Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam
It was no secret that Tennessee Republicans threatened dire consequences if Volkswagen workers unionized, but even so,
this is extreme:
But while the state refused to give the documents to the Nashville Democrat, NewsChannel 5 Investigates obtained a summary from last August for what the Haslam administration called "Project Trinity."
Marked confidential, it offers Volkswagen incentives of some $300 million -- in exchange for 1,350 full-time jobs at a new SUV facility.
The catch?
"The incentives … are subject to works council discussions between the State of Tennessee and VW being concluded to the satisfaction of the State of Tennessee."
How's that for small government that believes business knows best?
No, it couldn't be much more blatant that Republican opposition to workers unionizing was simply about keeping unions out, whatever Volkswagen, which promised neutrality in the union vote, thought was in its interests.