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* From the twitters…
.@continentaltire has an impressive operation in Mt. Vernon. We need pro-growth reforms so businesses can thrive pic.twitter.com/WHqeVYJYVu
— Bruce Rauner (@GovRauner) March 23, 2016
* Continental Tire is thriving. From a 2013 press release…
Continental Tire the Americas, plans to invest $129 million in its Mt. Vernon, Illinois tire facility and create more than 100 new full-time jobs over the next three years.
The company said driving forces behind this investment are an increased demand for Continental and General brand tires, the need for better complexity management in the plant and emerging technologies in tire production. The investment supports Continental’s comprehensive growth strategy for its tire operations worldwide.
“Continental Tire the Americas continues to grow our business in the U.S. and across the Americas,” said Jochen Etzel, CEO, Continental Tire the Americas. “This investment will support our efforts to provide an outstanding line-up of passenger, light truck and commercial vehicle tires for our customers.”
With a volume of almost $95 million, the largest portion of this investment will encompass the expansion of the Commercial Vehicle Tire production area, which will increase production to an annual volume of more than 3 million truck tires when completed. Included in this investment is a new mixer to support the additional tire production and the introduction of equipment for emerging tire technologies, including wide base truck tires. The CVT investment supports the addition of more than 80 new full-time positions and is expected to be completed in mid-2015.
“This investment will help us continue to produce some of the most technologically advanced commercial vehicle tires on the market, and also addresses our growth in the region,” said Paul Williams, executive vice president, Truck Tires for the Americas. “Our research and development engineers for the Americas, working at our Truck Tire Technology Center in Mt. Vernon, have developed tires and technologies for a complete lifecycle solution that begins with excellence in new tire production. In turn, our customers have responded with increased demand for our tires.”
Instead of whining all the time, what the government ought to be doing is finding out how that Downstate company is doing so well and then help other companies do the same.
This is not to say that pro-business reforms aren’t needed. They most definitely are, as I’m sure the folks at Continental Tire will eagerly tell you. I’m just saying that a visit to a successful corporation is probably not the time or place to make your case that Illinois can’t compete. It most certainly can.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:56 am
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Here’s Rauner’s “Winnin’” words from that event.
He did have a private meeting with company staff after the tour. Wonder if he gave them some bidness lessons?
http://www.register-news.com/news/rauner-visits-cta/article_42b9c984-f15a-11e5-99a2-6f817c817c8b.html
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:59 am
Rauner gelds himself, so he can blame others for his lack of fecundity. When he criticizes the very state he is supposed to be governing, he pulls us down right along with him.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:01 pm
After meeting with Rauner to get some of his business insights, Continental Tire announced a price increase of 3000% for tires bought for emergency vehicles and ambulances.
Ka-Ching! /snark
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:03 pm
Bruce Rauner’s lack of Twitter self-awareness makes me long for the gravitas of Pongee
Comment by LizPhairTax Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:03 pm
Definitely off-message for the governor.
What’s Continental doing well?
–The company said driving forces behind this investment are an increased demand for Continental and General brand tires,…–
Selling more tires sounds like a good plan. And no governor has anything to do with that, just like no governor could peddle those Mitsubishis in a boom year for American auto sales.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:04 pm
Rauner despises this state as much as he despises unions and state employees.
That’s the secret to Rauner, the thing that makes him tick. He doesn’t work for the “taxpayers” — he despises taxpayers. He despises voters — the taxpayers — that continue to repudiate his agenda.
Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:05 pm
Rhetoric and words are hardly what pulls us down.
Our crippling debt, unemployment rate, poverty levels, K-12 system and public corruption pull us down. Those are far more tangible and devastating than words from any politician.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:06 pm
I noticed in the upper left picture that Continental Tire provided a score card of the number of items in 1.4% TA that have been passed by the GA.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:10 pm
Huh? +++
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:13 pm
Yes Anonymous! Yes! And noun verb agreement. Is our anonymous commenters learning?
Comment by LizPhairTax Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:13 pm
Rhetoric and words pull us down because they’re our tools for building a better future, Mr. ‘Mous.
Comment by CD Sorensen Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:14 pm
Does the gov’s van on made in Illinois tires?
Or is he ridin dirty on foreign-made rubber?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:18 pm
=Rauner despises this state as much as he despises unions and state employees.=
That’s what I fear about “electing outsiders, not beholden to anyone.” What makes anyone believe they are beholden to citizens and taxpayers? If Rauner doesn’t care about an autistic girl in Cook County, what makes you think he cares about anyone in this state at all, other than himself?
Comment by illini97 Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:21 pm
==Our crippling debt, unemployment rate, poverty levels, K-12 system and public corruption pull us down. Those are far more tangible and devastating than words from any politician.==
And I suppose the solution to all those is to gut the unions? funny, haven’t heard many businesses clamoring for that…
Comment by Abe the Babe Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:21 pm
They are indeed tools, but hardly the most important or impactful options in the toolbox, Mr Sorensen.
Actions speak much louder than words, for a reason. Reduced debt loads and better education systems, for example, are far more important and effective tools to build a better future with than sound bites or tweets. Actions have the capacity to pull us up or down. Words are tantamount to tinkering around the edges, at best, in terms of fighting poverty, unemployment, hunger and homelessness.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:28 pm
I think a good pro-business plan would be to pay the ones doing business with the state, so they won’t have to continually be laying off people who would have been other businesses customers. I call it the Trickle-up, Pro-business Initiative. Pay your bills.
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:28 pm
Continental is already non union, don’t need any laws for private sector companies to be non union. TA has nothing to do with being more “business friendly”.
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:29 pm
Though your point is well taken, Mr S. Words and rhetoric can help lift a people. I simply care more about action, or the lack thereof in our state on behalf of both parties, at this moment in time.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:31 pm
Rauner is outstanding at running down the state, saying disparaging things…
Understanding that governors don’t control people’s buying habits?
“Pat Quinn failed… ”
The point?
The good and bad is often timing mixed with cycles, unless blatebt sabotage by business elements backfire(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:37 pm
Now, if only we could fix some roads and bridges for those tires to roll on…
Comment by Newsclown Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:37 pm
Reducing the debt load is important to the state. Under our present administration we are running up debt at a faster rate than we ever have. Businesses like to work in an environment of stability. We don’t have stability in Illinois because we don’t have a budget. We need a balanced budget, we need a balance of increased revenue and less spending to have a balanced budget. We don’t have a budget because it’s being held hostage by a Governor who cares more about ending Unions than he does improving the fiscal health of the state. The Governor isn’t the only problem we have for sure but for the past 14 months he has been the biggest problem.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:42 pm
The most troublesome part of his visit is not even listed. He was quoted as saying “I’m not raising taxes, period. End of Story.” No realistic person believes that enough budget cuts could even be made to make it a balanced budget without at least a portion being made up by a partial restoring of the recent reduction to the Illinois Income Tax. I’m not sure it is “Unclear on the Concept”, but something much more destructive and devious.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:48 pm
===The most troublesome part of his visit is not even listed===
I think that was taken out of context.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:53 pm
The most troublesome part of his visit is not even listed. He was quoted as saying “I’m not raising taxes, period. End of Story.”
Of course he isn’t. Madigan is.
Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:56 pm
Gotta give credit where credit is due: Continental Tire has been really helped by Gov. Pat Quinn:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/continental-tire-the-americas-invests-224-million-in-illinois-facility-adding-444-jobs-121704748.html
http://www3.illinois.gov/PressReleases/PressReleasesListShow.cfm?RecNum=11499
Comment by Moist von Lipwig Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:57 pm
Rauner is a negative glass is half empty demagogue trying to force his will on everyone. I for one am more than exhausted by him. When this story is told there’ll be good way to spin it. It’ll be just like blagos run where the public woke up only after it was over. Rinse and repeat.
Comment by El Conquistador Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:57 pm
Does anyone know which union covers this plant?
Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:59 pm
Words and rhetoric do matter.
The glass is more than half full in Illinois, maybe even over 95% full. Most of us know this. Continental Tire knows this.
They are going to be hurt much more by the $12 billion backlog ball and chain we are all be shackled with, than they will be helped by the magic beans of the 1.4% ROI on the TA.
Unfortunately, the Governor spends a lot of tax dollars, hot air, and electrons, running around using words and rhetoric trying to convince us there is zero water in the glass.
Comment by cdog Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:17 pm
=Taken out of Context=
Rauner visits CTA - Mt. Vernon Register-News by Tesa Glass, which is linked on this site.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Don’t know if there is much other businesses can learn from Continental. Much of its success in IL results from:
Manufacturing a good product individuals and businesses must have;
Locating as far as feasible away from northeastern Illinois; and,
Building in what appears to be a great community with great transportation access.
Those Germans at Continental HQ know what they’re doing.
Comment by Cook County Commoner Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:22 pm
I am not the best at Google, but for the likes of me, I cant place the union…..
Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:28 pm
If you’re a business, would you have felt more confident making an investment in Illinois in 2014 or today? I would vote 2014–higher taxes, but a balanced budget and backlog of bills coming down. I’m a big fan of stability.
There was great reason for optimism with a Republican Governor…Democratic legislators would need to compromise on some pro-business reforms, Republican legislators would have the ability to impact policy and not have the crutch of simply opposing and voting ‘no’ on everything. Things needing done would get done.
Instead, the Republican legislative levee broke and Hurricane Rauner began to lay waste to our state.
Comment by Earnest Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:33 pm
When did it become an economic necessity for business to be exempt from taxes and actually receive money from the date in order to be financially viable? I get reasonable taxation and regulation. That makes a lot of sense but that isn’t what corporate America wants anymore. Somebody has to pu for infrastructure for these businesses.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:52 pm
It’s not TRUELY a successful business until it has been carved into pieces, the plant and property sold off and the employees fired. I LOVE venture capitalism!
Comment by Left of Central IL Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:57 pm
Burb @12:29. Did you say they were non-union?sorry I missed your response. I must put them on my “do not patronize” list.thanks.
Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:19 pm
All this hoopla over 100 new jobs. With the state causing the Lutheran Social Services layoffs, we need another 650 just to break even!
Comment by BobO Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:28 pm
==”He was quoted as saying “I’m not raising taxes, period. End of Story.”==
Guess Rauner thinks he doesn’t have to raise taxes because he doesn’t plan to pay his vendors or state workers’ benefits. Now we know why he did not want a budget for FY2016.
Comment by Mama Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:21 pm
If they are non-union, it would be because their employees choose not to be
Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:26 pm
They are non-union because the company says so. I used to work there. They told us that they did not want a union there but in turn, they would treat us right; and they did. My health insurance was totally FREE, no cost for prescription drugs. Management treated us fairly, and they paid good wages. I worked there prior to going to college. Bosses like Rauner though is why the State needs a union.
Comment by Crispy Critter Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:50 pm
I support union built products because.I choose to. I just hope that AFSCME and CTU members do to.
Comment by blue dog dem Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 6:05 pm
And they are building a new plant in Mississippi.
Comment by littlehorse Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 6:19 pm
“I’m not raising taxes, period. End of Story.”
Well, that’s the ballgame, folks. Get ready for things to get a lot worse.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 7:14 pm
Yes the unions all push union made American products. I wish more companies did.
Comment by illinois manufacturer Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 8:24 pm
Before Lipwig up there goes into contortions over Quinn’s efforts on behalf of this plant and workforce, it should be noted that a personal, joint effort from Gov. Thompson and Treas. Cosentino and a bundle of loans, linked deposits and training grants back in 1988 kept this plant open and growing in Illinois after Continental bought General Tire.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 9:22 pm