September 14, 2011

JACKSON STAYING AT EPA

Politico
According to a report in Politico, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson reported yesterday that she "is staying put...despite speculation that she might step down after the White House undercut her efforts to set a stricter smog limit." Politico explained that she "recently said the Bush-era rule was 'not legally defensible'" and that rumors about her potential resignation "sparked green groups led by the Earth Day Network to start an online petition calling Jackson 'the environmental conscience of the Obama administration' and urging her to stay at EPA.'"

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS URGE CONGRESS TO PASS THE PROTECTING JOBS FROM GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE ACT
NAM
NAM’s Senior Vice President for Policy and Government Relations Aric Newhouse issued a statement on the Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act. "The National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) aggressive overreach in its complaint against the Boeing Company is causing such uncertainty among manufacturers during this difficult economic time that jobs are being threatened. The NLRB's dangerous precedent of interfering in a company's decisions about whom they can hire and where they can build their facilities will allow the NLRB to second-guess the business plans of manufacturers across the country without clear direction from Congress and the courts." Newhouse said, "We urge all members of the House to vote to defend jobs and pass the Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act. It's important to all manufacturers that we stop the NLRB from ordering employers to close, relocate or transfer employment under any circumstances."

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS TO HOST FORUM WITH REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN NOVEMBER
NAM
"Republican presidential candidates are spending September on television, facing off in an increasingly nationalized nomination process, but they will return in late fall to Iowa for a fierce caucus fight." On November 1, "candidates will face a business audience and be asked about manufacturing, an important sector of the Iowa economy that contributes the greatest share of the state's gross domestic product, during a forum in Pella." The state's governor "will moderate that forum" and will be "hosted by the National Association of Manufacturers, the nation's largest industrial trade organization, and its board Chairwoman Mary Andringa, president and CEO of the Vermeer Corp."

WHAT WILL MAKE GEN Y PURSUE MANUFACTURING AGAIN?
Today in Manufacturing
My generation is obsessed with being cool and it strikes me that a career in manufacturing doesn't seem cool. This is a major barrier we need to overcome ... continue

NAM/IW Q3 SURVEY: MANUFACTURER OUTLOOK STILL POSITIVE, BUT OPTIMISM WANES
Quick Manufacturing News
Economy, regulations top list of concerns Click to continue

U.S. MACHINE TOOL ORDERS UP 7.3% IN JULY
Quick Manufacturing News
'Machine tool sales continue to exceed forecasts for 2011,' stated AMTDA president Peter Borden. 'The stock market's volatility and the traditional summer slowdowns as budgets are depleted were no match for the ongoing demand to get new machines into production as soon as possible.' Click to continue

NEW OSHA DIRECTIVE TACKLES WORKPLACE VIOLENCE CONCERNS
Quick Manufacturing News
In the last 15 years, deaths resulting from workplace violence have ranked among the top four causes of occupational fatalities in American workplaces. In response to this serious threat to worker safety, OSHA released a new compliance directive on Sept. 8 that offers procedures for agency staff who respond to workplace violence cases or complaints. Click to continue

USMTO: MANUFACTURING WAY UP IN 2011
Today in Manufacturing
With a year-to-date total of $2,975.10 million, 2011 sales of machine tools is up 102.9 percent compared with
2010 ... continue

BUSINESS INVENTORIES RISE FOR 19TH STRAIGHT MONTH
Today in Manufacturing
The strong month for inventory growth shows businesses were confident in the economy despite weakening
growth ... continue