The governor of Texas was greeted by protestors today when he paid a lunchtime visit to an Oxnard company planning an expansion.

Some protestors held signs saying 'I heart Haas."  They want Haas Automation to expand on land it already owns next to its machine manufacturing headquarters in Oxnard. 

Local assembly member Jeff Gorell hopes to make California a more competitive place to do business.  Gorell said a newly-created coalition called Gold Team California is trying to promote California and improve the business climate.

This time last year Haas delayed a $20-million expansion project Oxnard.     

Gene Haas issued a statement that said Haas Autotmtion was  very impressed that a governor from another state would visit.  The company said iy competes worldwide with companies from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Europe.  Those companies have lower manufacturing costs and therefore offer "lower cost" machines, threatening Haas' market share in the United States.

The company still has a big expansion decision to make.