A press release (11/5) carries NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons’ statement on the results of the 2014 midterm election. Timmons writes that “manufacturers were engaged in this election more than ever before” by supporting the NAM’s Political Action Committee, educating voters via the NAM Election center, and “delivering boots on the ground in critical states” through the NAM’s travel teams. Manufacturers “showed up in force and spoke as one voice in support of” pro-manufacturing candidates and policies. Timmons writes that “now, it’s time to govern,” and manufacturers are “asking our elected officials to just solve problems: extend important tax policies, such as the R&D tax credit; make comprehensive tax reform happen; fix our nation’s broken immigration system; stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s assault on American energy security; invest in our aging infrastructure; pass a long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank; move Trade Promotion Authority; and enact regulatory reform to name just some of the issues that need immediate action.” He closes saying that “Manufacturing in the United States has come back…but we need Washington working again to get America on the right track.”
The Business Journals (11/5) report that now that the GOP has won control of Congress, business groups will want the new lawmakers to act on “legislation that’s been left hanging,” such as extending expired tax breaks and creating new trade deals. NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said, “Now it is time to govern. Manufacturers in the United States are growing the economy, but we can’t do it alone. We’re asking our elected officials to just solve problems.” Timmons noted that the NAM would like to see Congress “make comprehensive tax reform happen” and “fix our nation’s broken immigration system.”
On Wake Of Election, Business Groups Optimistic About Tax Reform Prospects. In a front-page article titled, “Businesses See Hope For Stalled Agenda After Midterm Elections: Corporate Taxes, Immigration, Trade and Energy Have Eluded Breakthroughs,” the Wall Street Journal (11/5, Mckinnon, Peterson, Mauldin, Subscription Publication) reports that business lobbies have hopes that legislation including tax reforms and trade deals pass both the House and Senate as a result of Tuesday’s election. NAM Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations Aric Newhouse said, “What we hope the next Congress will do is focus on policies that drive competitiveness and drive growth.”
The New York Times (11/5, Subscription Publication) Morning Agenda reports that the GOP victory means that business “is looking to see changes to the corporate tax code, immigration, international trade, energy and health care.” NAM’s Aric Newhouse told the Wall Street Journal, “What we hope the next Congress will do is focus on policies that drive competitiveness and drive growth.”