An ad in Minnesota sponsored by the Coalition for a Democratic Workforce, which the NAM helps to lead, is creating quite a buzz at the GOP Convention in the Twin Cities. The ad effectively points out that Senator Norm Coleman has been a staunch supporter of protecting the secret ballot in Union elections, while his Democratic opponent, Al Franken, certainly is not. (For the coalition’s Minnesota microsite, go here.)

The secret ballot issue (also known as “card check”) was a hot topic at a reception sponsored by McGuireWoods Consulting. Former Virginia Governor and Senator George Allen was on hand. He is an articulate and passionate advocate of protecting the privacy of a worker’s ballot in union elections. A key spokesman on the issue, Governor Allen believes the issue will resonate with voters all across the country this November.

My long-time friend Mike Thomas, an executive with McGuireWoods, told me the secret ballot issue is reverberating around the Old Dominion like few others he has seen. Makes sense, since Virginia considers itself the Cradle of Democracy in the New World.

Virginia Republican Senate candidate Jim Gilmore, also in attendance, noted he has become aware that the card check issue is emerging as an issue in Congress and that he is a strong opponent of the card check legislation.

AFL-CIO Big Labor Bosses in Denver last week declared they will spend over $50 million to advance candidates who pledge to end the secret ballot in union elections and other Big Labor priorities. That’s why the NAM and many other business associations are working hard to defeat this misguided legislation. Its defeat will remain a key priority for manufacturers and the 14 million workers we represent in the next Congress.

(NAM Executive Vice President Jay Timmons has been blogging from both the Democratic Convention in Denver and the Republican Convention in St. Paul. He brings not just expertise as trade association leader, but also as the former executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and chief of staff for Senator Allen, both during his time in Congress and as Virginia’s governor.)

(NAM Executive Vice President Jay Timmons is blogging from the Republican National Convention this week in St. Paul, Minn., following up on his reports from the Democratic Convention last week in Denver.)

John McCain’s Senate colleague from Arizona, Jon Kyl, was appropriately honored at a reception yesterday in Minneapolis. The second-ranking Senate Republican, Kyl is an economic stalwart who truly understands the importance of lower taxes, limited regulation and strong energy policy to economic growth and job creation.

He remains steadfast in insisting that the tax extender legislation be completed before Congress leaves town for the year and that they not contain tax increases. This legislative package is tremendously important for manufacturers as it includes energy efficiency, R&D tax credit and international provisions that will help protect and grow jobs. These provisions need to be passed before Congress adjourns and we are hopeful that a bipartisan agreement can be reached that does so without offsetting tax increases.

(NAM Executive Vice President Jay Timmons is blogging from the Republican National Convention this week in St. Paul, Minn., following up on his reports from the Democratic Convention last week in Denver.)

The NAM crew visited the Bipartisan Policy Center event, of which we were a sponsor. Just as in Denver, this event was evidence that those on different sides of the political aisle can work together to achieve positive results.

Respect goes a long way in Washington, and it’s something that is lacking in the nation’s capital these days. But two former political opponents attending the reception were reminders that it is possible to regain that spirit of cooperation.

Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-KS) and former House Agriculture Chairman Dan Glickman (D-KS) were both on hand. Glickman is now CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America and we talked about how difficult it has become to get things done in DC now because of the partisan tenor. He noted that wasn’t always so, and that he believed in days past there was much more honor in the political process. “The Democrats always wanted me to run against Bob Dole,” he told me. “But I just couldn’t do it. He was a friend, I respected him, and he was just really good for the state.”

The ability to work with both sides of the political aisle and help educate Republicans and Democrats alike of the impact of their legislative initiatives on real people in the real world separates the NAM from some other organizations. Because in reality, no one who seeks public office intends to do harm to the economy or lose American jobs. But sometimes they just don’t realize the unintended consequences their actions might create.

(NAM Executive Vice President Jay Timmons is blogging from the Republican National Convention this week in St. Paul, Minn., following up on his reports from the Democratic Convention last week in Denver.)

Had lunch with an old friend, Mark Buse, John McCain’s Chief of Staff in the Senate. As might be expected at the McCain nominating convention, Mark had to balance the bites of food in front of him, with calls from his boss.

Mark is someone who knows John McCain well – he first started working for then-Congressman McCain in 1984. Although he went into business for himself four years ago, the Senator called Mark back into public service earlier this year when he named him Chief. Prior to his stint in the private sector, Mark was the staff director of the Senate Commerce Committee where he worked with the Senator to advance common sense economic policy that promoted competition and growth.

My conversation with Mark reminded me that John McCain has a knack for surrounding himself with competent and knowledgeable folks. In addition to Mark, Rick Davis – the manager of the presidential campaign – has been a long-time loyalist of McCain. And the senior strategist Senator McCain recently brought on board – Steve Schmidt – is well-known as one of the most skilled and savvy campaign professionals in the country.

Most notable, in a town where long-term employment is often defined as anything exceeding 12 months, and relationships are too many times merely transactional, loyalty is a premium. John McCain hires well, and his team is known for their devotion and loyalty to him. That speaks volumes.

(NAM Executive Vice President Jay Timmons is blogging from the Republican National Convention this week in St. Paul, Minn., following up on his reports from the Democratic Convention last week in Denver.)

Rising health care costs are at the top of most manufacturers’ list of concerns.

NAM member Eli Lilly sponsored a health care policy discussion at the GOP Convention in conjunction with Creative Coalition with a focus on diabetes.  Olympic medalist (1996, 2000 and 2004) Gary Hall, Jr. detailed the challenges he faced when he was diagnosed after his first Olympic competition. Innovative research and life saving medications as manufactured by Lilly make a difference every day.

Our nation’s policymakers can keep medical progress moving forward with their legislative decisions.  A permanent R&D tax credit is an obvious step in the right direction.

(NAM Executive Vice President Jay Timmons blogged last week from the Democratic Convention in Denver, and this week he contributes his observations from the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.)

With Hurricane Gustav bearing down on New Orleans, the entire tenor of the 2008 Republican Convention has changed.  Already dedicated to “service,” the focus of convention activities is now on how attendees, and all Americans, can assist in easing the fallout of the storm.

Many events are still on the schedule, but instead of celebrations and parties, organizers are instead turning them into fundraisers for charitable causes that will assist potential victims in the Gulf region.  Discussions on how to change the direction and focus of convention activities began on Saturday as the storm gathered strength and appeared to be on a path similar to the 2005 Hurricane Katrina.  On the way into a Saturday reception honoring the CEO of the convention, Maria Cino, ABC News (Brian Ross reporting) was attempting to unfairly denigrate attendees prior to the storm.  When asked if it was appropriate to attend such an event two days before the storm had reached land, I responded “I think if the hurricane hits New Orleans there will definitely be a lot of change of plans.”

And change there has been.  Those who know Maria Cino know she is one of the few professionals who could turn around years of planning on a dime.  The official session today has been shortened to focus on the mandatory business of the convention (democracy must proceed and the party must nominate its candidate in order for him to appear on the ballot in November) and to hear appeals from First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain for assistance for those in harm’s way. President Bush and Vice President Cheney, who were both scheduled to address the convention today, instead focused on the hurricane, working with State and local officials and deploying FEMA resources prior to impact.

As a member of the American Red Cross National Capital Area Board of Directors, I have been working with organizers of some events to help them change the focus and make them opportunities to raise funds for the Red Cross, which is the first to respond in a natural disaster.  Volunteers who had come to Minneapolis to party are now assembling relief packages that will be soon shipped to the impacted area.

It’s the right thing to do and Republican convention officials and the McCain campaign have responded admirably to a difficult situation.

(Bumped to the top: NAM’s executive vice president, Jay Timmons, has been blogging this week from the National Democratic Convention in Denver. Today, Timmons reacts to Sen. John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, drawing on his experience as the former executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Comimttee.)

While the pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was a surprise to many, it was clearly a calculated move by Senator John McCain to also make history in this year’s election. A trailblazer for women, she could be an attractive alternative for those who had believed Hillary Clinton would have been the strongest pick for Barack Obama.

Governor Palin, a star of pro-life party members, will help ease the concerns of social conservatives who were worried McCain would choose a pro-choice Republican (or Democrat) to be his second in command. She is a strong executive (the only candidate for President or Vice President this year who has such experience) and does not shy from difficult decisions. She won admiration from her fellow Alaskans when she returned to the job of Governor last year just three days after giving birth to her fifth child.

She has adhered to a fairly conservative fiscal policy as well (although Alaska has quirky budgetary provisions). On energy, Governor Palin could be helpful in convincing Senator McCain to support development on the north slope of Alaska near ANWR.

No stranger to talking tough challenges, she defeated an incumbent Governor – a fellow Republican – in the 2006 gubernatorial primary. This was the same Governor who appointed her to head an agency in his administration, a job she later resigned in protest over her concern that ethical standards were not being followed.

The Governor is an incredibly engaging public official and will be a strong advocate for a McCain presidency on the trail. In 2004, I sat down with her in a local restaurant near Wasilla, Alaska, to discuss her interest in running for the U.S. Senate against fellow Republican and incumbent Lisa Murkowski. Armed with polling information and precinct data, I was prepared to discuss her thoughts on whether she could win the race. She was only interested in talking about how she thought she could make an impact on national public policy – a focus on fiscal discipline, lower taxes on working Americans and strong support for the military and exporting freedom.

I was thoroughly impressed. And Americans are likely to be impressed with her story and record as well. John McCain has chosen wisely.

(Note: NAM’s Executive Vice President Jay Timmons is blogging from the National Democratic Convention in Denver this week.)

The gavel has come down on the 2008 Democratic Convention. The parties have ended and the work begins in earnest for Democrats.

Tomorrow, Senator Obama will enter the final stretch of the 2008 campaign. It’s time to focus on the future and to leave the partisan speeches in Denver. It’s time to talk about:

• energy policies that increase domestic supply and promote alternatives
• lower taxes for all working Americans and their employers
• free trade policies that expand international markets for U.S. products
• protecting the secret ballot in union elections
• improving crumbling infrastructure to get our country moving again

It’s been an honor for the NAM team to attend the Democratic convention to promote manufacturing and the nearly 14 million men and women who work in manufacturing. Soon it will be the Republican’s turn on stage, and the NAM will be present in Minneapolis promoting the same common sense solutions to improve our economy, create jobs and improve the American quality of life. (NAM Policies.)

This year, let’s hold the nominees for President, Senate and the House to the highest standard possible. We need to ignore the predictable campaign rhetoric, reject the urge to be intrigued by the typical “gotchas” the media is sure to report, and look beyond the 30 second campaign commercials. We have an obligation to ask the candidates to outline their specific plans to improve America. Because when the music ends and the banners are folded, it is the philosophy, principles and policies of our elected officials that truly matter to real people in the real world.

(Note: NAM’s Executive Vice President Jay Timmons is blogging from the National Democratic Convention in Denver this week.)

Most Americans can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when a major historical moment occurs. I remember my precise location when I heard the joyous news that the Iranian hostages had been freed and a few months later the horrific report that President Reagan had been shot. I don’t think I’ve met another American who can forget where they were when the Twin Towers fell.

If you happen to see Tiffany Adams, NAM’s Vice President for Public Affairs, in about a quarter of a century, ask her about today – August 28, 2008 – and what she was doing. I’m looking at her right now, bounding to her feet at Invesco Field with 70,000 others who are screaming at the tops of their lungs. I guarantee Tiffany will never forget this moment, and if you know her, you know she will be more than willing to tell you about it!

A pro-business Democrat, Tiffany is a highly respected trade association professional in Washington and is responsible for organizing the hundreds of dialogues that the NAM sponsors between manufacturing workers and their Representatives and Senators. As a black American, she understands that today – 45 years to the day that Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous speech – the King Dream is reaching a new pinnacle. Tiffany is proud and excited. And the tears flowing down her cheeks are clearly tears of jubilation.

The crowd was in rapt attention when the Senator said “Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story – of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to. It is that promise that has always set this country apart – that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well.”

And so it is for millions of others who thought this day might never come. Americans revere history and they respect those who make it. Barack Obama deserves the respect of all Americans on this day.

In future days, the NAM stands ready to assist him in strengthening America, whether he is elected President or continues to serve the people of Illinois in the Senate.

Al Gore spoke to the crowd.  He seems to still be reliving the fact that Americans turned him away eight years ago. Really sir, it’s time to move on.