AMTonline: ONgovernment

Lots of loose ends to tie up before Election Day

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Taxes continue to dominate the dialogue in Washington this spring, as Congress looks for ways to reduce our deficit, increase employment and boost the sluggish economy.

Labor laws in flux

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Earlier last month, the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) rule to require employers to post a notice of employees’ rights to form a union was blocked by a federal court. On May 1, the NLRB’s rule that simplifies union-election procedures went into effect.

House approves politically risky 2013 budget plan

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST

The House approved the 2013 budget resolution introduced by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) last month with no Democratic support. The Path to Prosperity: A Blueprint for American Renewal, offers a stark alternative to the budget submitted by the Obama administration in February.

Administration proposes $1 billion National Network for Manufacturing Innovation

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST

During a trip to the new Rolls-Royce Crosspointe facility outside of Richmond, Va., President Obama announced a plan to create a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation – an effort that aims to harness the power of collaboration to speed the pace of innovation in American manufacturing.

NLRB poster ruling takes effect this month

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST

On April 30, most private sector employers will be required to post a notice advising employees of their rights to organize a union. This rule comes from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after a decision last December. Failure to comply with this rule will be a violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

Opportunity for real tax reform?

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST

Is it possible that Republicans and Democrats can come together to enact meaningful tax reform? At least both sides agree that something significant needs to be done, but whether the need to do something can bridge the political divide is still a question. Perhaps our elected leaders will surprise their electorate!

2013 budget increases manufacturing R&D but at what cost to manufacturing?

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST

 The president’s 2013 budget, released last month, reinforces the administration’s commitment to increase R&D investment in manufacturing. Unfortunately, it will more likely deter investment by raising taxes just when companies are feeling more confident about the future.

SOTU sets the stage for debate on tax reform

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

President Obama laid out his “Blueprint for an America Built to Last” in his 3rd State of the Union address last month. In a few weeks, he will release his FY13 budget, which is expected to follow-up the SOTU by proposing that Congress immediately pass new tax provisions that the administration says will boost manufacturing by encouraging more companies to produce more of their products in the United States.

Members of Congress and the president call for permanent R&D tax credit

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

In his third State of the Union address in January, President Obama mentioned the need for basic research in this country. Citing past American federally funded inventions that opened up new markets and industries, including the internet and semi-conductors, the president underscored the important role innovation plays in America’s competitiveness. He urged congressional lawmakers to not make any drastic cuts to the nation’s research and development budget.

Administration announces Commerce reorganization plan

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

Taking a page straight out of AMT’s Manufacturing Mandate, the president announced last month a proposal to consolidate six executive trade and business agencies into a new department promoting competitiveness, exports and American business.

Washington focuses on reshoring

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

In January, President Obama stressed the importance of “insourcing” American jobs and emphasized actions his administration is proposing to encourage businesses to create or bring back jobs to the United States.

DC2011: It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

A look back at the triumphs and tribulations of our elected leaders in managing the economy and boosting the manufacturing sector during the 1st session of the 112th Congress… 

President names two co-chairs for White House Office of Manufacturing Policy

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

In December, President Obama named the two co-chairs of the White House Office of Manufacturing Policy – Commerce Secretary John Bryson and National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling.

R&D tax credit expired

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

If there was one thing Congress was able to consistently prove last year, it was its ability to create uncertainty within the manufacturing and business sectors. The repeated budget battles, temporary budget extensions, and near government shutdowns left the future of many pro-business programs and essential tax credits in limbo.

Super Committee – anything but “super”

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Not surprisingly given the last year in politics, the deficit “Super Committee” announced it failed in its mission to cut at least $1.2 trillion from the federal deficit over the next decade. The impasse triggers across-the-board spending cuts in both defense and non-defense programs beginning in 2013.

Trans-Pacific Partnership talks continue

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Last month, President Obama spent time in Hawaii and throughout Southeast Asia promoting a free trade agreement between the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP’s nine member countries – the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalem, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam – have held nine rounds of negotiations, concluding the ninth in October. On Nov. 12, leaders of the participating countries announced the broad outlines of an agreement.

Washington focuses on trade

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

Although the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, S. 1619 doesn’t specifically mention China, its supporters want to use it to allow retaliation against China’s long practice of holding down the value of the yuan to give Chinese products an unfair price advantage in the global market. They cite a recent study by the Economic Policy Institute that estimates China’s currency manipulation not only significantly contributed to our record high trade deficit with China in 2010 but also to the loss of nearly two million U.S. manufacturing jobs over the last decade.

Administration jobs plan to be split

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

The president’s jobs plan hit a snag last month, and no amount of bus tour stops or town hall meetings could save it. The Congress is sharply divided over the American Jobs Act, the administration’s $447 billion package to get businesses hiring again.

Washington’s attention focuses on jobs

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

The president sent the much-anticipated American Jobs Act to Congress last month. The White House claims the $447 billion package of tax incentives and stimulus spending will boost job creation nationwide. Republican leaders don’t agree. They oppose most parts of the plan and strongly object to raising taxes to pay for it.

Vehicle manufacturing program at risk

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

The latest continuing resolution had congressional lawmakers debating over the future of a vehicle manufacturing program supported by AMT. Started under President George W. Bush, the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program provides capital for auto and component parts manufacturers to conduct their manufacturing here in the United States. Loans are offered to retool old plants and build new facilities for the production of advanced vehicles technologies.

Help your customers get ready for the manufacturing Renaissance!

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

Boston Consulting Group’s recent report Made in America, Again: Why manufacturing will return to the U.S. predicted a U.S. “Manufacturing Renaissance.” They forecast that by 2015, rising Chinese labor rates and currency would make it more economical to supply the U.S. by manufacturing here. For the economic trends to have a rapid impact on the behavior of major U.S. companies, however, the companies will have to calculate their total cost of offshoring. Unfortunately, most companies’ calculations are rudimentary, rather than complete, mainly comparing prices rather than the entire cost of offshoring.

Washington goes back to work

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

It’s hard to believe that the August recess is over already. In Washington, the past month has been a welcome respite from the partisan battles that preceded it. While Members of Congress spent the break getting an earful from constituents fed up with the dysfunction in Washington, President Obama took to the road on a 3-day bus tour of the Midwest to convince voters that he has a plan to reduce the deficit and put Americans back to work.

Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction seeks cuts in government spending

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

A newly formed Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is required to identify an additional $1.5 trillion in cuts between 2013 and 2021. This 12-member panel of both senators and representatives must propose a plan to Congress by November 23, 2011, and Congress must approve this plan by December 23, 2011. Failure to approve these cuts will cause mandatory across-the-board cuts to all government spending, including security and non-security programs. Congress wants to avoid these across-the-board cuts because it would leave the future of too many programs in unpredictable terms.

Congress in recess – coming to a town hall near you!

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

Congress in recess – coming to a town hall near you – Congress adjourns for the month of August, making this an ideal time to schedule a meeting with your Senators and Representative to discuss the issues affecting your business and the U.S. manufacturing sector.    

House approves appropriations bills

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

On July 15, the House approved the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which brings the total to 5 out of 12 appropriations bills approved by the House of Representatives.

Obama Administration launches initiatives to boost manufacturing jobs

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

The anemic pace of the economic recovery has focused the Obama Administration’s attention on boosting the manufacturing sector, the most powerful generator of sustained economic growth.

President Obama signs new pro-business initiative

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

President Obama signed an Executive Order on June 15 establishing a new initiative – SelectUSA – which aims to retain and create jobs in the United States. SelectUSA, which will be run through the Department of Commerce and in cooperation with over 24 government agencies, will actively pursue new business investments in the United States by offering unprecedented assistance to businesses looking to expand.

Manufacturing Mandate front and center at MEP Conference

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

Manufacturing Mandate frontand center at MEP Conference - AMT President Doug Woods gave the keynote address to hundreds of manufacturers and Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) service providers at the annual MEP conference.

New federal funding opportunity — the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

On May 20, the Obama Administration kicked off the Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge in an effort to propel economic growth in regional innovation clusters throughout the country. This program releases $33 million for businesses to collaborate more effectively with the 16 federal agencies involved and help push forward new innovative technologies that strengthen America’s global competitiveness, create jobs, and improve local economies that have been bruised during this economic recession.

With FY11 behind it, Congress now tackles FY12

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

With only 5 months to go until FY12, Congress finally managed to pass an FY11 continuing resolution to fund the government through Sept. 30. While belt tightening is certainly warranted, we must continue to invest in programs focused on increasing innovation/R&D, enhancing global competitiveness, and building a next-generation Smartforce.

Manufacturing legislation introduced in Congress

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

Two bills introduced last month aim to strengthen the manufacturing sector. On April 6, The National Manufacturing Strategy Act was re-introduced in the Senate (S. 751) and House (H.R. 1366) with bipartisan support. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Congressman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), requires the development of a federal strategy to strengthen American manufacturing. The bills contain similar provisions calling for specific recommendations based on a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. manufacturing sector.

OnGovernment - April 2011 - Congress takes on the globalization issue

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

A brief status report on three issues that Congress will likely consider in the coming months:  free trade agreements, China currency manipulation,  Ex-Im Bank reauthorization.

SBIR and STTR Reauthorization Act debated in Senate

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

On March 9, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship approved S. 493, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Reauthorization Act of 2011.

House committee hearings look at ways to increase job growth

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

In an attempt to find ways to increase job opportunities and business growth, Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, began the “Made in America” hearing series in March.

The battle of the budget

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

President Obama submitted his FY 2012 budget to Congress last month, but Congress is still wrestling with what to spend (or cut) for the rest of this fiscal year.

Graham Schnaars joins AMT’s Government Relations Department

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

Graham Schnaars has joined AMT’s Government Relations Department as Legislative Analyst.

Priorities for 2011 laid out in the State of the Union address

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

President Obama laid out his priorities for the coming year in his State of the Union address last month, and the Republican leadership responded. It all went down in a relatively civil manner, considering the rhetoric that preceded it. The President’s speech focused on innovation, jobs and competitiveness. The GOP response emphasized limited government and deficit reduction.

You can help bring manufacturing jobs back home!

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Reshoring Initiative is a non-protectionist, efficient way to reduce our imports, increase our “net exports” and regain manufacturing jobs. AMT members can help the country and their sales by communicating to their customers that going local can reduce a customer’s Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of purchased parts and tooling and improve its strategic flexibility and balance sheet while bringing U.S. manufacturing jobs home. 

New tax law gives manufacturers a boost heading into the New Year

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

In a major victory for AMT members, President Obama signed the bipartisan tax relief and benefits package approved by Congress before the holidays. The new law includes important provisions that reduce business costs and incentivize innovation.

Congress – 2010 and beyond

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

Now that the midterm elections are over, it’s a good time to reflect on the year gone by and make plans for the year ahead. The political landscape on Capitol Hill has definitely changed, but AMT’s call for advancing the principles of our Manufacturing Mandate has not.

Woods addresses 2010 Manufacturing Summit

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

Last month, AMT President Doug Woods addressed the 2010 Manufacturing Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by Switzerland Trade & Investment Promotion and The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS). The conference focused on how green collar jobs and apprenticeship training can transform the 21st century work force.

OnGovernment - November 2010

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST

Lame duck session – There is a host of legislative measures that were languishing without resolution when Congress recessed in September. A few relate directly to American manufacturing such as the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act and the AMERICA Works Act. 

Rep. Gary Peters visits Star Cutter Company

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST

On Friday, Sept. 10, Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI-9) toured Star Cutter Company in Farmington Hills, Mich. AMT Government Relations Committee member Brad Lawton hosted the tour of his facility.

Federal government acts to level the global playing field

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST

One of the best ways to enhance our global competitiveness is through support of America’s small- and medium-sized manufacturers. In a major victory for AMT members, President Obama signed the Small Business Jobs Act.

Key legislation will likely see action before the end of the year

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

Congress returns this month to face a massive agenda, including 12 appropriation bills and the expiring Bush tax cuts. With only a short time until the mid-term elections, vulnerable Democrats have set out to convince voters that they have the answers for reversing our lagging employment and lackluster economic recovery. The following is a summary of key legislation relating to three of AMT’s Manufacturing Mandate points that will likely see action before the end of the year.

AMT FRIENDS & FAMILY COOKBOOK

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

Oatmeal Sesame Cookies – This is Dale Evans’ recipe. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were close friends of my parents and I lived with them one summer. Mother and Dale used to exchange recipes. Roy and Dale used to deer hunt on our ranch and at night Roy would tune my Mother’s piano and they would stand around and sing.

“The things we make, make us” – Or, how a TV ad can help

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

Recently, a once-all-American automaker started airing national television ads to market one of its 2011 vehicles. Who the automaker is, or what line it was hawking, is irrelevant. What is relevant is how the ad was framed and pitched. If the name of the vehicle and its maker were removed, this ad could easily have been a rallying cry for celebrating and strengthening American manufacturing.

New Hampshire governor visits Greenerd plant

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

AMT Board Vice Chairman Tim Dining, President and CEO, Greenerd Press and Machine Company, Inc., recently hosted New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch for a tour of his plant in Nashua, N.H. Dining was happy to accommodate the governor’s request to visit Greenerd to show how the company is faring during these tough economic times. Having been in business in Nashua for more than a century, Greenerd has weathered a few storms. It was especially important to Dining that the governor meet with Greenerd’s 17 employees.

The uncomfortable world of deficit living

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

A strange thing happened on the road to renewing the federal tax credit for research and development:  National groups and companies that have long revered the credit like a holy grail suddenly announced they would actively oppose the legislation that renewed it.  Why?  Because of something known in Washington these days as “pay fors.”

FRIENDS & FAMILY COOKBOOK

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

The AMT FRIENDS & FAMILY COOKBOOK is chock full of delicious recipes and a little family history here and there as well. We all have some old family favorites that bring back good memories of family gatherings and meals shared in the past. For those of you who remember the days of the Whole Earth Catalog and the lifestyles of the 60s and 70s, this recipe from Doug & Mary Woods should bring back some memories.