October 25, 2011

ECONOMIST RAISES QUESTIONS OVER EPA REGULATIONS.

Manufacturing Economy Daily (NAM Briefing)
In a posting for the "Congress Blog" in The Hill (10/24), Margo Thorning, senior vice president and chief economist of the American Council for Capital Formation, said the EPA "faced scrutiny on Capitol Hill again this week over the high costs of its record number of environmental regulations. During a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee, the agency's air chief denied consequences of the Clean Air Act on jobs and the economy and argued that her agency's rules relating to automobiles and fuel economy actually creates jobs and support small businesses." Thorning said that there is no dispute on the issue of reasonable pollution and environmental rules for improving clean air quality but in a situation of sustained weakness of the US economy and high unemployment rate, "a careful examination of actual economic and health benefits from these regulations are greater than the costs."

In another posting for the "Congress Blog" for the The Hill (10/24), Bernard L. Weinstein, Associate Director Of The Maguire Energy Institute And An Adjunct Professor Of Business Economics In the Cox School Of Business At Southern Methodist University, wrote that the EPA "has proposed two new air quality rules that pose substantial threats to both employment and the competitiveness of US manufacturers." He wrote that the Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology Rule "would be the most expensive direct rule in EPA history," which the EPA itself expects would result in costs of $11 billion a year on the US economy. Weinstein said that with unemployment remaining stagnant at more than nine percent, the best bet for the US lies in expanding its industrial sector, "with its strong export orientation."

THERE'S MORE TO LEAN THAN TEXTBOOK RECIPES
Today in Manufacturing
Two very important elements of successful execution of the Lean methodology are often overlooked and left out of most Lean training ... continue

INDIA LOOKS TO FACTORIES TO CREATE 100 MILLION JOBS
Quick Manufacturing News
With its new National Manufacturing Policy, the government hopes to cut the regulatory burden around companies, create 'manufacturing zones' on unused infertile land and promote 'green' technologies. Click to continue

WHAT TO DO WHEN OSHA VISITS
Quick Manufacturing News
Maintaining a good OSHA record is more important than ever, as OSHA citations can be as much as $70,000 for a single repeat or willful violation. Click to continue

LAWYERS V. SMALL BUSINESSES
FLAG Communications
What is the top concern for small-business owners? According to a recent Gallup poll, “complying with government regulations” topped the list, ahead of consumer confidence, lack of demand and lack of available credit, among others.

One group, however, stands to benefit as businesses try to get a handle on all the regulations they have to deal with: lawyers. As the Wall Street Journal Law Blog highlights in “Regulation: The Legal Economy’s Best Friend?”:

Legal chieftains at U.S. companies say the long reach of state and federal regulators, even more than the still struggling economy, will be the top factor that draws businesses into court battles in the next year.

“Stricter regulation” will be the number one driver of increased litigation according to general counsels and other corporate law officials surveyed by Fulbright & Jaworski.

In the report released Tuesday, 30% of respondents pointed to regulation for why they expect the number of legal disputes to increase, topping the 26% who said “company growth” would cause lawsuits and 21% that pointed to the “poor economy.”

The survey noted above is available here.

REPEAL PRE-EMPLOYMENT INQUIRY GUIDE?
Employers Council
Interestingly, the Utah Labor Commission, Antidiscrimination and Labor Division, is proposing
repeal of Rule R606-2, "Pre-Employment Inquiry Guide." The rule contains legal guidelines for both discriminatory and nondiscriminatory pre-employment inquiries. Repeal is being proposed because the rule merely restates principles derived from state and federal case law and other sources; is intended to be informational rather than directive; and the subject matter is more properly disseminated through educational materials rather than by rule.

The rule's date of enactment or last substantive amendment was 1994. The repeal will likely be effective on November 21st.