Manufacturers know that the future of their industry and their ability to compete in a global marketplace is tied closely to the deployment of new broadband lines and high-speed wireless data services across the United States and we need an environment that encourages innovation and investment in these critical areas.  That’s why manufacturers are concerned that the rules approved today by the Federal Communications Commission could inject more uncertainty into broadband policy and have a chilling impact on investment.

NAM members strongly agree with the statement by Commissioner Baker that “Preserving the open Internet is non-negotiable; it is a bedrock principle shared by all in the Internet economy, a building block on which we can all agree.”  

We also share Commissioner Baker’s concern about intervening “in the one sector of the economy that is working so well to create high-paying jobs, untold consumer choice, and entrepreneurial opportunity.”

As we’ve said many times before, Congress, not the regulators, needs to step in and adopt a comprehensive broadband policy aimed at the deployment of services, open access and smart resource allocation , including policies that:

• Remove barriers to entry that prevent broadband providers from offering high-speed information services to homes and businesses;
• Balance the need for regulations against the potential to dampen private industry’s incentive to invest in broadband technology;
• Encourage federal and state regulators to monitor the rollout of broadband services;
• Support a federal framework to ensure fair, technology-neutral competition for all providers; and
• Allow for the continued public/private collaboration to improve the security of the network through incentive-based legislative and regulatory tools.

From The Business Roundtable, “Business Roundtable Names John Engler President“:

Washington – Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies, today announced that it has named former Gov. John Engler as its President, effective January 15, 2011.  

Engler currently is President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the largest manufacturing association in the U.S. A former three-term governor of Michigan, Engler has been NAM president since October 1, 2004.  

As NAM president, Engler has been a leading advocate for the nearly 12 million Americans employed directly in manufacturing, educating the public and policymakers on issues that affect this critical sector of the U.S. economy. Under Engler, the NAM has had unprecedented growth and has boosted its dues revenues by 28 percent.  

“As a Governor, John forged progressive public policy. As the NAM’s President, he has been an effective, articulate spokesman for manufacturing. He has championed U.S. competitiveness around the world – often working arm-in-arm with Business Roundtable – and has tirelessly advocated policies that create jobs in the U.S. Respected in Washington on both sides of the aisle, John has spurred NAM to grow in both size and influence, even as its members faced difficult economic times. His leadership skills, policy expertise and broad background in both the public and private sectors uniquely qualify him to be BRT’s new president. We’re thrilled that John is joining BRT at this important moment for American businesses,” said Ivan G. Seidenberg, Chairman of Business Roundtable and Chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications.   (continue reading…)

A nice story to cross our screen at 2 a.m., the Lincoln Journal-Star profiling Tony Raimondo, a longtime member of the board of directors of the National Association of Manufacturers. From “Tony Raimondo: Opportunity creates jobs“:

Behlen, this Nebraska manufacturing success story he helped save and rewrite, is working its way back from a punishing recession.

“We’ve been on a roller coaster,” he says.

A work force that once numbered 1,100 is 850 today. The reduction includes 180 employees who were shed when Behlen sold one of its companies a month before the recession took hold.

“I can’t tell you how hard it is to run a company in a recession,” Raimondo says. “But my sons kept it in the black.

“And my gut tells me this is beginning to solidify now.”

Behlen Mfg. Co. is a metal fabricator of livestock equipment, metal buildings and grain bins.

Jay Timmons, executive vice president of the National Association of Manufacturers, discusses election night results. See the video here, and for more visit youtube.com/namvideo.

That’s Christian Moritz shooting the video.

For updates on key races, visit the NAM’s Election Center.

UPDATE (1:05 a.m.): From Dow-Jones, “US Manufacturers Embrace Election Results“:

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. manufacturers are embracing the results of Tuesday’s midterm election, claiming several winning candidates as allies on energy, health care, economic and tax policy.

“The early results are looking like it’s a very good night for manufacturers and our priorities,” said National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President Jay Timmons on a 9:30 p.m. conference call with reporters, held shortly after Republicans were projected to win control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Still, he said the election results aren’t surprising given the nation’s frustration with the weak labor market. The unemployment rate was “key” in deciding a lot of these races, he said. He added that Congress should interpret the election results as a clear indication that significantly more needs to be done to fix the labor market.

“The focus…is going to need to be on jobs,” said Timmons.

With North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven elected to the U.S. Senate, Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple will take over the governor’s chair. He’s a farmer and former legislator — heck of a House Appropriations Committee chairman — and will now become the fifth governor to hail from Casselton.

We’ll highlight his manufacturing chops here at Shopfloor. From his bio:

Dalrymple is a nationally recognized leader in value-added agriculture. He was the founding board chairman of Carrington-based Dakota Growers Pasta Company, the third-largest manufacturer and marketer of dry pasta products in North America. His work in helping to found the company earned him the 2007 Ernst and Young Midwest “Master Entrepreneur of the Year” Award. Dalrymple serves as chairman of the North Dakota Trade Office and is past chairman of the National Lieutenant Governors Association.

Semolina has no finer advocate. Congrats, Jack!

Gov. John Hoeven (R-ND) has already been declared the winner in the U.S. Senate race to succeed Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND). His victory represents a monumental shift in the North Dakota political landscape, as he becomes the first Republican to serve in the U.S. Senate from the state since Sen. Mark Andrews lost election in 1986.

Your blogger worked as press secretary on Hoeven’s first campaign for governor in 2000, and he’s the most focused candidate and elected official we’ve ever encountered. Good thing for North Dakota and now the U.S. Senate, he’s focused on jobs, business and economic growth.

As governor, Hoeven has fostered a regulatory and business climate that embraced comprehensive energy development, including wind and biofuels, but especially the incredible oil boom that industry has created by  accessing the Bakken Formation. As The New York Times put it, “Hoeven’s win would also give the state’s booming oil and gas industry an adamant advocate in Washington.”

That’s the kind of advocate the entire nation needs.

Here’s the vote that ended the Congressional career of Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), a 14-term House member from the southwestern corner of Virginia.

It’s the 219-212 vote by which the House passed H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, aka Waxman-Markey.

Not to diminish the efforts of the winning candidate, Morgan Griffiths, the majority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates, who represents the city of Salem and portions of Roanoke County.

At The Wall Street Journal, Kim Strassel comments: “If Mr. Boucher goes down, he likely won’t be the only coal-state Democrat to get ‘BTUed’ in this election.”

Rob Portman has been declared the winner of the U.S. Senate race in Ohio, holding the seat for the Republicans.

As a House member, Rep. Portman — who represented Ohio 2nd, which included the Cincinnati suburbs — was a three-time recipient of the NAM’s “Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence” for his voting record in support of priority manufacturing issues.

Portman was also the well-respected U.S. Trade Representative under President George W. Bush before switching to OMB Director. A supporter of free trade agreements elected statewide in Ohio? How about that!

The Indiana Senate race has been declared for Dan Coats, the Republican who returns to the Senate after retiring from the Congress at the end of 1998. Coats has always been a strong supporter of pro-manufacturing policies, and in doing so, well represented constituents of the most industry-intensive state in the nation. As a House member, his district included Fort Wayne — a manufacturing center.

Sen. Coats also served as U.S. ambassador to Germany under President George W. Bush, so he has a good sense of global competition entails. (See this Indianapolis Star report.)

In his final session as a Senator, the 105th Congress, Coats received the National Association of Manufacturers’ “Manufacturing Legislative Excellence” award, voting with the NAM’s “Key Vote” position 85 percent of the time.

Congratulations to Mary Andringa, who will serve as chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers in 2011-12, on her being chosen for induction in the Iowa Business Hall of Fame. From the Knoxville-Pella radio stations, KNIA and KRLS, “Local CEO Elected to Iowa Business Hall of Fame“:

A President and CEO of a local company will be inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame in December. Mary Vermeer Andringa of Vermeer Corporation will be inducted at the Greater Des Moines Commitee’s annual Black Tie dinner on December 9th. Andringa was selected for her outstanding leadership and business and community development in Iowa. Andringa became part of the Board of Directors of Vermeer Manufacturing in 1976 and was named CEO in 2009. During her time with Vermeer Corporation she helped create Vermeer University which is devoted to employee and equipment dealer development. Earlier this year, Andringa was named to the President’s Export Council by Barrack Obama.

Previously inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame are two other former chairmen of the NAM: Daniel Krumm of Maytag Corp. in 1980 and Richard Kautz of Grain Processing Corp. of Muscatine in 1976.