CONGRESSMAN CLEAVER'S STATEMENT ON THE VICE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO KANSAS CITY

CONGRESSMAN CLEAVER'S STATEMENT ON THE VICE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO KANSAS CITY

January 6, 2006

(Kansas City, MO)—"I am pleased to welcome the vice president to Kansas City. He has chosen to visit a great plant and contributor to our community. We worked very hard to bring Harley-Davidson to town when I was mayor, and Karl Eberle and the over 900 employees working at the plant should be very proud the Administration is bringing the spotlight to their outstanding work.

What I am disappointed about is that this, like so many others, is a closed event. It is a reflection of the culture I am working to change in Washington. The Vice President is here to talk about the economy, but he will surround himself only with people for whom the economy is booming.

I am excited things are going well for Harley. Karl Eberle is a friend, and this community is lucky to have him as one of its leaders. The men and women on the line here in Kansas City were chosen to make an awesome bike the V-Rod, I hope the Vice President gets to hear that bike. Just the sound makes your heart race. We are very proud of the employees at Harley and their product, but the economy is not as rosy for everyone in the area.

Leadership is about listening to all sides-both the good and the bad. The vice president is visiting a very successful plant, but skipping the Ford plant just down the road at Claycomo, where Ford announced this week that sales were down nine percent in December and layoffs will come at the end of January.

There are bright spots in the economy we are all proud Harley is one of those, but until we can change the culture of only hearing about the good and dismissing the challenges, all segments of the economy will not move forward."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mo05_cleaver/CongressmanCleaverStatementonCheneyVisitToKansasCity.html