We’ve posted a bunch of information on here over the last few weeks about the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the economy — and on manufacturing, to the extent we can gauge it — but here’s the latest. Dave Huether, the NAM’s Chief Economist testified last week before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. You’ll find some good stuff in here, both specific to manufacturing and some more macro stuff on Katrina’s expected impact on the economy down the road.

Click here to download a copy of the testimony.

If you’re a manufacturer interested in more business and interested in getting into other international markets (remember we’re the largest exporters), you are welcome to take part in our webinar on this topic on Tuesday at 1 p.m. It is free and is sponsored by Pembroke Consulting, Phoenix Consulting and Pilot Hedge.

Here’s a link to the description of the upcoming webinar and click here to register.

Yikes! Did we just say that…?

The Post continued its support of all things Roberts — and disdain for all partisan hijinx related to the nomination — in an excellent editorial Saturday entitled, “The Right Vote“. They credit the 3 Judiciary Committee Democrats — Leahy, Feingold and Kohl — for supporting the Roberts nomination, while noting that it shouldn’t be necessary to praise them for doing so. “Supporting overwhelmingly qualified members of the opposite party for the Supreme Court,” says the Post, “Used to be the norm, not an act of courage.” They go on to observe — and lament — that “liberal groups” have already announced their opposition to the next nominee, as the Post says, “regardless of qualifications, temperament or testimony.”

As the Roberts’ nomination moves to the full Senate floor this week, let’s hope more Senators heed the Post’s words and put partisan politics aside in the interest of a qualified nominee.

And, if you haven’t already weighed in with your Senators, please do so by clicking here.

Here’s a shout-out to Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). Although she’s still undecided on the John Roberts’ nomination, we hope she’ll join Arkansas’ other Senator, Mark Pryor (D) in supporing Roberts.

No, the reason for the kudos today is that she gave the Democratic response to the President’s weekly radio address today. In it she said that “A renewed spirit of public service may be the greatest legacy of the destructive back-to-back Gulf Coast hurricanes”, concluding that the hurricanes will unify the country.

It seems that the evidence is plentiful of people banding together from all walks of life to work in unity to rebuild — that is, everywhere but in Washington. “In the end,” she said, “We must let that renewed spirit of selfless service be Katrina and Rita’s greatest legacy.”

We not only applaud her optimism, we echo her hope. As for Washington, the Hurricane will most certainly pull us together — unless, of course, it splits us apart.

With the confirmation of John Roberts to the Supreme Court inching toward certainty, hurricane recovery legislation will likely dominate the congressional agenda for the next few weeks. But there are other important pieces of legislation in the works, too, and a pair of Capitol Hill correspondents will tell us about them. Then, the “Factory Floor” segment introduces us to the new executive director of the American Small Manufacturers’ Coalition. Also, last Sunday’s indecisive election in Germany raises many questions about leadership and needed economic reforms in that country. A German journalist joins us with analysis of what it all means. Then finally, Congressman Charlie Norwood of Georgia makes a passionate case for his “secret ballot protection act” he says his bill would eliminate intimidation by union organizers. More on that topic to come this week.

Remember it’s available in Podcast for those of you hip enough to know what that is. If not, don’t worry, it’s available to listen just with your ears by clicking here.

Not sure if you saw this AP story by Ken Thomas — it ran in a bunch of papers this week, profiling NAM President John Engler. The “hook” for the story is our involvement — thanks to Engler’s initiative — in the Supreme Court nominations, an involvement that has turned out very well indeed. The story meanders from there into other territory but for those of us who work with him every day, we’d say it captures him pretty well. It’s a good article, a good read.

Click here to check it out.

Due to the explosion of political activity on the web (if you’re reading this, you’re a part of it), a federal court ordered the Federal Election Commission to draft regulations that would expand campaign finance rules to the Internet.

On Thursday, the House Committee on Administration held a hearing on the topic, inviting some leading bloggers to testify. RedState blogger, and one of the leaders in the blogosphere, Mike Krempasky testified on behalf of less regulation, arguing that at the end of the day, more regulation will obviously limit discourse. As Mike said in his report on RedState: “I think that those who support less regulation got the best of the day.” Let’s hope so.

Here’s a link to Mike’s testimony and here’s a link to a webcast (of course) of the hearing.

There are few manufactured products that are as identified with Americana as Campbell’s Soup. The distinct and omnipresent red-and-white can has been Andy Warhol-ized into icon status. Better still, the ingredients hold indelible memories for all of us, whether chicken noodle, alphabet, or the mushroom that mom used to dump on just about anything to pretty it up. Growing up, what cold winter day would be complete without a bowl of Campbell Soup?

Well, the stuff doesn’t grow on trees and it doesn’t make itself. It comes at the end of a very long process, from the farms to your bowl. This 13-minute video profiles the making of potato soup, from the pomme-de-terre out of the earth to the can rolling off the line. The manufacturing begins in earnest at about the 4 minute, 30 second mark, but the journey to there is fun and interesting as well.

So once again, sit back, maybe open a can of Campbell Soup and enjoy our Saturday Video.

OK, so today, Judge Roberts’ nomination was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee not along party lines, but rather in a fairly lopsided 13 to 5 vote, in the face of overwhelming public support for his confirmation. Some Senators are reading the polls, some are shoring up their base. Democratic Senators Leahy, Kohl and Feingold joined all the panel Republicans in supporting the nomination. (Don’t forget to weigh in with your Senators on this most important vote, likely next week.)

Also tonight, Sen. Clinton announced her opposition to Roberts. In a statement that praises his “intellect, character and legal skills” she concludes that she just can’t bring herself to vote for him. She acknowledges that he’ll likely be confirmed, which is all the more puzzling why she’d use up this bullet at this time. By doing so, she joins a cadre of the most liberal Senators, including two failed Presidential candidates, Kennedy and Kerry. An interesting (if not a bit puzzling) move on her part. Why wouldn’t she join the bandwagon here, move to the center and live to fight the next nominee?

Congrats again to Senator Specter who did just a masterful job as Judiciary Committee Chairman, fighting against some enormous personal odds, herding all the cats, ruling with an iron but gentle fist, shepherding through the confirmation of the next Chief Justice of the United States.

While the mainstream media (MSM) tells you what they want you to hear, the power of the blogosphere is that we deliver the news you need to know, that the MSM will ignore. Case in point: In a study released today by the American Society of Microbiology in honor of “Clean Hands Week“, researchers found that while 91% of all adults said they always wash their hands after using public restrooms, just 83 percent were observed doing so. “Observed”, as in “secretly”. God knows what else they saw. A few whoppers from the study:

– Of the 83% of washers, a gender gap emerged: 90% of women washed their hands while only 75% of men did.
– The gender gap was greatest in New York’s Penn Station (running to catch a train….?) where 92% of women washed their hands compared to only 64% of men.
– The cleanest place was San Francisco’s Ferry Terminal Farmers Market, where 88% of all people washed their hands.
– The worst (dare we say “dirtiest”?) place was Atlanta’s Turner Field – named for Braves Owner and CNN founder Ted Turner — where a full 37% of men did not wash their hands. Ick.

Would anyone care to comment on any of this? Ought there not be a Bipartisan Commission?