localboysince1968, apology excepted. Please believe me, I do feel sad for people losing there jobs. I am sorry if I came off as hard. My wife and I every year give 20% of our earnings to charity, and work at homeless shelters provided by our church here in LA. We have no children, and never can. I wish everybody through education could obtain good employment. I believe that the days of high paying union assemble jobs our over in this country. I am also quite uncomfortable of big companies obtaining loans or any other grants from tax payers. There was when I was in Janesville at GM, much waste of tax payer dollars. Even your Governor Doyle, has made references to getting tax dollars back from GM just recently. I and my wife, also my excellent very skilled employee have been blessed for creating a very lucrative business. I was just trying to state in a round about way that the domestic (U.S.) auto industry is in terrible shape. Every auto annalist in the county on the news has reported this. Even the just retired long term and powerful president of the CAW, Buz Hargrove in Canada just stated this. Best wishes and luck to all back in Wisconsin, God Bless you all!!!!

The Janesville Project
Investment- 5 Billion $$$ In 10 Years
Investment Source- International, Federal, State, County & Private Funds
Purpose- To bring new alternative energy sources into production, including, but not limited to, vehicle propulsion, household wind & solar applications, high capacity storage devices, etc. A cooperative effort between industry, government and education/research institutions to construct a clearinghouse for alternative energy development and production.

First Project- Create a non-fossil fuel propulsion engine to replace mid-size to large diesel engines within 3 years and autos in 5 years, including retro-fit engines for current vehicles. In 4 years Janesville would be producing the first GM AE mid-duty trucks on the current truck line.

Research & Development- The brightest scientists, engineers, & support staff from around the world would relocate to Janesville and this area would become the international center for alternative energy development. Research would start January ’09 with federal and state funding.

Manufacturing- Just as UW Research Park was built around the visionary ingenuity of UW researchers, Janesville would become an incubator for manufacturing production facilities throughout the Stateline area and beyond.

Easy now everyone! I am also guilty of attacking the person, and not the point.

BigRoadie - please accept my apologies for not staying on the discussion with your and my points, as I got off course and sent some jabs at you. I need to stick to the point, and not the person.

My only intent was to discuss the advantages of keeping good paying jobs ( I also agree with the pay scale relevance) in the area, and the implications of what happens when you have a sudden large amount of good paying jobs end or leave.

GM and the UAW recognize the need for lower paying 'non-core' positions ($14 jobs), but still believe the current rate for experienced assembly is needed, and are getting closer to the responsibility matching the pay.

Dearest ihavealife,

I'm 46, and get a clue. Go find a life. Loser!!!!!!

roadie..Yes i understand people can make that money in a year.I don't believe you are one of them at the age of 40?? Janesville is a much better place without you !

Poor ihavealife, again you are another who probably has never been out of Janesville. Quit being a whiner, and go to school. Unless you feel you don't have the capability to stop doing only non-skilled assemble type work.

You just don't have a clue, there are all kinds of people who make a Million dollars gross per year. My business is not just that of an electrician. It involves fire suppression monitors, and monitors for hazardous gases and chemicals. I am sorry, I should have included my wife in our company. She does most of the computer software in our operation. Also none of us are dope addicts. Have a nice day.

BigRoadie...Do you really think people are going to believe that you and 1 other electrician could work the hours it would take to gross $747,000. Even if you worked 365 days that's $2046.00 a day.What are you smokin' in your big roadies ?

unknown..No one can give you a answer to that question.The best anyone can hope for is sub assembly jobs would be moved into the plant.I believe the Lear building has been sold.Good luck to you and your family.

curlysue...That's very true.Wagoner takes GREAT pride in the over seas market and the plants.As he himself has said GM has taken that market by storm.So yes GM is a International company.

All I am wondering is if my job is gone at lear or not.

BigRodie - I was SHARPLY put down in a previous blog when I said GM - an American co. should keep American workers building their product. I was told in a nasty way that GM IS AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY. NOT AN AMERICAN COMPANY! Just thought I would save you the cut downs I recieved earlier.

Dear Shorty64, I am not bitter at all. Like I said before, I made more money as a outside Electrician (IBEW). Also I have over 20 years to go before I am of retirement age. I was not afraid to move, (I never cried like a baby, because I had to leave the state). This is life, this is realty in the world today. You can not today keep paying non-skilled people, wages that are not found anywhere else. The line people (production), are grossly over paid! Next contract the UAW will have all line workers making $14.00, because those are what non-skilled people are truly worth! I have told many line workers, go to school and better yourself. Because what your making now will not last. Have courage to leave mom & dad, grandma & grandpa, and the pack for that matter. My folks are in a nursing home now, and I live in California. Sadly people out here could care less about GM or Ford, most drive Honda's and Toyota's. I now have my own business.

p.s. Last year my one electrician and I made $747,000.00 gross for my small company, ( there is life outside of GM and Janesville, but you have to earn it)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck to every one back in Janesville, but don't hope for miracles.

localboy.... I knew there was a reason I like what you have to say !!
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littleroadie....You should get a grip on what this is going to do too a lot of familes!

BigRoadie...once again, your comments are flawed. Dutcher will have a job whether Janesville closes or not. His "territory" covers more than just Local 95 (which incidentally won't go completely away if the plant closes because Mercy East Clinic is a UAW95 unit, as are a few other non-GM-related businesses in the area). Amy Loasching's job also represents more than just GM-Janesville. Get your facts straight before you open your mouth.

Bigroadie... sounds like you are a ungrateful tradesman that we all hear the whinning stories about. I think maybe your bank account has taken a hit. Why not have a little compassion for those folks that still need to work and get kid's through school, and then still have a job to take care of elderly parent's as you have had to do??? Bitter, bitter, I hope you find happiness someday in your retirement years.

localboy 68, You have bought in to the Democrat, UAW hype. You will never get it. It amounts to Socialism, and that's it. Again you are ignorant of the facts when it comes to the Domestic Auto industry (GM, Ford, Chrysler). In the southern states you speak of, they are not domestic (USA) companies building plants there. They are Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, VW, BMW, Mercedes Benz (READ NO UAW). Hopefully one day you will forget about vacationing up north, and get out of Wisconsin and broaden your horizons. I think the Wisconsin cheese and beer, have gotten to you. I'm done you will never get it, bye bye.

BigRoadie - If you read my post clearly, you would see that I was trying to keep things simple (for you) by using the total payroll of GM only in Rock County. I know that it isn't 100%.

I didn't realize that creating jobs narrowed down to a political party. I think people need jobs regardless of which party is in charge. My point (since you missed it by a wide margin) is that it isn't corporate welfare if you help save some jobs using tax money. That is what will help prop up the tax levy. I didn't even start to tell you the social structure weakens with areas that are economically challenged (crime, education, drugs etc), but it wouldn't have mattered to explain to you anyway.

What do you think it will do for your taxes when several thousand people are on unemployment and eventually leave the area due to the lack of jobs (good paying or not)? I was trying to paint the correlation for you in my economic lesson, but your ignorant goggles were on.

By the way, the domestic auto industry is not dying, just look at the south (Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky) who go out of their way to assist companies in locating their business there in the way of incentives, because they know the long term payback is much greater than the sum of the incentive. They must all be stupid, and you are smarter than them.

Go back to the library and read up. You got some learning to do.

localboysince1968, Again your numbers are wrong, only about 60% GM employees live in Rock County. Even back in May with two shifts, Mercy Systems employed more people than GM. Yes it is sad that many people at GM will loose there job, but this is now a world economy. $28.50/hr, plus benefits for non skilled assemblers is now unrealistic in todays world economy. As a tradesman at GM I know what skilled trades made as outside contractors, as I was one of them. I made more money then, but because of elderly parents I was forced to come back to Janesberg.
You must be a Democrat since you like high taxes, and think Wisconsin is the end of the world. Being a Republican (not desiring to be taxed out of my mind), and former Military Man (who is not afraid to move to another state). I am willing to relocate. I do wish you good luck, because you will need it. Because the domestic auto-industry is a dying one. Just remember your Democrat boy William Jefferson Clinton signed NAFTA, helping drive a nail in the coffin. GM and Ford will survive, but with lower labor cost,and less intrusive government overseas. They are global companies!!!!

BigRoadie - let me give you a short economic lesson.

1. GM's annual payroll is around $300M. To keep things simple (for you) let assume all live here in Rock County. Around 7-7.5% of that will go to the state in the form of income tax. Another who knows how much will go to the city in the form of property tax. You can come up with what ever formula for county tax also.

2. The vacuum created by the loss of $300M is endless. You have that much less in disposable income coming in to the area. This means less food, gas, water, electricity, entertainment, babysitters, and I could go on.

3. Of course the tax implications. Now you have less Fireman, Policeman, city workers, nurses, doctors, dentists, and I can't even begin to list specialized workers (social, psychology etc.)

4. With the absence of these jobs, will be the migration of workers to where there are jobs (not in Janesville)which means less homeowners who need electricians, plumbers, roofers, landscapers, remodelers etc. With the reduction in population, you will have reduction in educational staff - teachers, janitors, coaches, administrative, etc.

5. Keep in mind, everyone of these worker descriptions I have described, are TAX PAYERS!!

I have not even digged into the periphial jobs created by direct GM employment - Lear, Janesville Products, JP Cullen, LSI, Blackhawk Credit Union etc. By the way, this is all annual dollars. Will Janesville survive - you bet. Flint is still around. But to be naive enough to not think that there is not a lot in stake to this situation is silly on your part. I think there is a lot more to lose than Amy, John, Brad, and Mark's incomes. Be real.

I still believe they are self serving. As they will benefit most. This is extremely sad that tax payers who are not employed there, will help in footing the bill. I thought are economy was based on the capitalist principle, not socialism! GM is private industry, and should not be tax payer supported.

"Selfless" was not really the word to use. This is something that is in the general self-interest of Janesville and having people with a specific self-interest taking this message is both unsurprising and expected. (Who else could better make the case?) If they succeed, it's good news for a lot of people. This isn't someplace where the concept of conflict of interest applies, in other words.

Dear localyocal 68, you are kidding right. Cullen has made Millions of $$$$$$$$$$ over the years, off of projects at the Janesville GM facility. Dutcher won't have a job as UAW region 4 servicing rep. if Janesville closes. Dohner is a employee of GM in Janesville. Amy Loaching is paid by GM as VEBA rep. If the plant close they all loose big money baby!!!!!!!!!

Local Boy, big roadie is correct. My sources tell me that JP Cullen will be awarded the contract to renovate the plant for future use. Therefore, they have a vested interest. They were finalizing the contract during this meeting.

How come there were no city officals there? I do not consider anything our city council does as official so please refrain from mentioning Amy Loasching.

BigRoadie - explain in more detail how they will benefit their bank accounts if GM extends business in Janesville? You need to give me detail on each of those members you just spoke of. If you are going to make comments like that, back them up baby.

You have got to be mistaken, localboysince 1968. Selfless act? Mark Cullen of JP Cullen & Sons, who does big $$$ contracts at Janesvilles GM plant. Brad Dutcher who works now for UAW, and John Dohner Jr. UAW local 95 shopchairman. Amy Loaching UAW national Veba representative. This will serve them well, in there own bank accounts.

I like the KISS and Rush reference's

TheJoker - it isn't Dec. 31st, so anything is possible between now and then.

A Sugarloaf reference, well done garyprimer....
*
Now that we have dated ourselves, I too am skeptical of this fantastical voyage to Detroit Rock City, but if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
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The team was clearly assembled by former St. Senate Majority Leader Tim Cullen, a maestro of the game (and someone who I enjoyed imbibing with at the ole Club 67, back in the day), so I salute the effort and if there is a best foot farward, this was it.

Sorry, but this is too little, too late. GM has made up their mind and the plant will be closed for good by December 31st. At least this is what my sources are telling me. Game over.

We should show gratitude towards the individuals that took on this selfless task. I am sure they put their lives on hold to put the community in position to possibly have a continued future with either a GM life, or some other company that needs good workers.

This is a task that has incredible odds stacked against them, yet they worked long and hard to lower those odds.

I can only wish I was part of that same team, as it would have been a great opportunity, sucessful or not.

Listen kid you paid for the call
You ain't bad but I've heard it all before
Don't call us, we'll call you