Mindful of Factories at Home, Some Congressmen Defend Toyota

Though many congressmen called Toyota president Akio Toyoda to account at his public hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on February 24, one voice after another rose to Toyota’s defense, fearing the effects of Toyota’s vehicle recall on employment. As the November mid-term elections draw near, congressmen are making job retention and growth among their constituencies a priority.

Rep. Geoff Davis, Republican from Kentucky, whose constituency includes Toyota’s largest factory in North America at Erlanger, made a clear stand on Toyota’s behalf by pointing out that “at a time when … unemployment in Kentucky remains above 10 percent, the jobs created by Toyota are more important than ever.”

Rep. Davis is not a formal member of the committee, but attended on that day with the committee’s approval. “Careless words and unfounded allegations may do irreparable harm to job creation and preservation … in the United States,” he said, warning against bashing Toyota. “Let us focus on the facts.”

Likewise, Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar (elected from San Antonio, Texas, home to one of Toyota’s frame assembly factories) opened his statement with “Konnichiwa.” He went on to praise Toyota, saying that employees told him that even during this recession, “Toyota has not laid off a single employee.”

Republican Rep. Mark Souder of Indiana defended CTS, the company located in his district that manufactured the defect-plagued acceleration pedals that have been the target of the recall, and maintained that that company’s safety record is better than Denso’s, which is part of the Toyota Group. “After ensuring safety, I would like to see Toyota continue to buy American parts.”*

At another committee meeting on February 23, Rep. Jerry McNerney, Democrat for California, pressured Toyota’s U.S. Chief Jim Lentz about the Toyota-General Motors joint venture NUMMI plant, which is slated for closure in March. “If you work with us to keep that open it will be a real plus,” McNerney said.

*Translator’s note: Quote could not be verified.