconscionable. I commend our president for doing the right thing and standing up to the bullies at GM. The everyday worker should never pay the price for the sins of greedy executives at the top of the totem pole.”

According to a GM statement, assembly plants that will be “unallocated” in 2019 include:

• Oshawa Assembly in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
• Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly in Detroit
• Lordstown Assembly in Warren, Ohio

Propulsion plants that will be unallocated in 2019 include:

• Baltimore Operations in White Marsh, Maryland.
• Warren Transmission Operations in Warren, Michigan.

TRUMP: ‘VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH GM AND THEIR CEO’

Here are the Trump tweets that garnered a thumbs-up from Pennacchio.

“Very disappointed with General Motors and their CEO, Mary Barra, for closing plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland,” the president wrote in a two-part tweet. “Nothing being closed in Mexico & China. The U.S. saved General Motors, and this is the THANKS we get! We are now looking at cutting all @GM subsidies, including or electric cars. General Motors made a big China bet years ago when they built plants there (and in Mexico) - don’t think that bet is going to pay off. I am here to protect America’s Workers!”

Trump later tweeted an update on the GM situation:

“If GM doesn't want to keep their jobs in the United States, they should pay back the $11.2 billion bailout that was funded by the American taxpayer.

The president added:

“The reason that the small truck business in the U.S. is such a go to favorite is that, for many years, Tariffs of 25% have been put on small trucks coming into our country. It is called the “chicken tax.” If we did that with cars coming in, many more cars would be built here and G.M. would not be closing their plants in Ohio, Michigan & Maryland. Get smart Congress. Also, the countries that send us cars have taken advantage of the U.S. for decades. The resident has great power on this issue - Because of the G.M. event, it is being studied now!”

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PENNACCHIO: 'DON'T JUMP AT TRUMP'

Pennacchio said that all too often, elected officials - including members of his own party - jump at the chance to criticize Trump.

“Let them find something to be critical about here,” he said. “I don’t recall any other president taking such bold steps to hold a corporate behemoth like GM accountable for their actions.”

Some experts, however, have questioned what “subsidies” the president is referring to.

A “person familiar with the matter” told CNN Business that GM is unaware of any significant federal subsidies the company is receiving beyond a $7,500 plug-in tax credit, which goes to the consumer, not the company.

“The entire industry qualifies for this,” Jeremy Acevedo, manager of industry analysis at Edmunds told CNN. “It's nothing exclusive to GM.”

From 2009 to 2014, the U.S. Energy Department provided loans and grants toward the development of electric vehicles and energy saving technology. However, while Tesla, Nissan and Ford participated, GM did not, CNN reported.

Taking a page from Trump, General Motors tweeted its own statement about the upcoming layoffs on Tuesday:

“We’re committed to maintaining a strong manufacturing presence in the U.S. Many of the U.S. workers impacted by our actions will have the opportunity to support new growing areas. That includes adding technical and engineering jobs that support the future of mobility. We’re on a journey to create a better world today, and for generations to come.”

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Photo: Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead