Yesterday, I covered a press conference here in town held by Governor Dayton, along with mayor of Hutchinson Steve Cook, and other local officials, including three area representatives and Senator Scott Newman.
It was another freelance gig for the Minnesota Independent. The post, Hutchinson Tech CEO credits globalization for local manufacturing shutdown, Dayton says, is up at MnIndy.
According to a city official whom I spoke with after the press conference, HTI officials have not brought up Minnesota's business climate in recent discussions with the city abot their reaons for leaving; he noted that the explanation in the company's press releases and the reasons discussed at the press conference concur with what the city had heard.
Another official--Mayor Steve Cook, praised the company for sticking with American workers--inclduing those in Hutchinson--as long as they had, since nearly all American corporations in the sector had moved their manufacturing to other countries.
During the press conference, i was happy to see local legislators there, since the next step is to help laid-off workers find jobs and perhaps to work with HTI to help find a tenant for the soon-to-be vacant plant.
However, I'm a little less happy to find the statement that Newman issued when the company made its announcement last week:
“I am very concerned about the Hutchinson Technology employee layoffs and eventual move of its manufacturing operations to Wisconsin. Hutchinson Technology has been a vital part of the community and the loss of 700 to 900 more employees to Wisconsin will be difficult on all that call Hutchinson home. In light of their announcement today, I have been working with Representative Ron Shimanski to schedule a meeting with company representatives. These layoffs and move of the manufacturing plant again punctuates the importance of creating a business friendly environment in Minnesota, through regulation reforms, and lower corporate taxes. We are losing too many homegrown corporations to South Dakota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. I want to be a part of the solution in encouraging businesses to stay and prosper here in Minnesota.”
HTI had closed its plant in South Dakota in 2009. There's no evidence that the plant in Wisconsin is kept open for any other reason than the choices the company made years ago--when a Democrat served in the Badger State's governor's mansion.
Can it be done differently? Fellow Republican, Representative Ron Shimanski (R-Silver Lake) included the following message in his weekly email update:
Hutchinson Technology
As many of you I’m sure have already heard, Hutchinson Technology is going to be moving much of its operation to a Wisconsin location in Eau Claire due to corporate resizing. This will have an extensive impact on residents in district 18A. Hutchinson Technology will be working with government jobs and economic development to help people find jobs. I will also be working with the jobs and economic development committee as well as Governor Dayton in an effort to enhance job opportunities in our area.
While some of the production will be heading to Thailand, Shimanski's statement is a model of mature consideration, given the circumstances.
I'll probably never see eye to eye on most issues with my state rep, but I'm getting to have more respect for him with every encounter.
Photo: The governor's press conference in Hutchinson yesterday.
Related posts:
Playing politics with pain: Glenn Gruenhagen blames Hutch Tech lay-off on taxes
It is good to see that both Representative Newman and Senator Shimanski want to be part of finding a solution. Where is a statement from the Governor stating how he will be involved or what he will do to find a solution?
Bluestem replies: Since you asked--and ask you did--apparently, you need obvious facts pointed out to you.
You missed the part where Dayton and the DEED commissioner traveled to Hutchinson for arranged meetings with the CEO and other executives at HTI, met with local elected officials, and then held a press conference at City Hall outlining how the administration will work with the company, the laid off workers and local elected officials.
For more complete coverage, I recommend that you buy and read--carefully and slowly--the extended coverage of the visit in Thursday's Hutchinson Leader.
But perhaps, since you're the chair of a local county's Republican BPOU, you won't be able to recognize the governor's action.
Posted by: Emengelstad | Mar 18, 2011 at 10:43 AM