Tennessee State Sen. Bo WatsonNASHVILLE - Sen. Bo Watson said today he will support the proposed $165.8 million incentive package for Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant expansion as part of Gov. Bill Haslam's recommended $33.3 billion budget.
"It'll be part of the budget," said Watson, who grilled top Volkswagen officials Tuesday over their organized labor-friendly culture during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. "Sure. I'll work on the budget and we'll bring a budget that I'll support.
During the same hearing, Watson had described the global German auto manufacturer, which under German law has a board split between business and labor directors, "as a magnet for organized labor, intentionally."
He abstained on the vote approving the Department of Economic and Development's budget, which included the incentive package. The department's budget was none the less approved 8-0 and sent on to the Finance Committee.
Speaking with reporters today, Watson pointed out that that while he abstained from voting on the department's budget, he did not ask it be held inside the Commerce panel.
Earlier, Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville told reporters he is backing the incentives which helped Volkswagen decide to bring a second line of production, SUVs, to the Chattanooga plant, which now produces the Passat.