Is Indiana About To Be Overrun By A Giant Caterpillar? (A Tax Exodus Story)
- Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:05pm by
Mike Opelka
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Less than a week ago, we reported on the state of Indiana’s efforts to lure businesses from Illinois to their more tax-friendly environment.
It appears that Caterpillar may be Illinnoyed enough to leave. This very large manufacturing company may have seen the benefits of such a geographic shift and is considering pulling up stakes and moving to the Hoosier state.
A migrating Caterpillar would be a very interesting development as the company has been front and center in many of the President’s discussions on American manufacturing and how large industrial concerns like CAT would benefit from the passing of his stimulus plan.
Remember early 2009? The economy was in free-fall and a newly-elected president, with an unstoppable majority in both the House and Senate was pushing through his $800+ billion dollar Stimulus bill, claiming that this kind of spending would stop the job losses and put the country back on the path to recovery.
February 9, 2009, while on a campaign-like tour to promote his plan, President Obama even mentioned Caterpillar and the Stimulus bill together:
A few short days later, and shortly after Caterpillar announced job cuts in excess of 23,000, Obama was in a Caterpillar Plant. Again, he tied his gargantuan spending plan to the future success of Caterpillar, American manufacturing, school kids, and just about anything else you could think of:
Just 24 hours later, the aforementioned ‘Jim’ (CEO Jim Owens) completely contradicted the President’s claims that Caterpillar would be able to stop the layoffs and hire more people if his stimulus bill passed.
A strange sidebar to all of this. . . Just three days before Obama came to the plant, Jim Owens was named to the President’s Economic Advisory Team.
It is also worth noting that GEs’s Jeff Immelt, Anna Burger of SEIU, and another union honcho, Richard Trumka were also on the same economic advisory team.
Back to our story of the possibly creeping Caterpillar.
Current CAT president Doug Olberhelman, has reportedly sent a letter to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn basically putting the state on notice. Olberhelman also included some of the notes from other states hoping to woo his company:
“I stand ready to help convince you to relocate or expand in the fiscally conservative, low-tax Lone Star State,” wrote Texas Gov. Rick Perry in a Jan. 24 letter.
“I encourage you to consider South Dakota as a place for your business to grow and prosper,” noted J. Pat Costello, secretary of the South Dakota governor’s economic development office.
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman wrote in February to say, “In Nebraska, we balance our budget by controlling spending, not by raising taxes.”
The fact that two of the three letters from other states mentioned taxes is not a coincidence. In January of this year, Illinois raised taxes sparking many neighboring states to start inviting their neighbors over for some lower-tax hospitality.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has not commented officially, but his spokesperson has announced a scheduled meeting between Quinn and Olberhelman on April 5th at a conference in Peoria, Il.
We will monitor the situation and update this story as needed.
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Comments (187)
FARRIGHT
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:21amIf only the Federal Government could adopt policies like this on a National level, do you think we could lure companies (JOBS) back to the USA?………….hmmmmmm I wonder if anyone in Washington has thought of this?????
Report Post »taebaggranny
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:14pm@ FARRIGHT The current administration doesn’t want to create jobs…Haven’t you noticed that everything they propose and do kills jobs??
Report Post »TreeTrimmerJim
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:24amCAT moving is multi-year project. CAT has many 300…400 acre manufacturing complexes, headquarter complex, development complexes, test complexes. Just moving buildings is only part of the problem, highly skilled labor will need to be moved. The infrastructure of the where CAT moves needs to include top shelf K-12 education so top level employees can be attracted.
CAT moving out would devastate the economy in the Peoria area, empty schools, close businesses, crash the real estate market.
CAT moving is a big deal.
Report Post »Dumb_White_Guy
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:15amI grew up in Peoria. There really was two Americas there at the time. Those with Caterpillar benefits and those without. Healthcare providers raised their prices to make money off CAT benefits and the rest of the population suffered. I remember the union thug tactics during the long strike in the early 80s. I hope CAT does move and the UAW will finally get what it deserves.
Report Post »concealled9mms
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:44pmpeoria got what it voted for cry me a river
Report Post »Mirimichi
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:54amI hope they move to South Dakota. No state income taxes. The workers they would hire would be able to keep more of their money and that would be a better way to stimulate the economy. Also, a right to work state. No union thugs.
Report Post »Mirimichi
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:01amAlso, by moving to SD, when Sarah Palin becomes president, they will have less miles to ship their finished products when drilling for our own oil begins in earnest.
Report Post »TreeTrimmerJim
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:27amSouth Dakota will need to import people, build schools.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:50amCAT in Indiana? anywhere is better than IL !!! (long ago in a galaxy far far away our family had 2 welders at the Montgomery IL plant)
Report Post »timej31
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:36amTaxes and like low spots in land that are flooded and water gathers in the low spots. And animals are the businesses. They gather where the low spots are to get a drink and avoid the high spots. High spots = high taxes. Low spots = jobs. Like duh.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:36amthe tax and labor savings outweigh the logistics of relocation and refit. whats wrong with that picture.
Report Post »Fina Biscotti
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:30amThey left out a story =
the one in which Obozo stood in front of a huge piece of Caterpillar equipment as a PROP – and stated “Jobs are available at Caterpillar – and therefore my stimulus package is working” –
when Caterpillar was laying off people – and no money had been disbursed – YET – from his “stimulus” package.
Very early on, Obozo set the tone for his presidency – as a flipped-out MADMAN. Usurper Obama/Soetoro was so thirsty for the cameras – as the newly “elected” ACORN-SEIU-vote-rigged president – that he would say and do anything – to baste his malignant, pathological, narcississtic ego – to maintain the Obama MYTH – inclusive of LYING, maliciously intending to deceive the American people.
The CEO fo Caterpillar called to the White House – for Obama to retract what he was claiming – sent a letter by Special Courier – received no return call or response – and had no other recourse but to take to the airwaves to inform the American people – there were no jobs available at Caterpillar – and Caterpillar was laying off people – 20,000 – because of the economy.
The CEO of Caterpillar stated that as soon as people heard that the President had claimed jobs were available at Caterpillar – poor unemployed people jumped in their cars – some with their families and drove across country to Caterpillar headquarters looking for these jobs; some arrived and had no money for the return trip home, or had borrowed money for the trip – expecting to set up housekeeping in a new city with a new job.
The CEO of Caterpillar stated that None of the poor unemployed people could understand why our new President would claim jobs were available at Caterpillar – but it would be untrue – there were no jobs. The CEO stated that it was a very sad situation – for the poor unemployed people – and their company.
****
That is when I realized that Obama was completely nutz – along with his sicko “advisors” who would pull anything on the American people – to have obama look good – even if their statements were based on Falsehoods.
And it has gotten worse – ever since…….
Usurper Obama/Soetoro and his THUGOCRACY – and CZAR PALOOZA of Radicals, Communists, Socialists, Marxists – should be dragged out of the White House – by our Military……and thrown in GITMO!
Report Post »Dumb_White_Guy
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:25amThis is the best comment I’ve read on here in a long time. KUDOS
Report Post »Grandmadar
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:56amYes, you are right. I followed the story. And to think people still BELIEVE this man when he talks!!! It is so sad Brady lost the election. I stayed on Watching the election until I heard if he had won or not. Couldn’t believe after seeing him ahead all night and then lose at the last minute. Just knew it had to be rigged. Let’s all hope we will be able to vote in 2012!
Report Post »concealled9mms
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:41pmawesome well said
Report Post »FLyoverman
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:24amTyrants always forget that people never lose the right to vote……………… with their feet.
Report Post »Angry_Bird
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:43pmThe only chance Illinois has is for all the big companies to leave and take all the union jobs with them so maybe sometime in my lifetime my republican vote may actually count for something. My vote has never once mattered in this state.
Report Post »Gruug
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:02amHaving recently retired from Caterpillar management in Illinois, I know that Cat was steadily moved certain operations out of Illinois. Cat currently has some operations already in Indiana and was exploring options for operations in Texas. However, the cost to completely move operations out of Illinois in the short term would cost Cat tremendously. What I would see is that they will move more OUT then IN. The current CEO of Cat had indicated when he took the helm of Cat that he would like to move more IN. However, that was before Illinois raised personel and corporate taxes by such a grand amount. Also, since Illinois is one state that also has a realestate tax, Cat get hit with a double wammy with all the property it owns around the state.
Am I moving, probably will if this tax situation is not reversed….and it does not look like it will.
Report Post »DaytonConserve
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:10amSince CAT just built their new warehouse outside of Dayton, Ohio, it would be a perfect opportunity for Governor John Kasich to welcome CAT to build a plant near the warehouse also.
Report Post »eatpork.theotherwhitemeat
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:41pmIm from cenral illinois originally and the democrats and unions have DESTROYED a beautiful and once prosperous state. Ill be hunting deer and wild turkey to make ends meet if I ever decide to move back for good. I hope the citizens of my state see the writing on the wall and push the dems out of the state to eternity of financial hell but I doubt it.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:40pmFollowing this line of resoning I see no reason whatsoever why any big company should stay in the USA. Labor is much much cheaper in other countries and I’m sure many countries would charge them no tax at all. There are plenty of smart technology savy workers and plenty of manual laborers in other countries that can give a boost to the bottom line of all companies. If big American companies are to remain competitive they MUST move off American soil.
Report Post »tankerBigRed1
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:07amcase ya haven’t noticed- dats whats happing..
Report Post »duckwalker
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:22amI agree with your point, but there are also states that have smartened up and are welcoming business right here. I hope more businesses follow Caterpillers move to business friendly states. Move Cat Move!!!
Report Post »i want the truth
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:39pmI feel horrible for the innocent folks out there. Peoria is a small place and will be hurting if Cat leaves. But isn’t that what this Administration is trying to accomplish? Financial crisis here in America. IL is way over there heads in debt, like all the other liberal states!! Wake up People!! can you do your homework on who you should be voting for!! People who care about the Budget! Who care about the Constitution!! For Capitalism!!! For you the worker!!
Report Post »duckwalker
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:09amDid the people in Peoria vote democatis? do they support the union graft and corruption. Piss on the people of Peoria. Run Cat Run. Find a pro-business state that knows how to balance a budget and supports right to work.
Report Post »Dumb_White_Guy
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:20amDuck – the people of Peoria and downstate Illinois voted for the Republican candidate. Quinn cheated in Cook county with the help of the public employee unions and won by 6000 votes.
Report Post »duckwalker
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:18amWell then the people of Peoria need to rise up and raise hell like the unions in Madison did, or they can walk the unemployment lines. Where are the stories about the buses filled with pissed off people from Peoria headed to the capitol. Maye the people of Illinois just don’t give a damn how small their paychecks are. Isn’t Caterpiller a closed Union shop? Who do you think their money supported in the last election, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that.
We had Union mines that voted to strike here until the company finally locked the gate for the last time and walked away. Guess who else drove away? Union leaders and their thugs. Locals idiot union member were left with their mouth open and their belly empty, but the union was happy. they didn’t cave in to management.
Report Post »2Valhalla
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:34pmI hope many many Amurcanz finally get it : High Taxes, OverPaid Public workers- growing gov’t of any type – are Killing this country !
Report Post »AND – Stop the commandeering of the big 4 banks by the Fed’s Politicians ..which they are fast becoming..these baks are becoming a Manopoly – taking in gazillions , and paying “protection” to the Fed’s .. and so it goes. Other Companies – follow Cat’s lead !
dcwu
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:32pmGood bye Peoria.
Report Post »Ranger5658
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:31pmPraise for Cat. Is it not time to realize that companies must do that which is good for their bottom line? Are you listening SEIU, Trumka, Illinois? I wonder how much revenue will be raised by Illionis’ new taxes when the only ones left to pay are the tax consumers?
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:29pmSome of us here in Illinois have been expecting the entire State to look like Detroit before too long. It’s been painfully obvious ever since Blagojevich. The unions own Chicago which is the giant bleeding wound of Illinois. Our own town has lost 19% of the population due primarily to unions and the tax and spend liberals. The rest of the country should take note of what has happened here and do the exact opposite.
Report Post »flyoverbob
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:29pmI live in Illinois and think every election that people will see.I think now we have so many people one the gov teat that the only way to go is down.They say Springfield is the capitol but everyone knows its Chicago and thats where the elections are decided.I understand that states cant file bankruptcy soI guess the state will be on a cash basis,maybe a good thing.
Report Post »Dumb_White_Guy
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:12amNow you have Rahm Emmanuel attempting to reduce the number of Chicago aldermen, only in an attempt to increase his own power. Thing is, the stupid populace can’t see his real motive, they think it’s a good idea.
Report Post »VintageAmerican
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:25pmI have met many many people who have come to Texas. they always told me ” I wasn’t born here but I got here as quick as I could.” That says it all
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:34pmJust be careful , these non-TXns who escape from places like CA , want to make a CA where ever they end up .
Report Post »tankerBigRed1
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:03amSo right bout CA transplants tryin to bring their good?? ideas wiyh them – got a few in IA – wish they would have stayed in their wonderful state- they are kind of like illegals- they don’t want to assimilate- they think everybody should jump to their tune..
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:39amThat’s pretty ironic considering how badly they screwed up California. You would think they would get a clue and learn from their mistakes.
Report Post »Amica
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:46pmI’m with Cheez. Fifteen or so years ago, a lot of people moved here to Utah from California because they could sell their house in CA and buy a much nicer one here in Utah. They benefitted from the differences between UT and CA, but many brought their CA mentalities with them.
Report Post »IndyDallas
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:22pmThis is true. When we visit friends in Colorado, you ought to hear the local go on about the “Californios” moving in and ruining things with their weird ideas…
Report Post »razeus1
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:52pmI’ve considered moving from Ca ( I’ve lived here all my life) I live in Northern Ca and if I could find somewhere that is the same climate and land-like I would leave in a heartbeat. You don’t have to worry ’bout this native Ca….. I’d be leaving Because my beautiful state has been ruined by these progressive Nutjobs and the environMental jackwagons!!
Report Post »varptr
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:43pmAs an Indiana guy, former snowbird and long ago Texas resident, Texas was a great place. Most of Texas is “Union Free” and proud of it. I worked in a union free shop where we made a bloody fortune, enough to buy out the family homestead back in Indiana and still enjoy life a bit. Snowbirds stand out pretty bad down there and there was some residual institutional racism, bank loans, real estate, society snobbery, that sort of thing. High property taxes, crappy cost of living, no rapid transit, but lots of good people full of optimism, and a great place to raise a family. Houston housing was about 60 percent owned by UAE folks, kind of hard to get a hold of a landlord :-)
Report Post »taebaggranny
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:57pm@ CHEEZWIZZ Hey, don’t lump all ex-cal’s in that …I’m a transplanted Ca and I love my new state just the way it is…
Report Post »Navyveteran
Posted on March 28, 2011 at 1:33pmIndyDallas
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:22pm
This is true. When we visit friends in Colorado, you ought to hear the local go on about the “Californios” moving in and ruining things with their weird ideas…
_______________________________________________________
I live in CO and your friends are correct. Every since that big earthquake I think in ‘92 the Cali’s came and what happened was first the homes skyrocketed from 90,000 to 200,000 for the same home. Apartment rates tripled. And now what was a red state is a strong blue state. We only had to deal with Denver and Boulder which if we could bring out the vote could overcome those progressives, but now the numbers are too much for us.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:24pmWOW!!!! When Obummer speaks, people run. America is alive and well.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:22pmBTW while IN may be better for businesses they are NOT better for PEOPLE since they inspect your home every 3 years and count what you have and tax you accordingly.. I am thinking the taxing would NOT be as bad as having GOVERNMENT demand to be let into your home and inspect your stuff..
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:32amThat’s tough………….didn’t know they did that (never lived in IN) If CAT leaves IL, they need to go to a right to work state to shake the unions! Between IL taxes and watching the govt unions, just seems like it’s “Time to Say Goodbye” for corporations needing to max profits.
Report Post »corsair18
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:11amWhat in hell are you talking about? I’ve lived in Indiana most of my life and NEVER had that happen. The most annoying part of state government is waiting 25 minutes to renew your license. Around here if an ordinance is to bureaucratic we simply begin ignoring it!
Report Post »Grandmadar
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:44amI have lived in Indiana more than half of my life and currently do. Never, and I mean never does anyone have their house/home whatever inspected every 3 yrs and taxed accordingly. Please factcheck your info first, ok? People like to move here and they wouldn’t if that were true. Good Luck CAT. Hope you move here, many out of jobs.
Report Post »ladyhawke53
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:18amI’ve lived in IN all my life, I’ve lived in the same house for the last 29 years – never once has anyone come into my house or asked to for property tax surveying. They do a property visual to see if you’ve added anything to your property – an addition, a pool, paved your driveway etc at which time the following year your tax payments will have no doubt increased.
Report Post »IndyDallas
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:19pmThe Assessor’s office came out and measured my house once when we bought it, and once 10 yrs later when they dropped the assessed rate. Never asked to come inside. He asked how many bedrooms and baths I had. I remember I pointed to the old outhouse at the back of the yard and he laughed. I hadn’t started any remodeling outside of the existing foundation yet, so my rate didn’t go up for that. Now the “school” part of my rate has gone ballistic…
Report Post »varptr
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:27pmThis is a false report, Indiana got rid of private goods taxes years ago. Still have a pretty big property tax but nobody goes through your house. If Cat moves then there is a good chance John Deere and other heavy equipment companies, (Is Hyster still around) could move as well.
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:22pmHa, ha, & ha, how is raising taxes working out for ya there Ilinois. I’m still laughing!
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:20pmI live in IL Quinn MADE the BIGGEST MISTAKE of his life not just raising taxes on corporations but on individuals here in IL.. Catapillar is NOT the only ones who is LEAVING.. residents are going too.. this was a FIXED election and it was GOVERNMENT UNIONS who FIXED it..the got their guy in than demanded the STATE make the pensions in CHICAGO were given money from the STATE.. and then you have STATE pensions.. GOVERNMENT POLITICIANS pensions.. and QUINN actually thinks people will stick around and pay for the screwup of the politicians.. IF he gives Catapillar a tax break he BETTER be prepared to give ALL a tax break..
Report Post »gibby45
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:21amI live in Illinois to and Quinn not only messed up he lied. Unfortunately in Illinois as long as Chicago and the unions vote Democratic the rest of the state is screwed. I am a member of the American Legion and tend bar there and the amount of people I have heard talking about leaving the state would make your head spin
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:00am@independentvoteril
Report Post »You surely got that right about the IL election being fixed. Quinn’s conservative opponent was leading in all the polls right up to election day, then suddenly he lost by a small percentage. The unions got tough and threw their weight around, especially in the Chicago Dem stronghold. Only the Democratic machine knows how many dead people voted in this election…..and people say Soros is spooky!
hersey10
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:17pmWait a second , I remember very clearly the Cat C.E.O. being on Cavuto screaming from his soap box about how good things were and how much expansion was coming for them across the globe , I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he was lied to just like all 300 million of us were by The Bamster and Captain Failed Hair Plug .
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:44pmYes .. but now he has the “reality” of Obamy and Co. … Run Cat RUN!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:19amThat was while the roads were being built. When the work was finished, the jobs were eliminated, and new equipment to handle that work in the contracts still had to be paid for.
The government cannot stimulate the economy because the government has no product.
Report Post »Dumb_White_Guy
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:06amThat CEO retired. This is a new CEO.
Report Post »CaptainSpaulding
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:12pmThere you have it: corporate greed sponsoring racist, sexist, homophobic attacks on the working people of America.
/sarc
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:35pmI was laughing before you identified your words as sarcasm! Good one!
This HAS to be a bit embarrassing, since The One’s home town is Chicago, Illinois! I remember back during the Stimulus I hooplah about Obama talking about how well Cat would do, and then Cat announced that they were not hiring but laying people off!
And Obama’s not going to open his mouth about it!!! He got what he wanted. I just hope that Cat didn‘t contribute to Obama’s campaign.
Report Post »Ranger5658
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:37pmPlease explain to us how this is possibly racist, sexist and homophobic. Your tired old rhetoric is boring. Maybe it is time for the workers to stand up for the company and join with them against job killing higher taxes and point your anger where it belongs at the inept, corrupt politicians. Let’s start doing something productive!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:16am@Ranger5658
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:37pm
Please explain to us how this is possibly racist, sexist and homophobic. Your tired old rhetoric is boring. Maybe it is time for the workers to stand up for the company and join with them against job killing higher taxes and point your anger where it belongs at the inept, corrupt politicians. Let’s start doing something productive!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
………Huh?
“Please explain to us how this is possibly racist, sexist and homophobic.”
~~It’s NOT. He was being sarcastic.
“Maybe it is time for the workers to stand up for the company and join with them against job killing higher taxes and point your anger where it belongs at the inept, corrupt politicians.”
Report Post »~~Maybe it is time for the workers to do that, but the CEO of Cat has no control over what others do. He has a business to run. The voters will take care of the politicians
goglenngo
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:21amWorking people…there you go again. You mean, union people. I would say any American who works could be called working people but you try to disguise it….how childish. You’re so afraid to stand on your own merit and performance as a union member, that you need a “middle man” to do your negotiating for you. You know that your unions are in trouble. You know that you are being forced out of the closet and it’s being exposed how corrupt the unions really are when they steal from the taxpayer or from the private company. You know your union leaders are spilling their “you owe us” guts in front of t.v. camera’s and are showing us who they really are. Americans are catching on how unions are the ones who force companies overseas because of the demands of the unions and the crazy environmentalists and are the ones who have shut down our great manufacturing plants and taken jobs overseas. We used to make things here but now everything is made in China now. You two go hand and hand and are too stupid to realize that the environmentalists who mostly all vote democratic like most union members do, shoot yourselves in the foot and blame it on the “greedy” CEO’s who take the companies overseas because of the unions and the wacko environmental rules and regulations. You do realize that you are being controlled by American communists who want your union dues to go overseas to help “global” union members. You have no choice what your union bosses do with your money. Do you? It’s not to strengthen America and Americans. You’ve lost your freedom as Americans when you support these union bosses who hate this country and who are out to destroy it. Open up your eyes and face the truth. Find out where your bosses (union) stand on America. Do they support the Constitution? Do they really want to help union members or just take your money? Vote the communist union bosses out of office! Keep the good ones.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:07pmIf Catapillar is able to handle business better in Indiana then go for it.
Report Post »ChiroRef
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:18pmUnless you have political connections, and do any work for the state, you currently have to wait at least 18 months to get paid, and counting. While it would devastate my community when they leave, I can’t think of why they would stay, unfortunately.
Report Post »Calaite
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:18pmWhen taxes increase and the company is not getting what is required from the area to go a great job for their clients, then move to an area where taxes are lower and the resources are more available. GO Catapillar, GO….BTW hire more Americans and follow the GE tax paying modle.
Report Post »Tnredneck
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:20pmThey should go. Every thing oboma does turns to crap. Just like his solar panel company that ended up closing it’s doors here and moved overseas. Indiana gets it and kudos to the governor.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:23pmIf I lived in Illinois I too would crawl out of thar state with MY last breath. Way to go CAT!!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:23pmRun Caterpillar run ! Get out , grow and fly away
Report Post »joseph Fawcett
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:36pmEvery business should leave Illinois. Taxes and Unions are out of control there. They were back in the 90′s when I had a business there. In Chicago it is even worse than anywhere else. The union city is just overwhelmingly terrible with fees, taxes, bribes, and payments. What is worse about Chicago the city goverment people are nasty and outright mean. If you don’t pay them what they want then you have major trouble on your hands. I tell you this from personal experance. Unions are just as bad as the city goverment if not worse because they get away with everything and the cops let them because they are in the unions too. It is very hard to be a non-union company in Chicago and do special events for clients. Just a terrible situation, I hope many companies leave and go to Indiana!! I did before I came out west to pursue a art career!
http://www.josephfawcettart.com western artist
Report Post »pugsly84
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:36pmCome to Ohio CAT WE NEED THE JOBS! And we have a new Governor that actually is doing what is right here!
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:38pmI totally understand the CAT move .
Report Post »Carl‘s jr a restaurant chain in CA is leaving CA cause they’re fed up with high cost permits & high cost taxes & a long wait for a permit due to regulations & EPA .
One permit is taking a waiting period from 8 month up to 2 years .
The CEO said that they’re moving to TX where a permit takes only 45 days & without high cost .
The company has more than 72,000 employees total, 18,500 of which are in California.
“It costs us $250,000 more to build one California restaurant than in Texas” said Puzder. “And once it is opened, we’re not allowed to run it.”
This is a big loss to CA from the Tax revenue of Carl’s jr which is $60 million per year .
Good job CA in being Anti Business .
cheezwhiz
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:41pm@ Robert-CA
Report Post »Are you excited about the new taxes coming in June ( after a ‘vote’ ofcourse ) ?
afishfarted
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:46pmhigh taxes, union demands, falling population, area deterioation. no, I don‘t know why they’d wanna stay
Report Post »Anti_Spock
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:46pmSounds like ILL is just another high tax state. I am retired living in CA. I didn‘t earn my retirement in this state but that doesn’t stop CA from taxing it. After paying 3800.00 in CA taxes this year (9.8 percent tax rate on a joint income less than 100K) we have decided to leave this state. They can take my tax bill, their 50 cent per gallon gas tax, and the democrat legislature 14 billion dollar deficit and stick it where the sun don’t shine.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:47pm@ CHEEZWHIZ
Report Post »I will vote NO for the extension .
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:49pmCaterpillar will turn into a butterfly, but will the Lizard Brain of the Democrat Donkey let them fly. No, I think the Slime of SEIU and other unions will cause the chameleon the is known as Barrack Hussein Obama to sling his lizard tongue and snag that butterfly, devour it, and turn it back into a Caterpillar, which it will remain until the end of time, slithering in the muck, earthbound, never to touch the sky. That is the fate of Caterpillar and all other producers, for the looter are among us, commanding us, and positioned to enslave us.
As John Galt said, you are a producer, a looter, or a moocher. You have to look at yourself and decide.
Who is John Galt?
Who is John Galt?
Who is John Galt?
Who is John Galt?
Who is John Galt?
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 11:56pmRobert-CA
Report Post »I will vote NO for the extension .
————————-
I will say NO too but what about CA’s “ real” voters ?
You know the unions, hippies and mexican citizens? Their vote actually decides everything here , specially tax hikes .
In the meantime , Moonbeam needs 4 Repubs to join him in a bi-partisan effort to come together for progress of CA and kids and communities of hardworking families ( hehe)
a k a tax-hikes for everyone who pays taxes .
I pray Repubs stay stron and don’t act like Mccain and RINOs
Robert-CA
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:07am@ CHEEZWHIZ
Well … you can‘t fix stupid if they’re stupid enough to vote YES for more taxes .
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:20amRobert-CA
Report Post »I lived in Sacramento, beautiful area, we loved it, but the Golden state taxed us out of there and we will never move back. Although if I could move to Tahoe, on the Nevada side….absolute heaven.
I do weep for California. If the state could just remove the stupid, it would really be the Golden state. But asl long as LA and San Fran run the state, you have no chance.
cheezwhiz
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:19am@ Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Report Post »Did you follow the story about Twitter threatening to get out of SF because of high City payroll taxes in SF ?
The City finally caved .
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/03/16/twitter-to-lease-san-francisco-site-if-exempted-from-payroll-tax/
Now the SF City officials are calling their tax-break to Twitter to be an investment , since the $ 30 mil loss of tax revenue from Twitter will yeild a much higher return in terms of local businesses booming and rents going up .
Ofcourse Nuisance had to jump in
http://www.baycitizen.org/business/story/twitters-prospective-landlord-gave-gifts/
Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:46amWatch out for the union ‘protesters’ who are certain to have riots over this. But I hope they move if it makes their business better.
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:50amGo Caterpillar go! Their ceo had the courage to contradict Obama on his stimulus program’s success and told the truth. A smart businessman goes where it is better economically to operate his business. Illlinois is not the place to be right now with its high taxes and a progressive governor who promises to raise them even more. Also, Caterpillar might benefit from the way they are attempting to curb union power in Indiana. Unfortunately, Illinois is too embedded as a progressive and union stronghold.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:01am@ DARMOK AND JALAD AT TANAGRA
Report Post »I really do like CA I live in Southern CA but it’s getting worse day after day & it‘s loosing it’s American touch .
For example like in 5 to 10 years I know ahead how my neighborhood will look like & it will be so sad .
CA is filled with many cultures but one culture in particular is trying to overtake the State or @ least the Southern part .
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:04am@cheezwhiz
Dealing with San Fran and LA is like dealing with the Mob, or communist. They simply won’t be satisfied until they get a big fat piece of your pie. It doesn’t matter if they have earned it , have a right to it, or if it will help the well being, they simply want it NOW. They feel you owe it to them, it‘s like going back to the 60’s, why is it right that you have $10 dollars and a raincoat and umbrella, you should GIVE me, $5 and one of your things, that way, we are equal, I have $5 and rain protection and you have $5 and rain protection. It doesn‘t matter if I don’t do anything to earn it, it is simpy what is fair. It is for the collective good.
That is what I seen out in California, and there is nothing that will ever change it until the Hippies are chased out.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:45am@darmok:
My mother has a friend who just moved to southern CA for retirement; she is planning on moving back to AZ within the month, saying the area is just too progressive for her viewpoints.
Report Post »judg724
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:47amI would sure applaud CAT for moving to Indiana. I live in IL and was extremely disappointed with democrat Pat Quinn in raising taxes. I hate to say it, but IL gets what it deserves for voting for this incompetent slob. We had a great conservative running against him who got voted down, Bill Brady. Also, just to show the mentality of the people of Chicago, let alone the politics, I believe every county in the state of Illinois voted for the Republican except Cook (Chicago), and the dumbocrat Quinn still won! Corrupt Chicago politicians forcing their radical agenda on the rest of us. What really scares me is that I work at an auto assembly plant in Belvidere, a farming community, but we could be in danger now of the same fate because of this idiot Pat Quinn. I wonder what all my union “brothers” would say if they found out the guy they voted for lost them their jobs! I‘m sure they’d still find a way to blame the Republicans.
Report Post »dr_funk
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:35am@chiroref
You should move out of Illinois…
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:25amAt some point, the unions will have Obama sign a prez directive that no business/company that is unionized can leave the state they are in. Problem solved for unions.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:55amThe stupid tax and spenders will never get it.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:26amCAT can come to Tennessee – low taxes and a right to work state – no unions and a workforce that knows how to work
Report Post »MiketheTrucker
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:23amWhere Texas gets you is on property taxes. They’re OUTRAGEOUS!!
Report Post »GringoBob
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:34amif I were Cat, I would tell Quinn – “we didn’t hear from you before you turned the screws down, so I’ll send you a note from wherever we decide to move OUT OF Illinois – adios puta
Report Post »Angry_Bird
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:36amAfter a meeting with Mayor elect Emmanuel Gov. Quinn bragged that Illinois Is now the most aggressive progressive state in the county. We in Illinois are screwed , everyone is going to run.
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:45amThis is what is great about America. You can vote with your feet. If the progressives destroy your state just pack up and move. With a good tax lawyer youu can write off the whole cost of the move and save tons of money. The added benefit is the new motivated workers produce more.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:55amas a Hoosier we welcome CAT, If I lived in the socialist republic of Illinois I would have been gone years ago……This is just exactly what happens on a national scale—— raise taxes high enough and many companies will move to other countries. Self-serving politicians (both sides) with the” I’ll take care of you“ and ”tax and spend” mentality are a much greater threat to the welfare of this country than any terrorist organization could begin to dream of being.
Report Post »Devil Dog 7175
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:02amKeep raising em (Taxes)
Keep loosing em (Jobs)
Report Post »Jim Shoe
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:13amThe reason Illinois is such a high tax state is because it has a minature NYC/LA sized unionized and entitlement programmed city called Chicago that saps the tax dollars of central and south Illinois. It’s why taxes ar high statewide in in NJ, NY, CA and IL. These are states with a high number of overpaid, overhired, unionized and over-pensioned bureaucrats and general state workers. I had a job as a bureaucrat, it was an internship. I had a pension fund paid for by the government with no match on my part, it was unionized and counterproductive and grievances allowed two people to get paid for the same work retroactive. It was a game. Where in the free-market would you see such self-deating behaviors? You only see it when self-sustaining profits/earnings are not a factor or concern of the employer. STOP GOVT WASTE. Privatize where we can!
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:56amReally? Taxes actually affect behavior? Who would have guessed???
I hope CAT and many many other companies leave ILLinois. The state deserves it for treating their wealth creators like vermin. Then maybe, just maybe, their citizens will vote in a fiscal conservative, like NJ did after 8 years of Corzine (during which time $70 BILLION in wealth moved out of the state of NJ).
I am ready to move the great state of Texas as soon as they succeed from the nation.
Report Post »Uncle Crusty
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 12:46pmDumbocrits tax and spend policies will die a slow death, along with the unions and progressives that cause this debacle. Remember the housing bubble was started by Jimmy ‘peanut head’ Carter with the CRA 1977 (dumbocrit majority), and perpetuated by Clinton, Cuomo, Fwank and Dodd, and the Fed…anyone who tells you different is lying thorught their teeth! Bush didn’t help matters with his compassionate conservatism (RINO)! Entitlements are the #1 problem in America today, all liberal (read communist) ideals, and we don’t reform them this nation will not survive economically. Vote these charlitan communist frauds out of office at EVERY level, then BUST those damn unions down to size! Then we can turn REAL attention to the Islamo-Fascists here and abroad and WIPE THEM OUT!
Report Post »Uncle Crusty
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 1:10pmRun away further CAT, it’s a murderous socialist tax bite coming your way!
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