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Sen. Roger Wicker, (R-Miss.), on Lockheed Martin’s plans to not send out layoff notices before the election after the White House says it will pick ...
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Corporate electioneering at its finest Lockheed Martin announcing.
It won't be sending out layoff notices to some 120000.
Employees just days before the presidential election.
-- warn act mandates that companies notify employees at least sixty days in advance.
But the Obama administration has assured the company that the government mean you and me and all the other tax -- will cover legal fees.
As long as the company doesn't send out -- notices before ballots are cast with more Republican senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi joining me now.
Well -- a mouthful let me that's unpack this a little bit because.
Let me tell you there's outrage at every turn on this story so to back up here we found out this week that BN Lockheed Martin telling us.
That there will be no budget cuts that is defense cuts coming.
How does the Obama administration have the authority to facing questions sequestration is not going to happen.
Well that's a very good question and I doubt they do have the authority but -- say this does prove.
One thing the administration.
Will do any thing.
To win this election.
That is they would do anything except effectively governed.
What we've had an opportunity for months now to avoid sequestration.
The House of Representatives.
Has passed a bill to postpone sequestration.
And the democratic leadership of the administration.
And the senate have just ignored.
Those efforts and done absolutely nothing well.
And senator.
Hi this is -- questions have been raised as to whether the warn act requires federal contractors whose contracts may be terminated or reduced.
In the event of sequestration to provide warn -- notices.
The answer to this question is no in -- to provide such notice would be inconsistent.
With the purchase purpose of the warn act true or false or.
Well.
It's it's very political and and in you're right the other way administration senator the senator.
Do you think the Labor Department is overstepping its bounds here.
But I do I think there are are real problems in this administration.
With it's concept of the rule of law the one thing.
They're saying they're -- appropriate money to pay legal fees and -- -- the company.
The power of the -- the last time I checked.
Is is the property of the congress the house and senate so the administration.
Can't make this promise but basically what they're saying is to Lockheed.
Ignore the law.
Do not -- the warnings out and we'll make you whole but taking money from the taxpayers.
And giving it to your attorneys.
That makes me wonder about the administration's.
-- adhered to the constitution.
And to the rule of law.
But -- and had this to say he said that this this is an implied threat.
Either you withhold -- layoff notices are we don't help you cover your costs.
Whether it's paying out severance is recovering legal costs.
And Lockheed Martin just -- to step in immediately said we're not issuing layoff notices what do you make of that.
What the senate should have done is take that bill up offer a plan and see what the administration had to say about it but yes it is.
It is an implied threat.
From the administration to Lockheed Lockheed said now wait a minute we've got to follow the law so the administration came back and said I'll tell you what.
If you go to court if you lose the -- the lawsuit will in -- unify your for that somehow they're gonna appropriate money.
That the congress has not yet off throughout cash -- tell you also holiday -- and it smells of ignoring the law.
As a taxpayer having having the administration promised my tax dollars for something that congress -- not authorized.
Is -- Brinkley and so it all to -- -- it ought to offend every taxpayer but also it also through these people.
Who work for for military contractors plus -- and you have is political polls.
There are 41000.
Workers.
Slash voters in Virginia who work for Lockheed a 723000.
Across the country that's a lot of voters.
I mean you keep saying it's political let's dispel that hear what you're saying is that the president is trying to buy votes to try to make sure.
That these workers do not get layoff notices only days before the election.
That's right it's a blatant power play.
To carry the state of Virginia and not -- in the notices out but you know it's it's not just Virginia it's 111000.
Jobs lost in my state of Mississippi we build a lot of ships would build a Lotta aircraft.
In Mississippi it's a million jobs.
Nationwide sequestration is a disaster.
And with leadership and and effective government it could have been avoided.
That not having happened now the administration is coming and employing blatant politics.
Well that certainly been a long way to go but this is a frightening scenario and we're really glad you came on to talk to -- about a senator thanks for your time today.
Appreciate the opportunity thank you.
