Maytag Merger Mess Is No Time for Rhetoric

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

DES MOINES – Mike Milligan, Executive Director of the Iowa Democratic Party fired at Jeff Lamberti and the Republican Party of Iowa Wednesday, calling on them to take responsibility for their support of the devastating Whirlpool/Maytag merger.

“The merger was anti-competitive, as Rep. Boswell warned, and has now resulted in a devastating loss of jobs in Newton,” said Mike Milligan, executive director of the Iowa Democratic Party. “Jeff Lamberti's poor decision to back the merger ignored other potential buyers of Maytag who wanted to keep the operations working in Newton. And now, worst of all, he is trying to avoid accountability.”

Backing Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman Leonard Boswell, Milligan pointed to a press release by Maytag in January of 2006. Maytag officials noted, “It is obvious that Sen. Harkin and Rep. Boswell are concerned about jobs in Iowa.”

Milligan also questioned $3,500 in donations in 2005 and 2006 by Whirlpool, the company that purchased Maytag, to the Republican Party of Iowa, the Nussle for Congress Committee, Iowans for Nussle and Latham for Congress. (www.OpenSecrets.org)

“If you want to find who is behind dirty politics, follow the money,” Milligan said. “The Republicans took money from Whirlpool and put Iowa jobs in jeopardy. They should be held accountable.”

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LAMBERTI MISTAKES LEAD TO MAYTAG MESS

MISTAKE: "I [Lamberti] joined with local community leaders and state legislators…in welcoming Whirlpool to Iowa." (Lamberti Release, May 3, 2006)

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MISTAKE: “Lamberti, a republican from Ankeny and co-president of the Iowa Senate, says almost every other alternative beyond the sale to Whirlpool is worse for the community and workers. He says, ‘If the merger is blocked and Maytag remains a stand-alone company, it is highly likely that they're going to close that plant or go bankrupt.’” (Radio Iowa, January 27, 2006)

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MISTAKE: “’(I promise) the employees of Maytag and the citizens of Newton that I will work with Whirlpool to showcase the talent of the work force that is at the Newton plant.”’
- Sen. Jeff Lamberti, R-Ankeny” (Des Moines Register, March 30, 2006)