Manufacturers push President Bush for blue-ribbon panel

The National Association of Manufacturers recently launched a strategy for economic growth and manufacturing renewal in response to sluggish recovery from the recession.

Manufacturing lags behind the rest of the economy and its recovery from recession at 1.7 percent, compared to an average 10.2 percent surge in manufacturing output after the previous six recessions.

The association's board of directors adopted a resolution addressing the need for broader public awareness of the industry and the challenges it faces. The resolution urges President Bush to appoint an interdisciplinary and inter-departmental Blue Ribbon Commission "to propose a strategy and plan of action for the federal government to complement private sector actions to effectively sustain U.S. leadership at the top of global competitiveness."

Archie Dunham, chairman of the association, said the manufacturing industry has lost jobs for 30 consecutive months. With the loss of these jobs, the industry risks losing critical skills associated with them.

"Our manufacturing workers are the most sophisticated workers in the world," Dunham said. "Manufacturing workers earn good pay and benefits and are the heartier of the middle class. The loss of manufacturing jobs is a disturbing trend with ominous implications for the future of our country."

Jerry Jasinowski, president of the association, said that President Bush's proposals to accelerate individual rate cuts, increase capital investment expensing for small companies, and end the taxation of dividends will raise growth and help manufacturing.

The goal of the association's efforts, Jasinowski said, is to raise pubic awareness of the value of the nation's manufacturing industry and to replace a generation of retiring manufacturing workers. He said that too many Americans don't see the connection between manufacturing and economic growth.

"They think manufacturing is done elsewhere and has no bearing on their well being," he said. "We're about to lose an older generation of manufacturing workers, but our young people have little interest in taking their place. We need to make a compelling case to attract bright young people to careers in manufacturing."

Based in Washington, D.C., The National Association of Manufacturers represents 14,000 members and 350 member associations serving both manufacturers and employees.