Tag: Manufacturing

Because of liberal policies, manufacturing over time has had to find other havens where makers of such products as TROPHIES can do so competitively.  The Dems have consistently advocated higher taxes, and unrealistic workplace rules that hamstring domestic manufacturing to the point of closure or relocation.

Fewer makers of wealth and even fewer workers yet.

Yep.

As we have seen recently, the Chinese were subsidized and transferred Battery Technology by Taxpayers through the likes of the MEDC and Federal programs interfering with free markets. It was pretty bad, but ..

It wasn't the first time.

I have been adding to this all week, and have tried to make it as concise as possible, but as more information became available, editing was required.  Let me know if any clarification is needed.

I wrote at the beginning of the month about the coal fired plant in Marquette being threatened by a new and extremely aggressive set of EPA  rules.  The shutdown of that plant of course would leave in question the future of paper mills, and the electrical needs of yoopers.  At least the future of the cost being at all affordable.  The jobs that would be lost as higher costs come to bear also joined by a literal health care crisis as fewer would be insured, and less money in the pockets of those Michiganders would encourage poorer health choices.

Health, of course is the victim of the 'boogeyman' coal fired power industry.  You've seen the ubiquitous American Lung Association "coughing baby" ads supporting the Obama EPA's push to shut down the coal industry, right?  What might surprise you is that those ads are funded in part by Chesapeake Energy, the country's second-largest natural gas producer.

Coming amidst an impending decision by the EPA on the Utility MACT (maximum achievable control technology)  rule that is expected to lead to job loses, plant shutdowns, and rolling blackouts across the country, this strange partnership raises a question.  What does Chesapeake stand to gain, by pouring money into a seemingly disparate organization with extremely different objectives and priorities? Politico writes:

The ads come as the coal industry is at war with the Obama administration over new rules to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants. The EPA is expected to issue new rules on Friday to curb air toxics from power plants, which are estimated to cost industry about $10.9 billion each year.

Stricter rules for power plants are expected to offer a competitive advantage to the cleaner-burning natural gas industry.

I have decided to state my election platform for 2014 if I run for anything at all.

I am not exactly sure which office I should seek, but there is certainly enough here to encourage from our current elected officials.  Talk is really cheap it seems, but if we can move the levers we'll be better for it, and substantive change cannot come from a legislature or governor that has somehow embraced so much of what they despised under the previous Governor. Unless they continue to despise it.

It seems that a crap sandwich tastes better when prepared by Republicans, if one was to look through such things as raised taxes on Gas, Obamacare exchanges, Light Rail, or DRIC/NICT issues.

Not that my opinion is any more valid than those of you who have posted on this already.  In fact I have carefully considered the arguments, and added in the known variables along with best guesses and personal experience.  I rely on your observations as much as my own, however this is one of those times I must respectfully disagree with some of you on the negative impact of the state's new tax policy.

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the Leelanau County Republican party Lincoln dinner with my wife and a great number of friends. Some of those friends are either retired and/or retiring soon, and have a reason to be concerned about higher taxes, the loss of exemptions, and changing tax policy that may directly affect them.  There was no shortage of Republicans present, and many of those were folks one would find in 912 groups, Tea Parties, and other constitution interested organizations.

I believe the Leelanau county chair suggested the numbers involved in the county party were even more than last year.  And last year we had great success in moving the bar back toward conservative government structure with landslide elections both statewide and nationally.

The reason I mention this, is to establish that this group, even while containing a number of "old guard" party types, it was hardly a pushover crowd.  While being a social affair, there is/was still an undeniable no-going-back attitude, and frankly there were enough who had a concern as do many in this forum, that this was not the way to start off.

For the most part, I too could be counted as one who was also troubled about extending tax levels, and elimination of particular exemptions.  My understanding of the MBT going away and the Corporate tax replacement was not yet complete.

After examining the EPA's proposed regulatory framework to limit Ozone to 60 ppb from its current 75 ppb, the Manufacturer's Alliance has presented its estimate of impact on Jobs and the economy.  Their initial impact assessment shows:

• The annual attainment cost is estimated to be $1.013 trillion between 2020 and 2030 (in 2010 dollars). This is equivalent to 5.4 percent of projected constant dollar gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020. The present value of attainment costs over this period amounts to $7.1 trillion (based on a discount rate of 7 percent).
  
• GDP would be reduced by $676.8 billion in 2020 (in 2010 dollars), an amount that represents 3.6 percent of projected 2020 GDP in the baseline case.
  
• Together, annual attainment costs and reduced GDP in 2020 total $1.7 trillion.
  
• Total U.S. job losses attributable to a 60 ppb ozone standard are estimated to rise to 7.3 million by 2020, a figure that is equal to 4.3 percent of the projected 2020 labor force.
  
• The marginal cost of attaining the primary ozone standard rises rapidly as the ozone standard becomes more stringent.

Governor Granholm has been in lock step with this type of green activism by the executive types, and has eagerly supported the damaging eco-legislation by congress for years. In fact I believe the term "blown away" refers to the results of her posture on manufacturing, which was once upon a time THE Domain of Michigan entrepreneurial activity.

Michigan conservative Congressional hopefuls need to strap on the koohonies if they don't come naturally however.  About the ONLY WAY to stop this damaging process, is to A. Get elected, and B. Agree to DE-FUND the EPA in its entirety.  Take away its money 100%.  Eliminate its ability to survive and act. Destroy it.