Press release from U.S. Rep. John Larson, the East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol:
Congressman Larson’s Statement on Pratt & Whitney Plant Closure Decision
Hartford, CT- U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on Pratt &Whitney’s decision to close the Cheshire Engine Center and the East Hartford-based Connecticut Airfoil Repair Operations:
“I am deeply disappointed by today’s announcement. It’s a major blow to our state’s manufacturing industry, Connecticut’s economy, and most importantly, to the hard working men and women of Pratt & Whitney. I still believed that a compromise that would have saved these jobs in Connecticut could have been achieved between Pratt & Whitney, the Machinists Union and the state of Connecticut.
“During my tenure in Congress, I have worked with the Connecticut delegation to preserve manufacturing jobs in Connecticut by securing critical federal funding to continue the production of Pratt & Whitney’s engines, and by protecting important military programs like the F-35 and C-17. This delegation in Washington, time and time again, has worked and voted in favor of the best interests of the machinists and employees of Pratt & Whitney. It is disappointing that at the end of the day, the interests of shareholders, and not the years of hard work and sacrifice by these employees, motivated the company’s final decision.
“I will continue to fight for the Connecticut worker and to protect Connecticut jobs. Through the bold action of our President and this Congress, our nation has begun to climb out of the cavernous economic hole that we faced a little more than a year ago. I will continue to make the economy my number one priority.”
Congressman Larson’s Statement on Pratt & Whitney Plant Closure Decision
Hartford, CT- U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement on Pratt &Whitney’s decision to close the Cheshire Engine Center and the East Hartford-based Connecticut Airfoil Repair Operations:
“I am deeply disappointed by today’s announcement. It’s a major blow to our state’s manufacturing industry, Connecticut’s economy, and most importantly, to the hard working men and women of Pratt & Whitney. I still believed that a compromise that would have saved these jobs in Connecticut could have been achieved between Pratt & Whitney, the Machinists Union and the state of Connecticut.
“During my tenure in Congress, I have worked with the Connecticut delegation to preserve manufacturing jobs in Connecticut by securing critical federal funding to continue the production of Pratt & Whitney’s engines, and by protecting important military programs like the F-35 and C-17. This delegation in Washington, time and time again, has worked and voted in favor of the best interests of the machinists and employees of Pratt & Whitney. It is disappointing that at the end of the day, the interests of shareholders, and not the years of hard work and sacrifice by these employees, motivated the company’s final decision.
“I will continue to fight for the Connecticut worker and to protect Connecticut jobs. Through the bold action of our President and this Congress, our nation has begun to climb out of the cavernous economic hole that we faced a little more than a year ago. I will continue to make the economy my number one priority.”
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
21 comments:
Larson: Major Blow-Hard.
The cold reality is if we are ever to reduce spending, including military, jobs will be lost. We rail against pork and special interests but is not spending money on planes for the simple purpose of keeping someone employed the same thing?
This isn't about shareholders it's about reducing the dependence our national economy has on the vast military industrial complex. A warning issued by President Eisenhower over 50 years ago.
The hole will be hear for 1 more year.
He still doesn't get it.
This is on Larson's and Dodd's watch along with the rest of the wild eyed liberals from CT in Congress.
This started when Larson and Dodd and company failed to keep the Air Force Tanker contract followed by the F22 fighter contract loss. These guys care less about the workers they just take advantage of the status quo.
We need change as the great one says.
The state legislature also has to take some responsibility for this. Connecticut is not a business friendly state and the legislature has done nothing to improve it. More businesses will continue to leave the state unless that changes.
The state legislature?
THE STATE LEGISLATURE!
How about Pratt taking some responsibility for hanging people's job's onto a worthless piece of government pork.
The F-22 is the latest technology to fight the SOVIETS!
Y'all cry about government "socialism" but your ok when it goes to business in the most gluttonous way?
Once again the Unions kill another company. Only after Pratt say's it's leaving does the union give back. Little to late.
See Ya!
Who told Pratt to go to Japan? Not us ....must be those fiscal conservatives. Pratt must maintain their profits.
Good idea .... SUE businesses until they all go bankrupt .
Yet another 'brilliant' idea from the unions .
NOT !!!!!!!!!!!
Hello, anonwestconn:
When businesses don't make money because there's no market for their product, or the product is too expensive to make, they need to change something or go out of business. Pratt decided to make a change. Good for them. Maybe we should look at what expenses drove them away, before everyone else leaves too.
What good is your business if nobody has any money to spend? Where do we go ? Follow them to Japan ?
Boo Hoo Babies are crying again !
Generally, when a company is in business, it is too make money to grow, and for the investors.
If they don't make money, they have to adjust, or go out of business.
OR GET BAILED OUT BY THE TAXPAYER AS WE HAVE RECENTLY SEEN.
Let anonwestconncoolaidedrinkingmoron keep talking. His rhetoric drives a wedge between the lazy-bum pro-union Dim-o-crats and the pacifist, traditional-America hating, Obama-loving Dim-o-crats (like him). Albeit Obama is taking himself down nicely.
3:11 PM
You're making my point exactly! There's no market for the F-22 and it is too expensive to make. But instead of seeking out a change they sought a government handout.
But somehow its the unions fault?
The state legislature?
Give me a break!
anonwestconndimwit:
Pratt makes jet fighters (you idiot) not hybrid cars or wind-machines.
9:11 AM
Let me make this very clear. The F-22 is the leading jet fighter technology designed to fight the SOVIET UNION.
There is better, cheaper, more updated technology being produced for our military.
This is government pork, pure and simple. People want job growth and creation. They'll also scream about the evils of "unions" and "socialism" but when it comes to corporate welfare the response is all about getting the gravy train.
But I'll willing to compromise. I'll support corporate welfare to pratt, if everyone else will support my government run health care.
anonwestconn:
Most of us couldn't care less who or what you support.
It's not about "corporate welfare" or whatever your left-wing wack-job mind envisions. It's about good paying UNION jobs (which the unions drove away) and commerce that supports local manufacturing.
Why does such an opinionated b__ch like yourself have so much to say when you actually are toatlly clueless?
But I'll willing to compromise. I'll support corporate welfare to pratt, if everyone else will support my government run health care.
September 23, 2009 8:59 PM
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How about this .
STOP giving welfare to the unions and STOP this evil government health 'care' disaster .
America is speaking and as usual the leadership ignores them .
How about this .
STOP giving welfare to the unions and STOP this evil government health 'care' disaster .
America is speaking and as usual the leadership ignores them .
September 24, 2009 11:51 AM
How about this? Stop giving so many bonuses to these useless CEO's. And nobody I know told them to go to Japan! Only slave labor would have kept them here!
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