Election 2012

The November election is being closely followed by manufacturers as scores of critical issues, from regulatory policy to health care to tax rates, could be determined by the outcome of the election. Visit this page for ongoing election coverage of the Obama and Romney campaigns, Congressional races and the issues most important to the manufacturing community.

Blog Entries
- Nov. 7, 2012
  
  blog
  
  Come Together
  
  After months of being bombarded by political messages pointing out differences, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons called for Americans to come together after President Obama's re-election. "There is much work ahead of us, and manufacturers are ready to help the president and all elected leaders succeed in turning our economy around," Timmons said. "After all, it is time for our nation to heal and for Americans to come together.”...More
- Nov. 6, 2012
  
  blog
  
  Six Issues Employers Should Be Thinking About After the Election
  
  Glad the election season is almost over? Well, it's not time to relax yet. In fact, employers will be confronting a number of important matters no matter who wins today's vote....More
- Oct. 21, 2012
  
  blog
  
  America's Great Dilemma
  
  If you listen to the rhetoric from the candidates one regularly hears such hyperbolic phrases as “the most important election in a generation”; “the future of the country is at stake”; and, currently my favorite, “we may not survive if ‘X’ or ‘Y’ is elected”....More
- Oct. 4, 2012
  
  blog
  
  Election 2012: The Day After the Debate
  
  Decision time approaches for fiscal budget reform....More
- Oct. 2, 2012
  
  blog
  
  Going to Bat for a VAT 2
  
  At the NE Ohio Summit on the Revitalization of Manufacturers, several speakers say the U.S. should impose a value-added tax (VAT) as a way to help level the playing field in trade....More
- Sep. 19, 2012
  
  blog
  
  Can Stalled Government Regulations Cause Job Loss in Manufacturing?
  
  Unfortunately, the answer is yes; at least according to Siemens AG. Yesterday DesMoinesRegister.com reported that Siemens announced it will lay off 407 of the 660 workers at its blade manufacturing plant in Fort Madison, Iowa....More
- Sep. 18, 2012
  
  blog
  
  Five Rules for Political Talk in the Workplace
  
  We've all had that annoying coworker who can't shut up about his or her favorite candidate. While political discussions are an inevitable part of normal social interaction, excessive partisan banter or even campaigning can become a major distraction in the workplace....More
- Sep. 7, 2012
  
  blog
  
  The Election, Capitalism, and Democracy
  
  As we are each capitalists and democrats, it seems fitting to look at some compelling notions surrounding how capitalism and democracy work -- or don’t work so well -- with each other....More
Features
- Nov. 24, 2012
  
  Commentary
  
  The Election's Impact on Employers
  
  As the election dust settles, it appears that the results will be a mixed bag for both industry and organized labor....More
- Nov. 14, 2012
  
  Infographic
  
  Election 2012: Social Media Viewed as Critical to Obama Victory
  
  Data in this infographic suggests that social media strategy propelled President Barack Obama to victory over Republican challenger Mitt Romney....More
- Oct. 23, 2012
  
  News
  
  IndustryWeek
  
  With their Jobs Headed to China, Factory Workers Camp at 'Bainport' to Focus Attention on Offshoring
  
  For more than a month, workers have been occupying a tent city at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds, just across the street from their former employer: Sensata Technologies Inc., which is in the process of shuttering its Freeport, Ill., plant and moving production to China....More
- Oct. 2, 2012
  
  News
  
  IndustryWeek
  
  Election 2012: Metals Industry Execs Say High Taxes, Regulations Disadvantage US Companies
  
  Timken VP urges manufacturers to form a united voice to drive policy changes....More
- Sep. 28, 2012
  
  Commentary
  
  Obama and Romney on China: Who’s Lying?
  
  The upcoming presidential debates are going to be the last serious chance for Romney and Obama to put some serious meat on their rival claims to be trade hawks....More
- Sep. 27, 2012
  
  News
  
  IndustryWeek
  
  'Dirty Jobs' Host Mike Rowe Hits the Campaign Trail ... and Stumps for Manufacturing
  
  Rowe appeared at a Mitt Romney rally in Cleveland, but he wasn't there to endorse Romney or to bash President Obama....More
- Aug. 2, 2012
  
  Article
  
  IndustryWeek
  
  IT's Message to Obama, Romney: Focus on Technology
  
  Survey shows need for renewed focus on technology and innovation to maintain U.S. competitiveness....More

News
- Nov. 13, 2012
  
  News
  
  IndustryWeek
  
  In the 2012 Campaign, the Factory Floor Becomes a Star
  
  More than 975,000 mentions were made in presidential TV advertising about jobs, outsourcing, and trade generally or specifically involving China, according to a report released today by Kantar Media’s Campaign Media Analysis Group (CMAG) conducted for the AAM....More
- Nov. 7, 2012
  
  News
  
  Re-elected Obama Faces Countdown to Fiscal Cliff
  
  Barack Obama's re-election as U.S. president set the stage Wednesday for a fresh political battle over the year-end "fiscal cliff" budget crunch which threatens to force the economy back to recession....More
- Nov. 1, 2012
  
  News
  
  Silicon Valley's Heart Still with Obama But its Eyes Stray
  
  A political gap between hip programmers and the conservative executives of the companies they serve splits the classically left-leaning industry as we gear up for the election....More
- Oct. 31, 2012
  
  News
  
  Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne Slams Mitt Romney for 'Inaccurate' Jeep Ad
  
  Airing in the critical battleground of Ohio, the ad implies that Jeep is shipping American jobs to China as a result of President Barack Obama's policies....More
- Oct. 19, 2012
  
  News
  
  China Backs Suit against Obama over Blocked Wind Farm Deal
  
  Chinese commerce ministry is 'highly concerned' about U.S. rejection of the Butter Creek project, hopes for fair treatment in the Ralls Corp. suit....More
- Oct. 9, 2012
  
  News
  
  IndustryWeek
  
  Obama Administration Announces $20 Million in Grants to Support U.S. Manufacturing Clusters 1
  
  The Obama administration today announced that 10 public-private partnerships across America will receive $20 million in total awards to help revitalize American manufacturing and encourage companies to invest in the United States....More
- Oct. 2, 2012
  
  News
  
  IndustryWeek
  
  Election 2012: Metals Industry Execs Say High Taxes, Regulations Disadvantage US Companies
  
  Timken VP urges manufacturers to form a united voice to drive policy changes....More
- Sep. 26, 2012
  
  News
  
  IndustryWeek
  
  Romney on the Factory Floor: Manufacturers Fret over Skills Gap, Obamacare, China During Panel Discussion 2
  
  The Republican's presidential campaign on Wednesday took him to American Spring Wire Corp. in Bedford Heights, Ohio, where manufacturing was at the top of the agenda....More
- Sep. 25, 2012
  
  News
  
  Workers at Sensata Technologies Beg Romney to Stop Latest Bain Outsourcing
  
  "We'd like Mitt Romney to come to Freeport, see what this is doing to this community, and contact his friends that run Bain Capital and say 'this is absolutely the wrong thing to do' and save our jobs," worker said....More
- Sep. 25, 2012
  
  News
  
  US Unveils 'Make it in America' Contest
  
  Challenge seeks projects designed to encourage insourcing, either through on-shoring of productive activity by U.S. firms, fostering increased foreign investment into the United States, or incentivizing U.S. companies to keep their businesses and jobs at home....More
- Sep. 17, 2012
  
  News
  
  China Provides Illegal Automotive Subsidies, US Charges in WTO Complaint
  
  Washington accused China of providing at least $1 billion in illegal subsidies to Chinese auto and auto parts exporters over 2009-2011, helping them beat U.S. manufacturers in the huge U.S. market....More
- Sep. 14, 2012
  
  News
  
  Romney: Fed's QE3 Stimulus Just a 'Sugar High'
  
  US presidential candidate says Fed's first two rounds of quantitative easing have not produced results....More
- Sep. 13, 2012
  
  News
  
  US Says China Yuan Undervalued as Romney Presses
  
  Ambassador Gary Locke says China has made ‘substantial progress’ but more work is necessary....More
- Aug. 23, 2012
  
  News
  
  Romney Sees More Oil Drilling on US Land and Offshore
  
  Candidate calls for easing of regulations that restrict drilling on federal and offshore areas....More