Yesterday NAM Board Member and Kennametal President and CEO Carlos Cardoso was appointed co-chair by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R-PA) of a new public-private council to help identify and prioritize the top issues to help keep manufacturing competitive in Pennsylvania.

From Gov. Corbett’s press release:

“Manufacturing adds more than $75 billion in value each year to our state’s economy, and it is paramount that we do all that we can to preserve and support that sector of our economy,” Gov. Corbett said. “The council will research issues and make recommendations that will further strengthen that industry and ultimately allow manufacturers to add jobs for Pennsylvanians.”

According the release the council will focus on taxes, the regulatory climate in Pennsylvania, talent and innovation, international markets, energy costs, efficiency, and research and development. The council will hold several meetings beginning in January and then issue a report to the governor and General Assembly including policy suggestions and a strategy for manufacturing in Pennsylvania to remain competitive.

Just today the third quarter GDP was revised down to only 2 percent growth. Manufacturers are in need of pro-growth policies which will enable them to compete against growing global competition. The National Association of Manufacturers has laid out a blueprint of policies to keep manufacturing in the U.S. competitive titled A Manufacturing Renaissance: Four Goals for Economic Growth.

Roll Call has a story discussing the role of organized labor groups in the Pennsylvania Senate primary race between Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA.) It discusses the role that the jobs-killing Employee Free Choice Act plays in the race. While Senator Specter came out strongly in opposition to this card check legislation, he has been keen to express his interest in putting forward an alternative version of the bill.

In reference to the bill, the head of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Bill George, says that labor’s highest priority is “…like water over the damn,” [sic] George added:

That first bill’s gone and consequently, it’s time to move forward. And Arlen Specter was very instrumental with other Senators getting an agreement.

What agreement?

We’ve heard a lot of discussion about a possible alternative-EFCA bill, but any proposal based on the fundamentally flawed EFCA would be devastating to employers and employees alike. If an agreement has been reached, why is nothing is available on it? As we enter the campaign season, we hope that maneuvering over versions of a bill that would cost hundreds of thousands of American jobs doesn’t become part of a political strategy to woo one key interest. Any elected official should soundly reject the Employee Free Choice Act, in any form.