Kenosha and Racine area lawmakers hope the state's Congressional delegation will be able to put emphasis in letter to the President which seeks a halt to the impending shutdown of the Kenosha Chrysler engine plant. State Representative Cory Mason (D-Racine) says consideration should be given to the fact that taxpayers poured $12 billion into the automaker to keep it going.
"The idea that they are going to close a plant down in Kenosha and keep one in Mexico really hits you the gut," says Mason.
Mason thinks that lawmakers have leverage on the automaker because it accepted bailout funds but the Racine Democrat says they'll have to "make a lot of noise" which dialogue with both Chrysler and Fiat.
The legislator says maybe a deal can be worked out to retool the less than 10-year-old plant to make engines for CASE agricultural equipment in nearby Racine, which would trim current shipping expenses, while providing and economic "shot in the arm."