Magazine drops Tenn. ranking over VW political interference

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee has a dropped a spot in Chief Executive magazine's annual rating of the best and worst states for business over political interference on labor issues at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga.

According to the magazine, Tennessee is on the downward trend because "state politicians shouldn't have messed in Volkswagen's unionization business." The state's ranking dropped from third to fourth.

Opposition to the United Auto Workers' efforts to unionize the Volkswagen plant has been led by Republicans like U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and Gov. Bill Haslam.

Documents leaked last year revealed that the Haslam administration tried to make a $300 million incentive package for Volkswagen contingent on labor talks "being concluded to the satisfaction" of the state, though the governor declined to say which scenarios would have satisfied the state.