In a press release, the National Association of Manufacturers (9/25) “applauded the 14 bipartisan U.S. governors, led by Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Gov. Mary Fallin (R-OK), co-chairs of the National Governors Association, for sending a letter to President Obama urging him to address India’s growing unfair trade policies in his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Washington, D.C., on Friday.” In the letter, the governors stated, “These policies have resulted in discrimination against foreign companies in India, which hinders businesses’ ability to compete fairly and ultimately threatens U.S. exports and jobs. Furthermore, given India’s role as an economic leader amongst emerging economies, there is concern that India’s policies may have a spillover effect to other countries.” Also, NAM has “launched an extensive ad campaign meant to raise awareness of the need for India to level the playing field for businesses in the United States. The campaign includes micro-targeted digital ads in numerous influential publications; print ads in major news outlets such
Month: September 2013
Reminder: AIM partners with TrakBill for legislative tracking
TrakBill, a software company that tracks legislation, has joined forces with Associated Industries of Missouri. Members of Associated Industries of Missouri will receive a discounted membership to TrakBill’s software. This will allow AIM members, whether experienced in politics or a novice, to easily track legislation. TrakBill is an intuitive platform that pulls legislative information into one searchable database. Entering a keyword or a bill number into the TrakBill search engine or mobile application produces the results that could take hours to find, otherwise. Subscribers are also able to search and track committees and legislators, creating a single space where all important updates can be seen. Currently TrakBill provides legislative tracking in all 50 states and the Federal Government. Leaders of both TrakBill and AIM expect this strategic relationship to increase productivity and advocacy efforts. The use of TrakBill’s software empowers users to easily search and receive real-time updates on legislation. In addition, the social media integration will make grassroots advocacy
read more Reminder: AIM partners with TrakBill for legislative tracking
President Obama visits Ford plant in Liberty
President Obama lauded the hard work of Ford Motor Company employees during a speech delivered at the new Ford Motor Company stamping plant near Claycomo Friday. “We bet on the American worker. We bet on you. And today, that bet has paid off because the American auto industry has come roaring back,” said Obama. During his address meant to call attention to the success of the administration’s shoring up of the auto industry and to play up the improving national economy, Obama acknowledged that Ford had stood on its own two feet during times of economic crisis. “Look at what’s going on right here at the plant. The new F-150 is built tougher than ever, more fuel-efficient than ever. You’ve got trouble making them fast enough. You had to bring on a third shift of 900 workers just to keep up with demand,” said Obama Earlier this year, Ford announced it was adding a third shift at the Claycomo plant
Workers’ compensation premiums to rise by nearly 15%
The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has released data recommending workers’ compensation rate increases of 11.6% for Missouri employers. In addition to these rate increases, an additional 3% of work comp premiums will be extracted from employers to pay an increased surcharge for the Second Injury Fund. The recommendation is based on very large claims that were paid in 2011 combined with the impacts of Senate Bill 1 that was passed in the 2013 legislative session. Even worse, these projections do NOT include any increases in rates due to guaranteed payments for toxic exposure diseases that were also contained in Senate Bill 1. “While these amounts are shocking, they do not account for the ‘worst in the nation’ guaranteed payments that will be made due to toxic exposure diseases,” said Ray McCarty, president of Associated Industries of Missouri. “These rate increases are the highest of the states contained in the NCCI report, and it will only get worse for Missouri employers.” The
read more Workers’ compensation premiums to rise by nearly 15%
AIM calls for end to War on Coal
The Obama administration’s War on Coal continues. Friday’s latest volley from the Environmental Protection Agency would require coal-burning utilities to use technologies not even available to capture 40 percent of their carbon-emissions. Even the EPA admits in its proposals that the standards would add 80 percent to the price of electricity generated in coal-fired generating plants. “82 percent of Missouri’s electricity comes from coal-fired generating plants,” said Associated Industries of Missouri president Ray McCarty. “The EPA’s proposed rule will cause electricity bills to increase dramatically, not only for manufacturers, but for all Missouri residents. The implementation of this rule would be an economic disaster.” Friday morning, Senator Roy Blunt took to the floor of the Senate chamber to decry the Obama administration’s latest attempt to end the use of coal as a fuel. “Once again, President Obama is waging war on affordable energy for families and small businesses in states like Missouri,” said Blunt. “Nearly 40 million American families earning
Industrial production up in August
IndustryWeek (9/16, Minter) reported the increase in manufacturing production last month “was ‘welcome news,’” said Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, wrote in NAM’s Shopfloor (9/17) blog. Moutray “noted that gains were ‘fairly broad-based’ and the pace of output ‘appears to be picking up, with year-over-year growth for manufacturers of 2.6%. Overall, manufacturers are seeing a modest acceleration in activity lately, rebounding from slowness in the spring and summer months.’” Reuters (9/16) reports that the Federal Reserve said on Monday that industrial output rose 0.4 percent in August, boosted by a 0.7 percent increase in factory output. Reuters reports that the strong showing is likely to encourage the Fed to ease off of its stimulus policies. The Wall Street Journal (9/16, Sparshott, Subscription Publication) credits the rise in industrial output to an increase in auto and other manufacturing production. Outside of factory production, the other components were mixed – utility output fell 1.5%, while mining rose 0.3%. Bloomberg News (9/17, Jamrisko) reports the rise in
Presentations posted from Missouri Manufacturing Excellence Conference and Tax Cut Rally
We told you last week about the success of the Missouri Manufacturing Excellence Conference and Tax Cut Rally on September 10 and 11 in Jefferson City. This week we begin to make you a part of the experience if you weren’t able to make it. For next couple of weeks, check our YouTube page daily, and we will be posting videos of the presentations by the speakers at the event. So far, we have a presentation on federal Research and Experimentation Tax Credits by Michael Devereux of Mueller Prost PC, and a discussion on the importance of the Common Core educational requirements coming to a school near you with Rick Melmer of The Council of Chief State School Officers.
Missouri to lose out on more than $70 million in tobacco settlement dispute
It appears the state is set to lose about $70 million it had coming from the national tobacco settlement. Attorney General Chris Koster warned legislators in a letter in January that the state could lose a portion of, or all of its share of the settlement because the General Assembly had not passed legislation in the works since before 2003. In 1998, 46 states, including Missouri, agreed to dismiss pending lawsuits against the nation’s largest tobacco manufacturers for the health care costs associated with tobacco in exchange for perpetual payments to the states from the companies in excess of $6 billion per year. Missouri’s share was 2.27%, or about $130 million a year. But not all tobacco product producing companies signed on to the larger agreement. Those companies were to make payments into smaller escrow accounts. Two pieces of legislation were drafted for use in enforcing the escrow agreements with the smaller companies, and most states passed them within a
read more Missouri to lose out on more than $70 million in tobacco settlement dispute
Governor continues hold on state revenues despite HB 253 veto
More than a week since the Missouri House of Representatives upheld Governor Nixon’s veto of House Bill 253, and despite a state budget surplus of more than $330 million, the governor continues to withhold funds from certain projects. At the time of the governor’s veto in June, Nixon announced he was withholding more than $400 million from items in the state budget, including more than $100 million from education, because of what he said were going to be huge state revenue decreases due to the tax cuts contained in House Bill 253. Upon the legislature’s failure to override the governor’s veto, Nixon announced he was releasing $215 million in withholdings, including all the money held back from education. But the governor is hanging on to $185 million for what his budget office terms “budget uncertainty.” “We will keep things restricted until we are more certain that we will have sufficient revenue to fund the budget,” state budget director Linda Luebbering
read more Governor continues hold on state revenues despite HB 253 veto
McCarty looks forward during appearance on The Eagle 93.9 FM in Columbia
In the wake of the legislative defeat of the override on House bill 253, Associated Industries of Missouri president Ray McCarty told radio station The Eagle 93.9 FM in Columbia that he is looking forward to crafting new broad-based tax cutting legislation during the upcoming legislative session. McCarty was a guest on Matt Michael’s 5 pm newscast during the “Focus” segment. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the logo below.
