Rep. Neil Friske is standing strong in opposition to the state appropriation to Gotion, a Chinese-owned company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, currently in the Legislature. The plan would deliver $175 million to Gotion for the sake of building a large battery plant in Green Charter Township.

“This is disturbing,” said Friske, of Charlevoix. “Gotion is a foreign company, whose articles of association require strict obedience to the Chinese Communist Party… a regime with an alarming and disturbing reputation. Hard-earned Michigan taxpayer dollars should not be used to invite this potentially dangerous company, which we know very little about, into our state.”

Gotion’s articles of association clearly state the company will aim to: “Strengthen the construction of Party organization and Party members at the grass-roots level of the Company” and “The Company shall set up a Party organization and carry out Party activities in accordance with the Constitution of the Communist Party of China.”

“The company’s articles of association are very concerning,” Friske said. “Corporate welfare on its own is disgraceful enough – I’m firmly against shoveling millions of taxpayer dollars to any corporation, and my voting record clearly demonstrates that. There’s something especially grotesque about our hard-earned money going to a cruel, communist regime, especially at a time when so many folks continue to struggle to afford essentials.”

The Senate Appropriations Committee last week approved funding for the project. The House Appropriations Committee approved funding along party lines last month.