LadyJazzer wrote: Isn't it amazing how many things done by Republican governors suddenly flow back to Obama? I stubbed my toe last night, and I'm sure it was his fault....
No it's Bush's fault... you know that... it's your favorite phrase.
This Bay bridge situation has far less to do with politics than it does with economics, and anyone involved with the decision making on this was in a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario.
If they take the Chinese option they are criticized (and rightly so) by outsourcing and dodging the 'made in America' provisions. However, if they spend an additional $400 million to keep the work at home, they will be criticized for being fiscally irresponsible.
Personally, I believe this work probably should have stayed in the U.S., because costs would be translated back into the U.S. economy, not to China.
When you have a project of that size here in California, it has a multiplier effect. It gives thousands of families those jobs, and then those paychecks and their subsequent spending ends up going back into our economy. And so now all that money has permanently disappeared from California.
The steel contract went to a state-owned Chinese company, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, which had several advantages: modern production facilities, ships to deliver the steel and, of course, low-cost labor. A Chinese steel polisher makes about $12 a day.
"There is no way that American workers will be able to ever compete with $12 a day," he says. "It's just not right, and it's not right for America."
In addition, Chinese industry does not face the environmental regulations that hinder U.S. companies.
