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Many of America’s roads and bridges are in bad shape, putting a strain on economic growth. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is pushing Congress to approve “Build America Bonds” to help fix the nation’s ailing infrastructure.
Wyden, a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” praised the National Association of Manufacturers for raising public and political awareness about America’s infrastructure needs. Wyden is a member of the NAM’s Alliance to Improve America’s Infrastructure.
“It seems to me the alliance has helped us get more and more support every time out,” Wyden says.
Ferrer’s group brings Brazilians to the United States to learn about our business and economic system. And Sullivan’s organization helps strengthen democracy abroad through private enterprise and market-oriented reform.
Move over Ford and General Motors – there’s a new car manufacturer in America that makes vehicles specifically for law enforcement and homeland security. Carbon Motors Corp. Chief Executive Officer Bill Li will join Mike to tell us more about his company.
You can also tune in to get a sneak preview of the second annual National Summit on American Competitiveness in Chicago from event operations director Kelly O’Brien. And Nancy Hickey, senior vice president at the Steelcase office furniture maker, will talk about how that company is harnessing energy from wind.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership will give us the latest on tort reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
“It’s got to be a help that we have had some time for the McCain campaign to get its feet on the ground. He's raising money. Getting organization behind him,” said Martinez, a McCain supporter and guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” radio program.
“But it also remains a clear fact that the Democrats are going to unite and this is going to be a battle,” Martinez said.
The Senate is weighing a climate change bill that would use a pollution cap and trade system to help prevent global warming. But Neil O’Brien from the Open Europe think-tank will tell Mike why a similar program in Europe has run into problems.
For almost 20 years the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program has given companies training to help them boost sales and cut costs. Bruce Pulkkinen from Windham Millwork Inc. in Maine, a supporter of MEP, will tell us why such a worthwhile program is under threat.
“America’s Business” will also talk to Advanced Technology Services Inc. President Jeffrey Owens. Owen’s company helps manufacturers stay on budget by maintaining and repairing their shopfloor equipment. And the program will visit with Judith Crocker, director of the Dream It. Do It. program in Northeast Ohio to find out how that program trains young people for manufacturing careers.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership will give us the latest on tort reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
Arizona Sen. John McCain is the likely Republican nominee for the presidency but the battle is still raging over who will snag the Democratic presidential nomination.
However, John Zogby, a guest on this week’s edition of “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” predicted Illinois Sen. Barack Obama will beat New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. Zogby is one of the most respected political pollsters in the nation.
“The most important thing is that Clinton does not really have a way mathematically to obtain the nomination,” Zogby said. “There is no way, or very little way, for her to be able to catch up with Sen. Obama among pledged delegates.”
The Senate is considering a climate change bill that supporters claim would help prevent global warming but opponents say would wreck the U.S. economy. Award-winning Time Magazine editor Eric Pooley will talk about the politics surrounding the issue.
Environmentalists are trying to fight a new power plant in Utah. Attorney Russell Frye will explain why that case is so important to future energy supplies and manufacturing.
Meanwhile, National Association of Manufacturers Trade Policy Director Doug Goudie will give listeners an update on World Trade Organization negotiations to further open global markets. And Croplife America President Jay Vroom will explain why pesticides needed to grow crops to feed the world sometimes get a bad reputation.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership will give us the latest on tort reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
Education is a top priority for manufacturers who need a skilled workforce to operate increasingly complex shop floor computers and equipment.
But has America’s public education system improved in the 25 years since the National Commission on Excellence in Education released its “Nation at Risk” report? That report gave our schools a mediocre grade.
Chester Finn, a guest on this week’s edition of “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” said things haven’t gotten much better. “I guess the big issue for me is that the reforms to date haven’t yielded much by the way of improved achievement,” said Finn, who is president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.
Trade agreements have recently gotten a bad rap in Congress and the media but exports create American jobs. Miguel Cruz from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc. will join Mike to talk about how his company is taking advantage of Latin American business opportunities.
“National Small Business Week” is officially ending. Kristy Schloss, president of Schloss Engineered Equipment, will visit “America’s Business” to talk about issues important to small businesses such as hers.
MeadWestvaco Corp., which makes packaging materials, is repackaging itself under the new name MWV. Company Vice President of Communications Donna Cox will tell us why the company decided to make the change.
And to honor “Earth Day” Ed Kiczek, global business director at Air Products and Chemicals Inc., will discuss his company’s push into the hydrogen fuel market. Hydrogen could turn out to be a promising alternative form of energy.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of the American Justice Partnership gives us the latest on tort reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
The media can sometimes fan false hysteria about issues ranging from asbestos to global warming, according to the authors of the new book “Scared to Death.”
Christopher Booker and Richard North, guests on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” said this hysteria can cost businesses billions of dollars when policymakers overreact. Remember the Y2K computer crash that never happened?
“Part of the reason for writing the book, the process, is to tell people that actually they are being caught up in a very specific phenomenon and to advise and instruct them as to how to recognize the phenomenon they’ve been caught up with,” North said.
Manufacturers are struggling to find qualified workers and the H1-B visa program helps them attract talent from overseas. But the visa program has flaws. Microsoft Corp. Managing Director of Federal Government Affairs Jack Krumholtz will appear on the program to tell us more.
Clean technology is more popular than ever. Allied PhotoChemical Inc. Vice President of Sales Dan Sweetwood will join Mike to talk about why his company is offering a line of environmentally friendly paints, coatings and other products.
One way to cut soaring healthcare costs is to help workers manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Dr. Ken Thorpe, executive director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, will be on hand to talk about his group’s push to include chronic disease management in the presidential debates.
Spring is here and grass is growing again. On that note “America’s Business” will visit Walker Manufacturing Company in Colorado to help celebrate a special milestone. They will manufacture their 100,000th lawnmower this year.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of the American Justice Partnership gives us the latest on tort reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
Congress will hurt the U.S. economy and send a bad message to its allies if it rejects a free trade agreement with Colombia, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez says. The House on Thursday voted to delay a vote on the deal.
“We should not put politics in front of sending a message to an ally,” said Gutierrez, a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” radio program. “If we don’t approve this, our allies and friends will be very confused. And people who don’t like us will be very happy.”
Gasoline prices are at record highs and the search for alternative energy sources is gaining urgency. America’s Business will talk to Southern California Edison spokesman Gil Alexander about the utility company’s multi-million-dollar plan to light hundreds of businesses and homes using solar power.
American manufacturers are also using a foreign visa program to help meet a shortage of qualified workers. Texas Instruments Government Relations Director Amy Burke will join Mike to discuss the hurdles the company faces when it uses the H1-B visa program.
You can also tune in this week to find out from ColorCraft owner and president Jim Mayes what high ranking government official recently visited his Sterling, Va., to talk about the economic stimulus package. And “America’s Business” will continue its series on foreign manufacturing groups when its visits the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association and meets with its president Jayson Myers.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership gives us the latest on tort reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
National Association of Manufacturers member Drew Greenblatt on Thursday told lawmakers small and medium businesses could help revive the sluggish economy if they didn't have such heavy tax and other burdens.
"We are the job machine," said Greenblatt, who owns the Marlin Steel Wire Products custom hook and basket company in Baltimore. "And we're going to get us out of the recession."
Greenblatt, who testified on behalf of the NAM before the House Small Business Committee on tax code reform, also said Congress shouldn't let Bush tax cuts expire because small businesses need them. To read Greenblatt's testimony in full go here.
And Drew, a master at getting publicity for his small company, didn't miss the opportunity to show off his product line. He bought a metal hook and wire basket to show Committee Chairwoman Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and other lawmakers.
Some American manufacturers have long complained about competition from cheap imports from China.
But a Slate article says that era may be ending. China is raising the price of exports due to several factors, including higher energy costs (have you checked out the prices at the pump lately?) and rising wages.
So Americans used to bargain deals at Wal-Mart may be in for a surprise. American importers are now looking to other countries to replace China as the place to go to get lower prices, the article said.
"So importers are looking back to countries they once rejected in favor of China—Indonesia, Mexico, and Malaysia. And they are looking ahead to countries not yet integrated into the global consumer-goods supply chain, such as Brazil and Kenya. Every country, however, offers its own special risks: strong labor unions in one, political instability in another. None offers the one-stop shop appeal of China, where factories make everything under the sun."
That’s because America already opened its market to Colombian products, says Gomez Martinez, a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” radio program. Now Colombia wants to return the favor, he says.
Gomez Martinez expressed surprised some Democrats are against the deal. “First of all the Democrats have always voted in favor of the (trade) preferences for Colombia. So the Democrats already gave us free access to the U.S. market. So it’s very difficult to understand why they are not willing to do the same thing for U.S. companies.”
Higher energy prices are prompting Americans to consider alternative energy sources such as solar and geothermal. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) will join Mike to talk about an upcoming Clean Energy Center in Maryland that will introduce the public to the renewable energy industry.
The college basketball championship season is here and America’s Business will pay homage to college sports by talking to two former college athletes who are involved in manufacturing. And the program will visit Imagine Tomorrow, a special program that helps kids get interested in technology that could be useful when they grow up and decide to pursue a manufacturing career.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of America Justice Partnership gives us the latest on tort reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
America is headed for trouble if it doesn’t kick its spending habit, says Tennessee Democratic Rep. John Tanner, a guest on this week's "America's Business with Mike Hambrick" radio program. The federal debt is a massive $9 trillion dollars.
All that money spent paying interest on this debt could go to fixing roads and bridges and investing in human capital such as education and healthcare, says Tanner, co-founder of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats.
“There is no country that I know of in recorded civilization that had an unhealthy, uneducated population that was strong and free,” Tanner says.
President Bush is pressing Congress to approve an agreement to open Colombia’s markets to American goods and services. Politico reporter Victoria McGrane will talk to Mike about the odds Congress will back the deal.
The Senate may also take up a climate change bill that critics say wouldn’t stop global warming and would wreck the economy. William O’Keefe from the George C. Marshall Institute will talk more about the bill’s down side.
National Association of Realtors economist Lawrence Yun will tell us whether the stagnant housing market will turn around soon. And Loews Corp. President and Chief Executive James Tisch will tell Mike why a lower corporate capital gains tax rate would benefit business.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership gives us the latest on tort reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
Sen. George Voinovich says a pending Senate bill that would address global warming by limiting U.S. greenhouse gas emissions is ineffective, would hurt the economy and spark higher energy prices. Voinovich is a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick" radio program.
“Basically, what it does is it ignores the international impact of greenhouse gases and just concentrates on the United States,” the Ohio Republican says about S. 2191, America’s Climate Security Act of 2007. “In addition, it really is a real blow to the jaw of the U.S economy.”
March Madness, the college basketball championship season, is here. It would be hard to keep up with the action on the court without manufacturers such as Daktronics. We’ll visit the South Dakota electronic scoreboard maker.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of America Justice Partnership gives us the latest on tort reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.”
And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s stricter ozone standard has communities around the nation wondering whether they have what it takes to meet the proposed new standard.
Critics of EPA’s decision to lower allowable ozone levels to 75 parts per billion from the current 80 parts per billion say the move is unnecessary. America’s skies are clearer and the current standard needs more time to work.
The new rule would impose higher costs on communities with little to no health benefits for Americans, critics contend. In fact, some areas that have seen air improve say it will be difficult to meet the new standard.
“It’s sort of like moving the goal post back a little bit,” said Dan Salkovitz, a meteorologist at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. “It doesn’t mean the air quality has gotten worse, it means the air quality standard is stricter.”
Salkovitz was quoted in this story on Richmond's NBC Channel 12 Web site.
A story in the Idaho Business News says it will take an “extraordinary effort” to meet the new standard in the state’s Treasure Valley region.
In other parts of the United States, communities where air is clean enough to meet current rules wouldn't pass muster under EPA's proposed standard. That’s the case in Arizona’s Pima and Pinal counties, according to an Arizona Daily Star story. Officials in Pima are already trying to figure out how they would regain compliance -- and what would happen if they do not.
“Pima County officials have said a tougher inspection program for vehicle emissions, cleaner-burning gasoline and programs to promote less driving or more use of alternative fuel may eventually be necessary to bring local air into compliance. Otherwise, the county theoretically could lose federal highway money — years down the line — although that penalty is rarely enforced.”
Rep. Joe Donnelly says you are hurting American manufacturers and jobs when you buy a bootleg DVD or fake Rolex watch on the street corner. Donnelly, a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” radio program, introduced a bipartisan bill to battle product piracy in the United States and abroad.
“It takes intellectual property theft much more seriously (and) creates stronger law enforcement network to fight it so that we can stand up for our manufacturers and make sure our ingenuity and ideas are protected,” the Indiana Democrat said.
Freelance reporter Phaedra Hise returns to the program to talk about her Popular Mechanics magazine article on five American manufacturing success stories. The owner of one the companies profiled in her story – Drew Greenblatt of Marlin Steel Wire Products in Baltimore – will also appear on the program.
Manufacturers are scrambling to find well-trained workers. Mike will talk with an executive from Die-Tech metal stamping company in Pennsylvania about an innovative program they use to sharpen employee skills.
You can tune into “America’s Business” this week to find out how the recently enacted, $168-billion economic stimulus plan will benefit McCutcheon's Apple Products in Maryland. And Sandra Westlund-Deenihan, president of Quality Float Works in Illinois, will join Mike to discuss the advantages U.S. manufacturers will gain from a pending trade pact with Colombia.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership gives us the latest on legal reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.”
And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word” when he talks about why innovation is so vital to America’s future.
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
The Environmental Protection Agency this evening announced a new, stricter ozone standard that is not based on sound science and would deal our troubled economy another blow. It would also spur higher gas prices.
Gov. John Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers, said EPA's action "is the wrong move at the wrong time."
You can click on Engler's image to view his message on EPA's decision. His statement is available here.
And for more information on the ruling's impact, click here.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson plans to unveil the new ozone rule at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Click here to see the announcement.
According to news reports, EPA will probably lower its National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone below the current 80 parts per billion. Critics said such an action is unscientific and unnecessary.
The current ozone standard has been successful in clearing smog from American skies and needs more time to be fully effective. Imposing a new standard now would just cause unneeded economic hardship. The cost for the industrial economy would be $100 billion.
Communities that have worked for years to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s current ozone limits are now realizing they might have a lot more work to do.
EPA on Wednesday could announce plans to tighten ozone limits to battle smog. But critics contend the proposal is unnecessary because the current ozone rule is working – America’s skies are clearer. National average ozone levels plummeted 21 percent between 1980 and 2006.
A stricter rule would also cost the industrial economy $100 billion. And that could mean thousands of job losses.
Officials in Fayetteville, N.C., have worked five years to bring the area into compliance with existing smog rules. But an article in Monday's Fayetteville Observer said the celebration could be short if EPA comes out with a stricter plan.
“They’re moving the goal post,” George Breece, chairman of the Air Quality Stakeholders Group, said in the story. “But that’s OK. Our community has proven that our plan works.”
Officials in Charleston, S.C., are also worried they could fall out of compliance under a new EPA proposal, according to a story in The Post and Courier on Tuesday. The story noted a stricter rule could discourage more industries from moving to the region, restrict road building, and eventually require vehicle emissions tests.
Mary Miller, chairwoman of a Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments environmental committee, said she wants a safe environment but is a bit bewildered by EPA’s proposal:
“I’ve lived here all my life. I know what’s here. I know there’s problems out there. I think we’re doing a good job keeping it down. I really think (South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control) and EPA don’t know what they want.”
Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have said they would try to reopen parts of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
But a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” radio program says NAFTA is fine as is. Tampering with the pact would sour relations with Canada and Mexico and threaten the economy, said Dan Ikenson, associate director of the Cato Institute Center for Trade Policy Studies.
“It’s a terrible thing to be talking about at a time when U.S. export growth has been crucial,” Ikenson says. “Four years in a row we’ve set records in exports.”
All the talk about the decline and fall of American manufacturing is overblown. Mike will talk to reporter Phaedra Hise about her recent Popular Mechanics magazine story on American manufacturers who succeed despite the odds. We’ll also visit one of those manufacturers – the American Bicycle Group.
Natural gas is a crucial part of America’s energy supply. Natural Gas Supply Association President Skip Horvath will join Mike to talk about what role natural gas will play in America’s future.
“America’s Business” will also chat with a business executive who says manufacturing know-how can help companies slash healthcare costs. And we’ll visit a Wisconsin boat horn manufacturer, Kahlenberg Bros., that has achieved a rare feat – the same family has run it for more than 100 years.
In our regular segment Renee Giachino of America Justice Partnership will give us the latest on tort reform. And the National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler will close out the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
The Washington Post and CNN say Alabama Democrat Rep. Artur Davis is a future leader to watch.
The Harvard Law School graduate sits on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees trade, taxes and other vital business issues. And Davis, a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” is keen on using trade deals, worker training and other steps to keep manufacturing strong.
“Obviously, we need to make sure that the international rules of trade are fairly enforced and that they just don’t apply to the United States,” he told Mike.
“America’s Business” will also go to “The Land Down Under” to meet the Australian Industry Group in our first look at manufacturing in other countries. And we'll chat with an executive from an American mining and farm equipment company that does business in Australia.
Coal provides much of the nation’s electricity. A Duke Energy official will talk about technology that reduces coal’s impact on the environment.
This week you’ll meet the person to go to at the U.S. Small Business Administration if you need help clearing regulatory hurdles. And with Black History Month closing, we’ll talk to a University of Houston expert about the many contributions of African American inventors.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership gives us the latest report on tort reform while commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close out the program with “The Last Word.”
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
Congressional hearings can sometimes be snoozefests. But Drew Greenblatt, president of Marlin Steel Wire Products, knows how to add punch to the process.
Greenblatt, whose Baltimore company manufactures made-to-order wire and hook products, testified on behalf of the National Association of Manufacturers before the House Small Business Committee.
The hearing was on the need to fix the Paperwork Reduction Act to ease the blizzard of regulatory paperwork businesses have to contend with. The chore of filling out Internal Revenue Service and other documentation is so onerous, Greenblatt and executives at other companies often have to hire outside consultants to do the work.
That money could go to other things, like hiring new workers or research.
Instead of just talking about the problem, Greenblatt showed lawmakers the problem. He displayed a photo of two of his workers standing in front of boxes of all the paperwork he has to fill out in a year.
The stack of boxes was more than six feet high, taller than his employees.
“We have grown 33 percent in the last two years and tripled in the last 10 years,” he said. “We are adding people. We want to keep adding people, not adding paperwork.”
All that paperwork is stifling American competitiveness. According to a NAM report, structural costs for manufacturers in the United States were 31.7% higher in 2006 than for our major trade competitors.
Officials in East Tennessee are proud the region is expected to come into compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s current smog standard by early next year. It took a lot of hard work, including installing power plant scrubbers.
Then they found out EPA is about to issue a tougher ozone rule in March that critics contend is probably unattainable in most of the country and wouldn’t improve public health. Plus, it could cause economic hardship and job losses as communities grapple to enact regulations to meet the new standard.
Here's what Lynne Liddington, director of air quality management for Tennessee’s Knox County, had to say about the new rule in today’s Knoxville News Sentinel.
"They are coming in with a whole new standard before we have had sufficient time to meet this one. That’s like saying I plan to lose 20 pounds, and I lost 12, and now you tell me that I need to lose 30."
Tennessee officials said EPA should let communities meet the current smog standard and then decide whether the bar should be raised. Officials project 53 of Tennessee’s 95 counties could be in violation under the new rule.
The bill would do this partly by using technology to boost health care quality and efficiency, says Rogers, who appears on this week’s edition of “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick.”
“Last year alone, about 98,000 people were either killed, 1.3 million injured, because there were inconsistencies in the medication that were given to patients,” Rogers said. “Think of what that costs the system not only in human life…but in the extra costs of trying to treat that patient and get that patient back on their feet.”
Assistant Commerce Secretary Woody Sutton has a big job. Sutton, who promotes U.S. manufacturing around the globe, will talk to Mike about the state of the industry and issues manufacturers will face in 2008.
You can also tune into “America’s Business” to learn more about a study that says a controversial Environmental Protection Agency plan to reduce smog could cast a dark cloud over our already troubled economy. Mike will also talk to noted economist Arthur Laffer about what states are best for business and another program segment will look at the booming clean technology investment market.
And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close out the program when he gives us "The Last Word" on EPA's ozone plan.
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
Americans are already planning how to spend tax rebate checks they’ll get from the $168-billion economic stimulus plan.
But America’s newest senator, Republican Roger Wicker from Mississippi, said the plan’s business incentives are much more important than one-time checks.
“I think more so than the tax rebates are the job creating incentives that we provided for business to purchase equipment that helps create jobs,” said Wicker, who appeared on this week’s edition of “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick.”
Marian Blakey, president of the Aerospace Industries Association will explain why U.S. aerospace exports are soaring and listeners will find out why the National Association of Manufacturers went to court to fight a lobbying disclosure law that threatens privacy of trade association members.
Do you want to get a coveted, environmentally friendly “green” label for your product or service? A Federal Trade Commission official will tell you how.
And to close the program, The National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler will give us “The Last Word."
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
EPA wants to impose a stricter ozone standard that critics contend is unattainable, unscientific and could cause economic hardships for hundreds of communities trying to meet its goal. Plus, the current rule has significantly cleared the haze over American cities and needs more time to become fully effective before EPA moves the goal post again, critics said.
The mayors, including Royce Barnett of Stanton and Bill Wells of Lafayette, said the proposed new ozone rule could cost local jurisdictions $10 billion to $22 billion a year to implement. Here's an excerpt of the letter:
By imposing the proposed new standard on communities in Tennessee and across the country, the EPA would be creating severe economic damage with no compensating economic benefits. In short, a new ozone standard would be all pain and no gain.
It is ironic that on one hand the administration is urging passage of a stimulus package to spur on the economy while on the other hand, is seriously considering lowering the ozone standard that could have long-term negative effects on economic growth.
For the mayors' full letter click here. To read Schatz's letter in full click here.
Europe is way ahead of the United States when it comes to nuclear energy development. But Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN), a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” said America should be the No. 1 nation when it comes to nuclear and other alternative energy.
“Let’s advance nuclear, let’s solve the problems of the world, let’s build energy technologies out of this country and export them to the world,” says Wamp, who sits on the House Nuclear Energy Working Group.
Author Garrett Graff will join Mike to discuss how technology and globalization are revolutionizing political campaigns. Meanwhile, Tom Tanton from the Institute for Energy Research will explain the ramifications of California suing EPA to create its own emissions rules to fight global warming.
“America’s Business” will also visit an inner city Washington, D.C. high school that is getting kids interested in robotics, a technology vital to manufacturing. And closing out the program is the “The Last Word” from the National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler on the California EPA lawsuit.
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
More evidence EPA’s current ozone rule is working and we don’t need a new, stricter one.
EPA on Friday said 13 metropolitan areas have reduced smog ahead of schedule using early action compact agreements. These agreements give communities the flexibility to create their own plans to meet 8-hour ozone standards.
The areas that succeeded included Columbia, S.C., San Antonio, Chattanooga and Nashville.
Don’t pop the champagne cork and start celebrating yet.
EPA in March is set to announce a stricter ozone standard that critics say is unscientific, likely unreachable in parts of the country, and would bring unnecessary economic hardship and job losses.
The new rule could stymie economic growth in some areas because companies would have to install expensive ozone controls, which could prompt some to take business and jobs elsewhere. According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Bob Colby, director of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, said his area could soon fall right back out of compliance under the new EPA rule.
“If they select a much lower number, we’d be out,” Colby said. However, he added it’s too early to speculate.
EPA is proposing a new ozone rule that is unscientific, unattainable in many parts of the country and will cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars and many, many jobs.
The word on how damaging the rule is spreading. the Georgia Industry Association, an affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, recently cited a study that said Georgia alone could lose $150 billion and hundreds of thousands of jobs.
According to a Macon Telegraph news story this week, former North Carolina Gov. James Martin told lawmakers about how dangerous the proposal is. "New tougher standards could double industry's costs, and the health benefits are dubious, at best," Martin said.
Kudos to National Association of Manufacturers Vice President of Communications Hank Cox.
The Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) will award Hank its 2008 distinguished alumnus award in April. The honor, which RCBI offers in conjunction with Marshall University and the Marshall University Alumni Association, goes to individuals who have made outstanding achievements in and contributions to manufacturing.
Hank, a 1968 Marshall graduate, won because he has been very successful at conveying complicated manufacturing issues to the news media and public. "Hank is a natural born communicator and has a knack for delivering the NAM's message in a folksy, man-on-the-street manner that is very effective and engaging," NAM president John Engler said.
The economy is shaky and President Bush and Congress are trying to get it back on firm ground with a $150-billion stimulus plan.
Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL), a guest on this week’s edition of “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” talks about the significance of the stimulus package and how soon Congress may approve it. The plan already passed the House.
Bean knows what she’s talking about -- she helped craft the package. “In the House we’re moving full speed ahead,” she said. “The question now is what the Senate does. And that’s always the question.”
The presidential primary season is heating up and Super Tuesday is almost upon us. “America’s Business” will talk to political pollster John McLaughlin to see who could come out on top in the Democrat and Republican races.
What else will this week's program cover? The National Association of Manufacturers economist Dave Huether will tell Mike whether the dark clouds of recession will roll in during 2008. “America’s Business” will air the second installment of its series on the resurging nuclear power industry when it visits with an official from the Dominion company.
And Robert Samuelson, a Washington Post columnist who has a reputation of delivering the straight dope on economics and politics, will share his wisdom with Mike.
To close the program, NAM President John Engler will give us “The Last Word” when he talks about why manufacturers need research and development tax credits.
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
President Bush will deliver his last State of the Union address on Monday night. Many Americans will be listening to learn more about Bush and Congress’ plan to jump-start the sagging economy.
Brian Darling, a political expert at the Heritage Foundation, will appear on “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” to give his forecast of the speech and an analysis of stimulus plans.
“There is only so much the federal government can do,” Darling said. “I think the American people and economists would agree that a better thing to do for the long term would be a tax simplification plan to make our tax code more simple.”
“America’s Business” this week is launching a three-part series featuring some of the players involved in America’s resurging nuclear power industry. This week’s guest is Jacques Besnainou, head of Areva NC. Areva NC is a subsidiary of the Areva group, a French nuclear services company that is doing business in the United States.
Geothermal, or energy from the earth, is also getting more attention as an energy source. John Kelly, executive director of the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, will discuss how geothermal systems are helping businesses and residences slash heating and cooling bills, sometimes by half.
And “America’s Business” will explore a troubling proposed EPA smog rule that could give our economy another blow. Environmental consultant and former Indiana state representative Bruce Carter explains why the proposed rule is scientifically flawed and bad for business.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership gives us the latest report on tort reform while the NAM's Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” NAM President John Engler closes with his "The Last Word" commentary, anticipating the State of the Union from a manufacturing perspective.
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
Some National Association of Manufacturing staff got a sneak peek Tuesday of the Washington Auto Show, which officially opens today. I decided to go along with my 14-year-old son, Ian.
Visiting an auto show is a must-do experience for most red-blooded American males and their sons. There’s nothing like that new car smell or the glint of polished chrome.
But with oil flirting at $100 a barrel and prices at the pump so high, I had little appetite for massive SUVs and other models that get less than 20 miles to the gallon, city driving.
My son finally found the car of his dreams. A gold 2008 BMW 335i convertible with 300 horses under the hood. Price tag: $49,875.
There's no way I could afford the car. But the price tag wasn't what I was looking at.
“Ian, what kind of mileage does that thing get?,” I asked.
Fuel economy was also on the minds of officials of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which is hosting the show at the Washington Convention Center. According to President Dave McCurdy, manufacturers are offering environmentally cleaner, safer and more fuel-efficient models than ever.
There are now 12 million alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrids and clean diesel cars, on American roads. Auto manufacturers are offering even more for sale this year, McCurdy said, and many were on display on the car show floor.
But considering there were more than 240 million vehicles registered in the United States as of 2005, we still have a long way to go when it comes to buying vehicles that run on alternative fuels.
American manufacturers are about to lose a champion in Congress. Six-term Pennsylvania Republican Rep. John Peterson will retire at the end of his term.
Peterson, a guest on this week’s edition of “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” has a 100 percent approval rating when it comes to voting on legislation vital to manufacturing.
He is also a leading proponent of opening offshore oil and gas exploration to boost energy supplies, an issue more important than ever considering high prices at the pump.
“We need to open up the Outer Continental Shelf. We need to do coal to liquids, coal to gas, we need to open up more of Alaska,” Peterson says. “We need to do a lot of things because the energy crunch -- we have these high numbers without a real crisis in the world.”
Manufacturers are battling an epidemic of counterfeit products on the market, from airplane parts to dog food and razor blades.
Rick Cotton, NBC Universal’s general counsel, will join Mike to discuss what Congress and a group he heads are doing to battle the problem. Cotton leads the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, a joint project of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.
“This is the new face of organized crime,” Cotton says about the problem.
“America’s Business” will also discuss a new report from the Manufacturing Institute and the RSM McGladrey professional services firm that examines how small and medium manufacturers are adapting to a more globalized and integrated supply chain.
And the program will take a special trip to Stride Inc., a New Mexico writing instrument and office products company that is bringing much needed jobs and dignity to disabled people.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of America Justice Partnership gives us the latest news on tort reforms while the National Association of Manufacturers’ Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.”
And the NAM President John Engler gives us “The Last Word” when he talks about a favorable Supreme Court decision that will shield businesses from unnecessary lawsuits.
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
EPA Ozone Rule Will Inflict Needless Economic Pain
EPA’s proposed ozone rule could be a job creation killer. Just ask some of the companies that are monitoring it.
One of them is Molded Fiber Glass Companies, a reinforced composites and plastics manufacturer based in Ashtabula, Ohio.
Molded Fiber Glass Companies announced it is building a wind turbine blade manufacturing plant in Aberdeen, S.D., a project that could generate up to 700 jobs in that rural stretch of South Dakota.
South Dakota is in compliance with EPA smog rules but if EPA raises its ozone standard the state could go out of compliance. So manufacturers who want to open in South Dakota would have to install expensive emission control devices and purchase emission credits.
This could make that area less desirable for development, which would dampen future job creation.
The ironic thing about all this is that EPA’s proposed rule is unnecessary. The current rule has already helped clear smog from the nation’s skies and needs more time to work.
For instance, emissions from cars and trucks will fall by more than 70 percent by 2030 under existing regulations.
The other irony is that Molded Fiberglass Companies does the kind of work the government should encourage. Its wind turbines are used to generate alternative energy – electricity from wind. With oil and gas prices rising, America needs to develop energy alternatives.
And imposing a stricter ozone standard would be just another blow to the already troubled U.S. economy, Bennett told me. EPA is expected to make a decision on the new rule by March.
“Why put additional stress on our economy?” Bennett said. “People complain about the economy and jobs but appear willing to sabotage them based on questionable scientific evidence.”
Landrieu will appear on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” to discuss what America must do to achieve energy security. Landrieu also tells Mike she recently voted against a motion to advance an energy bill because she believes taxes on oil and gas would hurt the nation’s energy supply.
“We don’t need to be discouraging production of oil and gas,” Landrieu says. “We do need to be promoting the production of alternative fuels but not at the expense of traditional sources.”
Coal might have a dirty reputation but it’s essential to America’s energy needs. Did you know half of the electricity generated in the United States comes from coal?
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, another guest on this week’s program, will talk about the role coal will play as the United States develops alternative energy sources. America can also use coal in an environmentally sound way, said Manchin, who represents the nation’s second largest coal producing state.
“The bottom line is we’re going to continue to use coal in this nation as we move out in the next 10, 20, 30 years,” Manchin says. “I believe, truly believe, that we can do it much cleaner, much greener, much more responsible.”
With the presidential election season heating up, Greg Casey, president of the Business Industry Political Action Committee, will chat with Mike about what’s at stake for manufacturers. And two reporters from respected Capitol Hill newspapers – Roll Call and CQ Weekly -- will shed light on issues Congress could tackle in 2008.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership gives us the latest report on legal reform while the National Association of Manufacturers’ Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.”
And the NAM President John Engler will offer up the “The Last Word” when he talks about the recent 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and how new free trade pacts are vital for the nation’s electronics makers.
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
Exports are a bright spot in the U.S. economy and it seems the Bush Administration wants to keep in that way.
The White House may even try to force Congress to vote on Korea, Columbia and Panama trade deals if congressional leaders refuse to bring them up, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said Monday during a conference call from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
"That's always an option. It's clearly not the preferred option," Schwab was quoted as saying in a Reuters story.
Investor's Business Daily today said forcing trade votes could backfire but is probably worth it from Schwab's point of view:
"It's a risky move. Success would benefit the U.S. on a wide scale for many years. But failure would be a foreign policy disaster, as well as a painful return to the drawing board. To Schwab, however, the risk seems necessary. With the recession winds blowing, U.S. prosperity and the well-being of our allies are on the line."
Schwab recently appeared on "America's Business with Mike Hambrick." She promised it will be a busy year for U.S. trade policy. Here's a link to a vodcast of that program.
Opposition to EPA’s proposed ozone rule is growing in America’s heartland. A key Nebraska business group says they want EPA to scuttle the plan.
The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Barry Kennedy urged EPA to keep its current ozone standard, which has help clear smog from American skies.
There is no scientific evidence a more stringent ozone standard would improve the nation’s health, the Nebraska group said. And Nebraska’s economy would take a major hit if EPA adopts “the most aggressive” ozone option in its proposal,
Kennedy said.
“The proposed rule would mark the first time that Nebraska counties would be in violation of the ozone standard,” Kennedy said in a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. “This would serve as a significant obstacle to future economic growth.”
Existing regulations have already slashed national ozone levels by 21% between 1980 and 2006. We should be patient and give these regulations more time to work.
When it came to international trade, 2007 was a busy year for America.
There was a textile agreement with Mexico in January, a broader deal with South Korea in April, and the year ended on a climatic note when Congress and President Bush approved a trade pact with Peru.
America’s top trade negotiator Susan Schwab, a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” says things won’t slow down in 2008.
“We have had a big year in trade in 2007 and anticipate an equally busy and productive year in 2008,” U.S. Trade Representative Schwab says.
U.S. trade policy won’t be the only issue “America’s Business” tackles in its first program of 2008. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, chairman of the National Governors Association, will tell Mike about that group’s push to promote alternative energy sources and clean vehicles.
With oil lately hitting $100 a barrel and gasoline prices rising, Pawlenty says America must develop other energy sources. “Obviously one of the big issues facing our country is how we’re going to continue to access and use energy at an affordable, secure and predictable level,” he says.
Attorney Cleta Mitchell will join Mike to talk about new lobbying reforms that could stymie manufacturers’ ability to connect with lawmakers. And Brian Johnson from the Alliance for Worker Freedom will discuss a new report on how states rate when it comes to worker rights.
This winter is already shaping up to be one of the snowiest in years. All that snow is manna from heaven for snowmobile manufacturers. International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association President Ed Klim will join Mike to talk about rising snowmobile sales in foreign markets such as Russia.
In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of America Justice Partnership gives us the heroes and villains of tort reform battles and the NAM’s Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.”
And the National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler gives us “The Last Word” when he talks about how the bright lights of Broadway could go dark if New York officials succeed in closing the Indian Point nuclear power plant.
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
EPA is proposing a stricter ozone rule that many experts say is just wrong-headed.
EPA's current ozone standard has drastically reduced smog and needs more time to go into full effect, critics of the proposed rule say. Imposing a new, more stringent ozone rule now would cause unnecessary economic hardship and job losses, they argue. And a new standard probably would be unattainable in many parts of the country.
EPA just released a report that seems to support some of what the proposal's critics are saying. According to EPA, some of its existing ozone reduction programs are performing better than planned. Here's what EPA said about its report, Fuel Trends Report: Gasoline 1995-2005:
EPA's clean fuels programs have exceeded expectations in reducing ozone pollutants and air toxics. A new report based on data collected from 1995-2005 finds emission reductions often significantly greater than regulatory requirements. The data, which provide a view of recent gasoline property trends, are mainly from EPA's reformulated gasoline (RFG) and anti-dumping programs.
According to the report, average sulfur content in all gasoline dropped to about 90 parts per million in 2005 from a whopping 300 parts per million in 1997. Conventional gasoline nitrogen oxide and toxics emissions also decreased, the report said.
The New Year is upon us but this week “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” is taking a look back at some of its best guests of the past.
Some of the most influential people in the nation have appeared on “America’s Business” during the last year or so. These include two candidates for the presidency in 2008 – former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.
We’ll again hear what Romney and Huckabee had to say about issues important to manufacturers, including healthcare and education.
There is more than one breed of Democrat. This week we’ll rebroadcast excerpts of our September conversation with Rep. Allen Boyd of Florida and Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross of the fiscally conservative “Blue Dog Democrats.”
Ross and Boyd talked about legislation to raise fuel efficiency in cars and trucks. “Blue Dogs we’re environmentalists but we want to have a common sense approach,” Ross said during his appearance.
Rising healthcare costs and the nation’s deteriorating roads and bridges have long worried manufacturers. “America’s Business” will rebroadcast parts of its interviews with American Trucking Association President Bill Graves and Newt Gingrich, a former Republican congressman from Georgia and Speaker of the House.
Graves appeared on the program in September, just a month after a Minnesota bridge collapse killed 13 people, to talk about the nation’s infrastructure problems. America’s aging road system has caused more traffic jams, which in turn have contributed to air pollution, Graves said.
“We are burning fuel while we are waiting in traffic,” he said during that interview. “We are idling and adding to the already recognized environmental problems that we face as a nation.”
And Gingrich in May talked about efforts to reform the nation’s healthcare system through his organization, the Center for Health Transformation.
“America’s Business” will also take another look at some of the craziest lawsuits filed in the recent past with Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership. Remember the man who sued God?
And the National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler will give us “The Last Word” when he talks about manufacturing successes in 2007.
For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.
The agency’s current ozone standard helped clear smog from America’s skies and needs more time to go into full effect.
But a new proposal to adopt a more stringent ozone standard isn’t based on sound science, would be unattainable in many parts of the United States, and seriously dampen economic growth. EPA plans to announce the new rule by March 2008.
So far the proposed ozone rule has been mostly flying below the public radar. But criticism is growing. Here’s an excerpt of what former Indiana State Rep. Bruce Carter said about the proposal in an editorial in today’s South Bend Tribune:
The hard work we have made to date is just now having an impact on the quality of our air. Let's continue to reap the benefits of these efforts before we change a standard that will result in significant economic hardship on Indiana.
And former North Carolina Gov. James Martin said this in a recent letter to the editor in The Dispatch of Lexington, N.C.:
What is most alarming is that this proposed regulation by the EPA is not based on solid, reliable science. In addition, the EPA estimates the new standard will cost Americans up to $22 billion a year. As a former governor of this great state, I'm proud of what North Carolina has achieved by way of improving air quality, and I don't want to see unnecessary regulations inhibit our state's prosperity when we are already taking successful steps in the right direction.
A recent rash of product recalls made toy safety a big issue in the news as the holiday shopping season approached.
The recalls also prompted Congress to consider strengthening the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the agency charged with ensuring products sold in stores don’t hurt consumers, especially children.
This week on “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) will report on the status of legislation to increase funding and enact reforms at the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Dingell is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is working on the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act.
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Many of America’s roads and bridges are in bad shape, putting a strain on economic growth. 
National Association of Manufacturers member Drew Greenblatt on Thursday told lawmakers small and medium businesses could help revive the sluggish economy if they didn't have such heavy tax and other burdens.
Congressional hearings can sometimes be snoozefests. But Drew Greenblatt, president of 
Some National Association of Manufacturing staff got a sneak peek Tuesday of the 
Exports are a bright spot in the U.S. economy and it seems the Bush Administration wants to keep in that way.
When it came to international trade, 2007 was a busy year for America.