Texas lawmakers tour Irwindale Sriracha plant

IRWINDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- Texas lawmakers on Monday toured the Sriracha hot sauce plant in Irwindale, hoping to convince the company's owner to move his operations to the Lone Star State.

"You have a friend in us. Texas is here for you. I can tell you there is no better state in the entire country to do business," said Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Texas).

Huy Fong Foods owner David Tran led the tour, showing the politicians from Texas how the plant works. The facility has been under fire by the city of Irwindale after a few people complained it emits a spicy smell in the neighborhood.

"We are transparent, open, so you can go see through. We don't have any odor smell," said Tran.

Tran says, for now, he will keep his factory in Irwindale, but he might consider expanding into Texas. Tran says he believes he knows why a few people in Irwindale are complaining: they want money.

Villalba, who's from the Dallas area, says he is not trying to steal jobs from California; he just wants to show the benefits of Texas. He calls it the Texas two-step: Get companies to expand in Texas and eventually they will move their entire operations over there. He pointed out that Toyota, which announced it is moving to Texas from Torrance, is doing exactly that.

Villalba says there are "lower regulations, lower taxes for the businesses and the individual, and obviously, a strong business climate in Texas."

The Irwindale City Council still has not voted on the resolution to declare the plant a public nuisance. It is scheduled to hold a meeting and discuss it again on Wednesday.