ODP: Time To Care for Oklahomans

In the wake of the corporate decision by General Motors (GM) to close the Oklahoma City production plant, Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Lisa Pryor said attention should be focused on the 2,500 impacted GM employees and their families.

"We must put the people of Oklahoma first and that means helping these citizens find the services they need and jobs for the future," Pryor said. "We have a long and proud history of taking care of our fellow Oklahomans through adverse situations. We have done it in times of natural disaster and when other manufacturing jobs have left our state. We will do it again. Now, we must look ahead to what types of economic development and business ventures we can attract to that world-class manufacturing facility."

GM is closing the Oklahoma factory because of lack of vehicle market demand and not anything related to Oklahoma or its workforce. Nationwide, GM is closing 12 sites in nine states and cutting its workforce by 30,000.

"We have steadily been losing manufacturing jobs in this country. Democrats will continue to fight to keep jobs in the United States and not ship them overseas," Pryor said. "History has proven that Democrats know what it takes to keep our economy growing and the Democratic leadership in Oklahoma will adress this situation and find the best possible solution for Oklahoma's working families and the sustained growth of our economy."