Tag: Foreign National Job Preference (page 5)

Michigan's tax on pensions and retirement accounts kicked in on Jan. 1 and, not long after that, Jack Vassallo kicked back.

When the retired chemical engineering technician got his monthly payment from his Fidelity Investments 401(k) retirement savings account, the check was short. The $87.43 withheld for the new state tax would have made the check the right amount -- except that Vassallo is 79 years old and exempt from the retirement levy.

"I was furious," says the Woodhaven retiree. "It really irked me."

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Caterpillar has caused an uproar in Canada with a controversial plant closing. But the company attracted so many people to an Indiana jobs fair that the event had to be shut down earlier than planned.

On Friday, Caterpillar's Progress Rail Services said it was closing the 62-year-old Electro-Motive Canada plant in London, Ontario, about two hours west of Toronto.
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In explaining the shutdown, Billy Ainsworth, the CEO of Progress Rail, said in a letter to employees that all the company's facilities "must achieve competitive costs, quality and operating flexibility to compete and win in the global marketplace, and expectations at the London plant were no different."

It's the second big closing in that part of Canada in a year's time. Navistar shut its truck plant in nearby Chatham, Ontario in 2010, eliminating 1,100 jobs.

But at the moment, Caterpillar is the toast of Muncie, in east central Indiana.

Over the weekend, Caterpillar held a jobs fair that attracted about 3,000 applicants for jobs paying between $12.50 and $18 an hour, according to the Muncie Free Press.

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With the clock ticking to Michigan's Feb. 28 primary, Gov. Rick Snyder hasn't decided whom to endorse as the Republican presidential nominee.

The governor, who has said many times he wouldn't announce his endorsement until 30 days before the primary, has 20 days left to figure out his choice.

"He's still deciding," spokeswoman Sara Wurfel said Wednesday. "He's evaluating things in terms of candidates and jobs."

Bill Ballenger, editor of the Inside Michigan Politics newsletter, said there might be more to Snyder's reticence.

"Maybe Mitt Romney's asked him not to -- I'm not sure how much help that would be at this point," Ballenger said.

Washington-- Gov. Rick Snyder says he expects to make an endorsement in the GOP presidential race "as early as this week."

"I'm really close," Snyder told reporters ahead of a Wednesday appearance before the House Education and Workforce Committee, where he discussed jobs issues.

Most likely also in DC consulting with Barry Oweblamebush about what to do with the snag with his boondoggle gummint bridge too.  Nerdholm's just got to have them Federal tax 'debt dollars' to redistribute to his goonion labor base in Detoilet don'tchya know.

Snyder said he is focused on which candidate will be best for Michigan.

The state has its presidential primary Feb. 28. "I've been reviewing the candidates and coming up with who will be best suited for Michigan from the perspective of jobs and our long-term future."

Snyder says he has a good relationship with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Michigan native whose father served three terms as Michigan's governor. Romney, a Republican, campaigned on Snyder's behalf, but Snyder declined to say if he would endorse the front-runner.

Once Gov. Mitch Daniels signs the right-to-work bill into law - and that's likely to happen Wednesday, his spokeswoman said - Indiana will become the 23rd state with such a law on its books.

The state Senate approved House Bill 1001 on Wednesday on a 28-22 vote. It was the last legislative step necessary on a measure that bars businesses and unions from negotiating contracts that require non-members to pay dues as a condition of employment.

For Michigan business leaders choosing freedom, your point of contact begins here.

A poll says a majority of Michigan voters oppose the idea of raising gas taxes and vehicle registration fees to fund road and bridge improvements

The poll results released Monday show 58 percent opposed, 36 percent in favor and 6 percent undecided.

Michigan motorists would be asked to pay higher fuel-related taxes and vehicle registration fees under proposals introduced in the state Legislature. The package would raise an estimated $1 billion more each year for the state's roads and bridges.