From The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “Documentary about natural gas field debuts on CNBC,” announcing tonight’s premiere of Haynesville, a documentary film that tracks the lives of three people affected by the big Haynesville Shale natural gas field in Louisiana and East Texas.

The full title is Haynesville: A Nation’s Hunt for an Energy Future. The film outlines potential economic benefits of the field and shale gas development in the U.S., as well as concerns of residents it could directly affect.

The three “stars” of the film are Kassi Fitzgerald, a single mother and community activist who tries to help secure a favorable gas lease agreement and environmental protections for the rural area where she lives; Reegis Richard, a pastor who uses drilling proceeds to benefit his growing church and expand education and recreation opportunities for youths; and Mike Smith, a self-described “country boy” and lover of the outdoors who marvels at his new millionaire status while trying to keep his rural-oriented life on an even keel.

Haynesville will premiere tonight 9 p.m. Eastern on CNBC. The one hour documentary will repeat at 10 p.m., midnight and 1 a.m.

The movie’s website is www.haynesvillemovie.com. We’re already awaiting the sequel, Marcellus!

Wrapping up his guest-hosting on CNBC’s Squawk Box this a.m., John Engler of the National Association of Manufacturers says Congress first must resolve the tax issues. Then next year, the central mission becomes, taking action that lets business create jobs.

And here’s the morning’s opening, 12-minute segment with Engler with a focus on infrastructure. He appreciates the new House Republican leadership’s experience with manufacturing and the industrial Midwest.

John Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers, will co-host CNBC’s Squawk Box program starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday Eastern.

We plan to tweet the keen insights, bons mots and other observations about the U.S. economy @Shopfloor_NAM.

John Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers, appeared bright and early this morning on CNBC’s Squawk Box.

Engler:

We’ve got to be focused on jobs and the economy, and I think that ought to be Day One, Day Two, Week One, Week Two, right on through this first year as they come to power in the House of Representatives.

Speaker Boehner, being from Ohio, really understands first hand not just what he’s experienced in his own life, but just being from that state that’s so critical, how this is an election

about jobs and its economy, at its fundamental core, and people want to see America competitive.

Start with taxes, Engler continued, and do not raise taxes when unemployment is so high, and then remove the barriers that have discouraged business from investing.

“Let’s let the private sector loose. I think it will do a lot.”

Lori Ann LaRocco, Senior Talent Producer at CNBC, solicited reaction to President Obama’s appearance Monday at the network for a blog post, “Dick Armey Strikes Back At Obama, CEOs Weigh In On the Rhetoric.” Among those she cites is the NAM’s president, John Engler:

Governor John Engler, President of that National Association of Manufacturers also echoed the need for private jobs stimulation to me when I asked him what was the one question he would have loved the President to have been asked.

“It is all about jobs and we would have liked to have heard President Obama talk more about specific plans to create jobs and allow manufacturers to compete.”

Governor Engler told me a story that would have lead up to his question.

“A year ago the transportation bill — the bill that pays for bridges, and highways, rail and public transit expired. It’s a six-year bill that’s usually reauthorized on a bipartisan basis,” said Engler.

“Last year, House Transportation Chairman Jim Oberstar proposed a plan to increase spending on infrastructure to $500 billion. That’s ten times the $50 billion down-payment that you proposed on Labor Day. And, getting the highway bill reauthorized early in 2010 would have created more jobs than your Labor Day proposal. Why didn’t you get involved into this debate a year ago?”

He makes a good point.

CNBC tonight premieres “Prosperity and Power: Making Washington Work for You,” with John Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers, as one of the participants. The hour-long show starts at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and CNBC’s Gary Kaminsky join in the discussions, which will be hosted by John Harward and Neel Kashkari. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will be on tape.

From the news release:

America elected President Obama in its quest for change, however two years after the election our nation is seeing a limited return on its investment. Now, the mid-terms are around the corner and the question on everyone’s mind is if anger and discontent can once again bring about change, taking control of the house and senate away from the democrats.

As we approach this momentous election Americans are wondering what will happen to their taxes, what will happen on wall street and if we will ever be able to reclaim our prosperity as a nation.

John Engler, President of the National Association of Manufacturers, summarizes the NAM’s new policy guide and call to action, “A Manufacturing Strategy for Jobs and American Competitiveness.”

The goals are threefold:

• The United States will be the best country in the world to headquarter a company. We want companies to be based in the United States.
• The United States will be the best country in the world to innovate, performing the bulk of a company’s global research and development.
• The United States will be a great place to manufacture, both to meet the needs of the American market and serve as an export platform for the world.

Engler: “We said this isn’t going to get done immediately in this Congress. They’re about ready to wrap-up. But we want everyone who’s running for Congress who’s going to sit in January start to look now and be committed to some things. Let’s give us some certainty.”

John Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers, hosts CNBC’s Squawk Box program, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Eastern, on Monday.

So many possible topics to discussing, including the financial regulation bill, tax policy, proposed legislation to raise energy prices through limits on greenhouse gas emissions, trade agreements, and U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. The NAM on Monday releases a new policy guide, “A Manufacturing Strategy for Jobs and American Competitiveness.”

CNBC does a excellent job posting video clips from its programs within a few hours after interviews are conducted, and we’ll highlight the segments as they become available. We also plan to Tweet the show at www.Twitter.com/Shopfloor_NAM

Another plug for tonight’s CNBC program, “Meeting of the Minds: Rebuilding America,” scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern. Here’s CNBC’s summary of the issues addressed in the discussions, moderated by Maria Bartiromo. NAM President John Engler is a panelist.

Manufacturing led the United States to become the richest nation in the world and has been the foundation of the middle class. But times have changed and today’s economy values innovation and design over manual labor — emphasizing mind over matter. This sea of change has spurred many questions: Are the manufacturing jobs in the US gone forever? Does an economy that doesn’t produce anything have any real value and has ‘Made in the USA’ died, taking with it the soul of our country? CNBC’s gathers some of the most influential leaders in manufacturing for a Meeting of the Minds at Carnegie Mellon University to answer those questions and plan for the industry’s future.

Leo W. Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers International, gives his report on the discussions taped Monday evening in Pittsburgh at the Huffington Post, a post, “CEOs, Union Leader Agree: Manufacturing Strategy Crucial.” Sure. But once you get past process — the manufacturing strategy — agreement’s harder to find. In opposing free trade agreements, organized labor turns its back on jobs in dynamic, export-intensive industries.

Others panelists: Bill Ford, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company; Daniel R. DiMicco, Chairman, President & CEO, Nucor Corporation; Jeff Immelt, Chairman & CEO, General Electric; and Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor.

UPDATE: Courtesy CNBC, John Engler (left) and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis

From a CNBC news release, “CNBC Tapes Show With Powerful Americans On CMU’s Campus“:

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Manufacturing led the United States to become the richest nation in the world and has been the backbone of this country. But times have changed and today’s economy values innovation and design over manual labor — emphasizing mind over matter. This sea change has spurred many questions: Are the manufacturing jobs in the U.S. gone forever? Does an economy that doesn’t produce anything have any real value and has ‘Made in the USA’ died, taking with it the soul of our country?

On Wednesday, December 2nd at 8PM ET, in a CNBC special, “Meeting of the Minds: Rebuilding America,” hosted by CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo from Carnegie Mellon University, a world-leading research university in Pittsburgh, PA, CNBC assembles some of the most influential leaders in the manufacturing industry and government to answer those questions and chart a path forward.

Panelists: Bill Ford, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company; Daniel R. DiMicco, Chairman, President & CEO, Nucor Corporation; Leo W. Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers; Jeff Immelt, Chairman & CEO, General Electric; John Engler, President & CEO, National Association of Manufacturers; and Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor.

Bartiromo sets the stage further:

“Manufacturing companies have traditionally been a growth engine in the United States, but with unemployment at double digits, there is a growing concern whether or not that will continue to be true, said Bartiromo. “Americans are at a critical time wondering what their future looks like and it’s vital we bring this issue front and center.”