LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants to give $15 million in taxpayer money to Norfolk Southern, the railroad company with two derailments under its belt in the past month, including one in Michigan.

This move comes on the heels of Whitmer giving $750 to a Ford-Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) partnership to build EV batteries. CATL is a Chinese company.

State Rep. Jim DeSana (R-Carleton) objected to what he called a “corporate welfare proposal” from the Whitmer administration and that the government should not be offering “special favors” to the company.

“This proposal is particularly egregious. Norfolk Southern has had two dangerous train derailments in the Midwest this month – one in Michigan and another that leaked hazardous chemicals that are still causing serious concerns for families in Ohio. Yet Gov. Whitmer is asking us to ignore all that and hand over taxpayer dollars to help Norfolk Southern grow in Michigan.”

Michigan residents also weighed in on the move.

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As previous reported, some Marshall residents are not happy about the Ford-CATL partnership. Ford doubled-down, saying CATL is not a Chinese company.