The legislation, called a resolution of inquiry, would force the White House to provide all documents, records and communications regarding scheduled Chrysler plant closings that were not divulged by the administration or Chrysler until the plant names appeared in a bankruptcy filing.
The Twinsburg stamping plant is among those slated for closure, and the closure was tucked into the Chrysler bankruptcy filing made hours after President Barack Obama announced the bankruptcy and described it this way: "It will not disrupt the lives of the people who work at Chrysler or live in communities that depend on it."
Just days earlier, the local UAW had approved a new contract with concessions by an 88 percent margin, and the contract included a provision that could bring additional jobs to Twinsburg.
"I don't think it's logical that you'd vote by an 88 percent margin to kill your job and close your plant," LaTourette said. "There's nothing more disruptive to a community than losing its largest employer."
"If this was the plan all along, fine, but I believe it was intentionally kept from key stakeholders and that's not right. Let's find out who knew and when and why it wasn't shared."
The bill also requests documents and communications regarding Chrysler's Feb. 17 viability plan, which was publicly rejected by the administration on March 30.
It was in a March 30 speech by the President that Chrysler was given 30 days to strike an agreement with Fiat, while GM was given 60 days to come up with a better business plan.
The bill further requires transcripts of conference calls initiated on April 30 by members of Obama's Auto Task Force that included members of Congress, and asks that those who were aware of plant closings prior to April 30 be identified, including the Administration, the UAW and the Task Force.
Finally, the bill requests information on how the 789 Chrysler dealerships were singled out for closure.
"Many people feel misled by this entire process. I appreciate that the Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli has had to issue multiple apologies, but that doesn't excuse a process shrouded in secrecy and misinformation," LaTourette said.
LaTourette's bill has the following original co-sponsors: Reps. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Pat Tiberi (R-OH), Dan Burton (R-IN), Glen W. Thompson (R-PA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY); Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Peter J. Roskam (R-IL).
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