Corker in Middle of Michigan-Tennessee Fight
Tennessee Senator Bob Corker is taking a little heat from the Michigan media for his support of the General Motors plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, which may be targeted for closing.
Posted by John Branston on Sat, Apr 11, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Corker, who will be in Memphis April 14th to meet with business groups, has been one of GM's sharpest critics while managing to also be one of Spring Hill's biggest defenders.
In an interview with the Flyer in January, the Republican senator from Chattanooga said "I think Spring Hill is one of those assets that, even if GM were to go bankrupt, it would survive and thrive."
GM used to make Saturns in Spring Hill, the fastest growing community in Tennessee, but now makes the Chevy Traverse, a heavily advertised model that lists for about $27,000 and is GM's best-selling midsize crossover. The Spring Hill plant, 30 miles south of Nashville, employs 3,000 people. A plant in Lansing, Michigan makes three other vehicles on the same platform. So a battle for survival between those two plants is shaping up.
A story in the Detroit Free Press Friday said "there's every reason to believe General Motors Corps' Spring Hill plant could be on the chopping block, whether politics plays a role in the decision or not.”
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