Bernie Sanders says he would bar GM from federal contracts for Lordstown actions if elected

[Uncle Joe]

president

WARREN, Ohio – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders told an enthusiastic crowd of union members and workers from around Lordstown on Sunday that, if elected president, he would freeze government contracts to companies like General Motors who opt to shut down American factories like the Chevy Cruze facility to outsource jobs to lower-paying countries.

(snip)

But the positive reception by the crowd to Sanders’ constant flurry of attacks against GM show that the factory closures could be a serious liability for Republicans in 2020.

(snip)

It’s a bold claim against a company that currently has hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts, but a sign of the political potency the factory closings represent in Northeast Ohio, particularly the Mahoning Valley. But it also received arguably the most resounding response from the crowd.

(snip)

Coupled with the gain GM received from Trump and the GOP’s tax plan, his direct promise to bring jobs back to the area and his attack on local union members and leaders, it’s almost a gift-wrapped local issue with national implications for Democrats to use in 2020.

(snip)

https://www.cleveland.com/politics/2019/04/bernie-sanders-says-he-would-bar-gm-from-federal-contracts-for-lordstown-actions-if-elected-president.html

This is a good read and I believe the author's analysis is correct on this issue and the political implications.

[bitterross]

1. That's no better than a Trump promise. Can the Pres even DO that?

First of all, does the President have the authority to block a company that way? I'm going to be surprised if that's possible.

I don't like pandering to the people just to get elected.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Oh boy,

grasping much,interesting. Seems we hear something like this once years ago and GM got a multiyear Billions of Dollar Humvee Contract plus all the rebuild and Parts contracts.

[BlueFlorida]

3. Does every little thing Bernie says has to be an OP?

[LakeArenal]

5. Looks like it. 👍🏻

[CentralMass]

8. Well, they didn't opine about his bowel movement today.

[Uncle Joe]

12. Knock on wood.

[comradebillyboy]

4. So is Bernie just going to rule by decree regardless of what the law says?

Bernie going to personally intervene in putting contracts out to bid and determining who can and can't participate? Is Bernie personally going to pick winners and losers? Sounds very authoritarian to me.

[murielm99]

6. Why not?

Trump thinks it's okay.

[JI7]

18. fuck trump , we are trying to get rid of him

[murielm99]

19. I didn't think I needed

the sarcasm thingy there. Oh, well.

[JI7]

20. you didn't

I just wanted to get in an f trump

[murielm99]

21. okay.

[LakeArenal]

7. That should help auto workers. Not

[still_one]

9. No surprise. He also was for tariffs, and protectionist polices, not unlike what the current WH

pushed in their campaign

We really don’t need 1932 redux in my view, and this threat against GM is not going to help GM workers

[we can do it]

10. Well that will help bring those jobs back.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

11. Wouldn't that hurt other U.S.-based GM plants?

[OilemFirchen]

14. Of course.

That's the strategy, isn't it?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. Closing more plants? M'kay.

[OilemFirchen]

22. That would be the net effect of cutting off government contracts.

I believe that Sanders is more interested in punishing GM than supporting its workers. After all, he voted against the EESA, which saved GM from bankruptcy. He's in favor of tariffs which harm GM's ability to compete. Neither of those positions suggest that Sanders is concerned about the future of the industry - in fact, they suggest that he sees some benefit in its demise. Ditto this threat.

Sanders is first and foremost a reactionary. I don't believe that he cares about the consequences, nor that he's even contemplated the economic repercussions of U.S. without a GM.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

24. .

[JI7]

17. what's the goal of the strategy ?

[OilemFirchen]

23. See post 22. (n/t)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Aren't presidents supposed to avoid punishing corporations for legal business decisions?

We hate it when Trump does that.

[WeekiWater]

16. If GMcloses a factory...

I’ll force them to close five factories!