Posts for July 30, 2010

AP: 2011 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 'BLEAK'

July 30, 2010 – LateWire from Manufacturing.net
U.S. economic recovery will remain slow deep into next year, held back by shoppers reluctant to spend and employers hesitant to hire, according to an AP survey ... continue

BILL TO OVERHAUL OSHA PENDING BEFORE HOUSE

July 30, 2010 – NAM Capital Briefing

Legislation to overhaul workplace safety laws that cover manufacturers is still pending in the House of Representatives. The Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010 (H.R. 5663) primarily seeks to overhaul existing mine safety laws; however, it includes numerous onerous provisions that would make sweeping changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well. Instead of encouraging employer efforts to make workplaces safer, the Occupational Safety and Health Act related provisions in the bill would place new costs on businesses and increase the threat of litigation.

CONGRESS PASSES MISCELLANEOUS TARIFF BILL IN A VICTORY FOR MANUFACTURERS

July 30, 2010 – NAM Capital Briefing

Following last week’s 379-43 vote in the House to pass the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB), the Senate on July 27 followed suit by unanimous consent. The MTB contains hundreds of provisions suspending tariffs on key inputs unavailable in the United States. It is a tax-cutting, job-creating bill that enhances our manufacturing base. The NAM’s leadership on this issue was central to the strong bipartisan support in both chambers.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY LOSES STEAM

July 30, 2010 – Today in Manufacturing.net

Recovery lost momentum in second quarter as growth slowed to a 2.4 percent pace, its most sluggish showing in nearly a year and too weak to drive down unemployment ... continue

FED SURVEY SHOWS RECOVERY STRUGGLES

July 30, 2010 – Today in Manufacturing.net
Pace of economic activity has slowed or held steady in parts of the country, revealing a choppy path back to health, according to the Federal Reserve ... continue

HOUSE FOCUSES ON MANUFACTURING

July 30, 2010 – NAM Capital Briefing

Closing out its July, the House of Representatives is focusing its efforts on the manufacturing economy and advancing its “Make it in America” agenda, which aims to strengthen American manufacturing and create jobs in the United States. The NAM is pleased the House is giving much-deserved attention to manufacturing and welcomes the opportunity for a substantive discussion on what it will take for manufacturers to succeed in the face of unprecedented challenges in the global economy.

A renewed emphasis by Congress on manufacturing in America is a positive step, but a comprehensive approach must be adopted and the right policies must be enacted for small and medium manufacturers to grow jobs and compete in a challenging global marketplace. The best place to start is with the NAM’s “Manufacturing Strategy for Jobs and a Competitive America,” which lays out the fundamental, essential policies manufacturers believe are necessary to improve America’s competitive position.

As Congress heads into the August recess and the upcoming election season, urge your elected officials and candidates for office to support and publicly endorse the NAM’s Strategy and demonstrate their commitment to strengthening manufacturing in America.

For more information, contact NAM Vice President of Public Affairs Tiffany Adams at tadams@nam.org or (202) 637-3118.

NAM OPPOSES INTERNATIONAL TAX INCREASES IN HOUSE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL

July 30, 2010 – NAM Capital Briefing

The NAM July 29 sent a key vote letter to the House asking legislators to oppose H.R. 5893, the Investing in American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010. The legislation, introduced by House Ways and Means Committee Chair Sander Levin (D-MI), couples a package of incentives for infrastructure investment with $11.5 billion in tax increases on worldwide American companies. In the letter, NAM Executive Vice President Jay Timmons said that while “the NAM supports provisions in the legislation that would extend Build America Bonds and lift the state volume cap for private activity bonds for water and waste water infrastructure, our support for these provisions is heavily outweighed by the significant costs imposed on manufacturers by the bill’s tax increases.” The House is expected to vote on H.R. 5893 July 29.

PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLS ON SENATE TO PASS PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT

July 30, 2010 – NAM Capital Briefing

On July 20, the Obama Administration again called upon the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which passed the House of Representatives early in 2009. This legislation significantly expands the ability of trial lawyers to sue manufacturers for legitimate pay practices while doing little to address actual illegal acts of pay discrimination. The White House Middle Class Task Force released a new report last week that urged the Senate to move forward, and President Obama issued a strong statement reiterating his support of the legislation. Manufacturers should contact their Senators to urge them to oppose this harmful legislation that will raise the threat of litigation for legitimate pay practices

Regional Transportation Plan Alternatives

MEMORANDUM

TO: All Transportation Stakeholders
FROM: Wasatch Front Regional Council
DATE: July 29, 2010
SUBJECT: Regional Transportation Plan Alternatives/Transportation Improvement Program/PM 2.5 Air Quality Conformity Open Houses

The Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) in association with UDOT and UTA will sponsor two open houses to display and receive comment on the proposed alternatives for the update to the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the draft 2011-2016 Transportation Improvement Program and the PM 2.5 (particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter) air quality conformity determination for the current RTP. In addition, the Regional Council will participate in three UDOT sponsored open houses for the West Davis Highway environmental impact statement. The open houses will be held as noted below:

1. Monday, August 2nd, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Commission Chambers Breakout Room, Weber County Government Center, 2380 Washington Boulevard, Ogden. Sponsored by WFRC.

2. Tuesday, August 3rd, 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunset City Hall, 200 North 1300 West. Sponsored by UDOT.

3. Wednesday, August 4th, 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Kanesville Elementary, 3112 South 3500, West, West Haven City. Sponsored by UDOT.

4. Thursday, August 5th, 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Legacy Events Center, 151 South 1100 West, Farmington City. Sponsored by UDOT.

5. Thursday, August 5th, 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Center Atrium North Building, Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 South State Street, Salt Lake City. Sponsored by WFRC.

These transportation programs will allocate of hundreds of millions of dollars in transportation capital investments through the year 2040. We invite your input into these decisions that will directly affect you for many years to come. Comments will be take at the open houses or may be sent via e-mail to sam@wfrc.org or to WFRC, Attn: Sam Klemm, 295 North Jimmy Doolittle Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84116.

REPS. WAXMAN AND RUSH INTRODUCE TOXIC CHEMICALS SAFETY ACT

July 30, 2010 – NAM Capital Briefing

Last week, Reps. Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act (H.R. 5820), legislation that would overhaul the nation’s chemical regulatory management system. The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection held a hearing on the legislation on July 29. While the NAM remains committed to modernizing our nation’s chemical regulatory structure, the NAM believes the legislation is overly broad in scope, creates barriers to innovation and job growth, and provides insufficient protection for Confidential Business Information (CBI).

SENATE UNVEILS ENERGY PLAN

July 30, 2010 – NAM Capital Briefing

This week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) unveiled his energy package, the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act. The bill focuses on the four areas previously outlined by Leader Reid: ensuring an expedited oil spill cleanup process as well as increasing the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, investing in the Home Star program, providing funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and investing in electric and natural gas vehicles. The bill does not include a price on carbon or a renewable electricity standard. Leader Reid has not yet made it clear whether amendments will be accepted. If amendments are accepted, there could be attempts to include more controversial proposals, which in turn could derail the passage of the bill before August recess.

SMALL BUSINESS BILL WITH BONUS DEPRECIATION STALLS

July 30, 2010 – NAM Capital Briefing

Another new substitute amendment to Small Business Tax bill H.R. 5297 was introduced July 27 by Senate Democrats, which included an NAM-advocated extension of bonus depreciation for 2010. The NAM sent a letter July 28 to the full Senate urging support of quick action to extend bonus depreciation. The Senate procedural vote to advance the new substitute amendment failed July 29, so if final Senate action were to occur on the bill, it most likely would be after August. Also, the NAM was very supportive of efforts to bring to the floor Sen. Johann’s (R-NE) amendment that would repeal an extremely onerous reporting requirement passed as part of health care reform, but that effort was unsuccessful. The amendment would repeal Section 9006’s requirement that businesses file an IRS form 1099 for all purchases of property and services in excess of $600. The NAM sent a key vote letter to the Senate on this potential amendment July 28. This new burden will be especially harmful to small and medium-sized manufacturers.