Have You Heard? The Robots are Coming!

China's at It Again

Well, China Is at It Again

Well, China is at it again. After eliminating the Australian passenger rail and rolling stock industries since its admittance to the World Trade Organization in 2001, China has successfully shut down transportation manufacturing in the domestic market Down Under. 

And guess who it is that China has its sights on next? 

While China-owned and subsidized public transportation companies rolled through the island continent severely underbidding Australia’s domestic manufacturing, it wasn’t long before the Aussies could no longer possibly compete with China’s mercantilist attitude.

A statement before the House and Senate hashes out their differences in a close-ranging Pentagon Policy.  The two chambers will soon meet in a conference committee to work out their differences in the policy bill. The White House supports a Senate provision that would bar all federal transit.

The Senate version of the fiscal 2020 defense authorization bill would bar federal dollars from being used to purchase either passenger railcars or buses from such firms. The House version of the bill would limit the prohibition only to railcars.

“It is critical that such prohibitions cover procurement of all rolling stock transit vehicles to ensure the nation’s economic and national security and to prevent the use of Federal dollars to support foreign state-controlled enterprises,” said a statement from the Office of Management and Budget.

Both provisions aim to counter China’s increasing presence in the U.S. passenger railcar and electric bus market to prevent possible spying and surveillance of America. 

Jeff Bonior is a staff writer at the Alliance for American Manufacturing

Steel Communities Make a Comeback

America’s Steel Communities Make a Comeback

For the past 20 years, the American steel industry and its USW steel-sector members have suffered at the hands of surging imports of steel from China. Many American steel mills closed, tens of thousands of workers were laid off, and many communities were devastated by a lack of revenue.

But during the past year, there has been a resurgence in the steel industry with companies rehiring laid-off workers, bringing on new-hires and investing billions of dollars in their mills and factories.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing team recently traveled to four of America’s traditional steel producing areas – Northwest Indiana (Gary area); Fairfield, Alabama; Granite City, Illinois and Coatesville, Pennsylvania – to observe and discuss how conditions are today at these once renowned bastions of steelmaking.

The AAM team spoke with steelworkers, USW officials, company executives, members of the supply chains, community leaders and local business owners affected by the loss of business during the steel industry slowdowns.

It is a comprehensive look at the history and present-day conditions of how these workers and communities fought through the struggles of the 21^st Century.

We encourage you to visit our website and read the full details of the visits as well as listen to the podcasts held in each city. For the complete rundown, please visit AAM online at -

https://www.americanmanufacturing.org

Jeff Bonior is a staff writer for the Alliance for American Manufacturing

Corporate Greed at its Worst

“Corporate Greed at its Worst”

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) fought tooth and nail with General Motors president Mary Barra over the closing of the Lordstown, Ohio auto plant that ceased production on March 6. He knew that 1,400 permanent well-paying manufacturing jobs would be lost and would have devastating effects on the city that has been building cars for General Motors since 1966.

But Senator Brown was also aware of the ripple effect that would be caused by the loss of these jobs in the Youngstown area.

The Lordstown plant is just the first of five North American plants GM has scheduled for closing in the coming months. More jobs will be lost and thousands of jobs in the supply chain will also disappear.

The steel industry could be hit hard with United Steelworker slowdowns in the Mahoning Valley. It brings back memories of “Black Monday” when 41 years ago Youngstown Sheet and Tube closed its Campbell Works Mill laying off 5,000 steelworkers. During the next five years, almost 50,000 people would lose jobs in steel and related industries in the Youngstown area.

The main issue here is automobiles but Senator Brown, a champion of the steel industry, knows how hard the Lordstown plant closing will be on Ohio steelworkers.

Senator Brown described the closing as “shameful.” GM reaped a massive tax break from last year’s GOP tax bill but did not invest that money in American jobs and moved production to Mexico. Brown called the decision “corporate greed at its worst.”

Jeff Bonior, Staff Writer for the Alliance for American Manufacturing

Why is Manufacturing so Important?

Most Americans Agree on Fair Trade

Most Americans Agree on Fair Trade

Americans across the country stand firm in their belief that anybody who is part of the political system in Washington, D.C. can’t agree on anything.

This is unfortunate, because when you put partisan politics aside, many Americans agree on a variety of issues that would help move our country forward.

When asked to share your opinion on major policies of the federal government, it doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent. These three groups agree on exponentially more policies when you take away their political party affiliation ideologies.

One example, from a recent poll conducted for the Alliance for American Manufacturing by the Mellman Group Inc., and Public Opinion Strategies suggests that most of the never-miss-an-election voters are more concerned about addressing China’s unfair trade practices than the potential for a trade war. When asked to get tough on China and other countries that practice unfair trade, a whopping 81 percent of poll respondents agreed with the statement, “We must be willing to get tough with trade restrictions on countries like China who cheat in international trade.”

Republicans led the way with 94 percent in agreement, but 78 percent of Independents and 70 percent of Democrats were in favor of a tougher trade stance, too. These numbers would likely be similar if partisan politics was not a factor.

The startling support of 94 percent of Republicans would decrease but the party faithful is supporting their man in the White House. The number of Democrats in favor would most likely increase but progressives are against anything and everything the president stands for. The Democrats are giving him  the same treatment Republicans bestowed on President Obama.

So, maybe the number of Americans greatly concerned about fair international trade is closer to the 78 percent of Independents. This is still a stunning number of Americans that agree on one federal government policy. 

This is overwhelming evidence that most Americans agree about correcting unfair trade and the current administration seems bound and determined to level the playing field.

AAM President Scott Paul said, “Even in this era of upended politics, pushing back against unfair trade practices is an issue that largely unites American voters.”

Jeff Bonior, Staff Writer for the Alliance for American Manufacturing

Report from the Alliance for American Manufacturing

Report from the Alliance for American Manufacturing

During his campaign, the President promised the American people he would implement tax reform, mitigate our unfair trade policies and begin a long-overdue process of repairing United States infrastructure needs.

A new tax policy has been enacted, and the President has taken major steps to change the landscape of unfair free trade by declaring tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum. This is an ongoing process and it may be many months before we see a definitive result on trade rules.

But, the administration’s infrastructure plan has been left somewhere in a large pothole and will not be addressed until 2019. The President will have been in office for more than two years before even getting to first base on an infrastructure program.

Americans will get a more aggressive look at our failing infrastructure this summer during vacation travels by auto, train and airplane. And these are just the transportation components of our infrastructure.

The one main issue that both Republicans and Democrats agree upon is the dire need to invest in America’s crumbling infrastructure.

Making a major investment in infrastructure would provide a substantial boost to our economy and create jobs especially if Buy America preferences are applied, which the President also pledged he would implement.

A 2014 report by Duke University researchers estimated that a long-term transportation bill worth $114 billion annually would create 2.5 million new jobs.  Since moving into the White House, the President  could have already created more than 900,000 jobs and produced a much healthier economy, if he would have seriously addressed an infrastructure program during his first few months in office.

The next time the President travels to one of his many luxurious golf courses, he should travel by car, train or commercial airline. He would then get a first-hand look at why he needs to quickly try to make America’s infrastructure something he can be as proud of as he is of his many, well-manicured and heavily-funded country clubs.

Jeff Bonior, Staff Writer for the Alliance for American Manufacturing

Report From The Alliance For American Manufacturing (AAM)

Report from the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM)

President Trump hosted a Made in America event week at the White House from July 17 through July 21. 

Products, entirely Made in America, were showcased from all 50 states.

But at the Alliance for American Manufacturing every week is Made in America week.

Trump is certainly not the leader of Made in America products. Many of the products he sources for his business ventures, as well as his daughter Ivanka’s line of clothing, are made overseas. The President’s clothing line, hotel furnishings and even steel for his massive buildings are often produced in China, Mexico and Bangladesh.

It’s a case of do as I say, not as I do.

It’s pure hypocrisy that the President of the United States promotes products Made in America, while at the same time he is purchasing manufactured products from countries that contribute immensely to our trade deficit.

No matter what your opinion is of President Trump, it is important to get behind Made in America. If every American committed to buying $64 worth of American-made goods each year 200,000 new jobs would be created.

American-made products are much better for the environment and are critical to our National Security. There is just one aluminum smelter remaining in the United States that can produce the purest quality aluminum for our fighter jets and navy fleet. American-made steel is losing the capacity to rebuild our Navy fleet of battleships and Army tanks.

Made in America matters. It’s also perhaps one of the few issues that Americans tend to agree on, with 95 percent of voters polled in 2014 having a favorable view of American-made products.

We’ve lost so much ground in American manufacturing over the past 30 years, it is not always possible to Buy American. But with a concerted effort, Americans can research and purchase what is Made in America. It will bring back thousands of manufacturing jobs and protect our National Security.

Jeff Bonior is a staff writer for the Alliance for American Manufacturing

Report From The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM)

Report From The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM)

 President-elect Donald Trump focused on many hot-button issues during the Republican primaries and the general election in which he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump, ever the savvy salesman, began the dialogue about American manufacturing and trade right out of the gate, despite the traditional Republican mantra promoting “free trade agreements.”

Trump quickly promised crackdowns on unfair trade deals and called NAFTA the “worst trade agreement ever.” He was particularly focused on China and Mexico where many American manufacturers have moved their factories to increase profits. He promised 45 percent tariffs on China if it continued to “dump” its overcapacity of steel in the United States because it was costing America millions of dollars and middle-class jobs.

It was a “do as I say, not as I do” situation. Trump used steel manufactured in China to build the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas and purchased Chinese-made aluminum for the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago. It is likely he has built additional structures with Chinese steel. He has a penchant for having his products manufactured in other parts of the world. We know he is an eager consumer of low-cost products made in China, Mexico and many other offshore manufacturers around the globe. His suits and neckties are made in China, while his furniture and kitchen goods lines are also manufactured overseas.

Trump’s early statements about the steel industry and manufacturing in general are considered important reasons why he did so well winning most of the “Rust Belt” states on election night.On June 28, 2016 in Monessen, Pennsylvania, an area once the heartland of the American steel industry, Trump was in full-fear mongering in a speech before thousands of people affected by the crash of American steel. 

“A Trump Administration will also ensure that we start using American steel for American infrastructure. Just like the American steel from Pennsylvania that built the Empire State building. It will be American steel that will fortify America’s crumbling bridges. It will be American steel that sends our skyscrapers soaring into the sky. It will be American steel that rebuilds out inner cities. It will be American hands that remake this country and it will be American energy – mined from American resources – that powers this country. It will be American workers who are hired to do the job. We are going to put American-produced steel back into the backbone of our country. This alone will create massive numbers of jobs.”

Within the past year, more than 15,000 USW members have lost their jobs and the situation is getting worse. Maybe if President-elect Trump and his billionaire buddies can practice what Trump preaches, the American steel industry can stop the bleeding and re-open the many idled steel mills waiting to get back on line. That would definitely create thousands of jobs for skilled American steelworkers.

Jeff Bonior, AAM staff writer, Alliance for American Manufacturing

Report From The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM)

Can you imagine the United States without a thriving steel industry? For decades, American steel has played a vital role in the health of our nation’s economy and national security.

But American steel companies have hit hard times in the past decade because of the unfair “dumping” of Chinese steel into the U.S. market. China has an enormous overcapacity of steel products that are now being used to infiltrate countries around the world. China’s domestic use of its steel has dropped precipitously but the government-funded steel companies continue to produce massive amounts of steel to - among many reasons - keep its workforce in place. Chinese steel is sold in America at below market price making it nearly impossible for U.S. steelmakers to compete.

And United Steelworkers are suffering from what is passed off as “free trade.” In 2015, approximately 13,500 American steelworkers were laid off and many major steel mills were idled or permanently ceased operations. American steel companies have been fighting back with a constant series of trade cases filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce.

In today’s worsening situation, America’s steelmakers are attacking with gusto and decision makers in Washington, D.C. are taking notice. A large number of members of congress have joined the fight, drafting legislation to protect America’s steel industry, appealing to President Obama and raising awareness of the importance of American-made steel.

On May 17, 2016, the U.S. Department of Commerce recommended tariffs as high as 522 percent on Chinese cold-rolled steel that is used in automobiles and appliances. China had promised to reduce its steel production but you can add this to the list of broken Chinese promises. China exported a record 112 million tons of steel in 2015. U.S. Steel, ArcelorMittal and many other domestic steelmakers who filed this trade case in 2015, have several other cases being investigated by the International Trade Commission, including complaints on hot rolled steel and corrosion-resistant steel.

In 2004, China controlled 28.3 percent of the global steel market. Today, China supplies at least 50 percent of the world with its cheap, subsidized products.

U.S. Steel. with support from USW International President Leo W. Gerard, has asked the federal government to ban all Chinese steel products from entering the U.S.

At this critical stage, America needs to take the most drastic measures it can to preserve the U.S. Steel industry and the well-paying jobs of its workers.

Go to www.americanmanufacturing.com and click on “An Unprecedented Threat” to take action and let your voice be heard. You can also contact your members of congress at their local offices or call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your representative by name and you will be connected to their office.

Jeff Bonior, AAM staff writer, Alliance for American Manufacturing

Alliance for American Manufacturing Response to SOTU

Report from the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM)

It’s that time of year again. The holidays are here and while this may be no sweat for folks who have prepared, it’s a bit stressful for those of us with some shopping left to do.  Because Congress is clearly uninterested in putting more Americans back to work, your pals at the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) are asking Santa for “more jobs.” But while we wait on Washington and hope St. Nick can help, we can still take the power of job creation into our own hands.

How? Buy American. We spend billions of dollars every holiday season on gifts for our loved ones. So let’s put that money to good use and support manufacturing jobs in the process! Why? When we invest in things made in our own communities, we invest in the future of our country. And there are several websites and directories that can help consumers do just that.

Here are two websites with products made here, at home, in union businesses. In the United States, Labor 411 http://labor411.org/ hosts a directory of over 4,700 products. From turkeys to tools, you can find great, high-quality gifts for your family and friends.  As for my Canadian brothers and sisters, check out some Canadian-made products at Shop Union http://www.shopunion.ca. Type what you’re looking for in the search box and Shop Union will tell you which union makes it. On behalf of AAM, I’d like to wish you a safe and happy holiday season. Now get shopping!

For more information, call me at 260-633-1060. Thanks for helping to “Keep it Made in America” www.americanmanufacturing.org

Rachel Bennett Steury, AAM Field Coordinator

An Easy Fix from AAM

An Easy Fix: Lower the Trade Deficit, Lower the Budget Deficit

While tax reform and social program reforms are contentious topics in DC, America’s manufacturing sector waits for our legislators to turn their attention to our problematic trade deficit; which has been staring us in the face for decades. There is an obvious connection between the trade deficit and the budget deficit.  More people working decreases demand for public services while increasing tax revenue, which in turn, would lower our budget deficit.

But we can’t fix our budget deficit or our trade deficit without addressing the elephant in the room: trade with China. China’s trade practices, including its currency manipulation and the illegal subsidies it provides its industries, interfere with our ability to increase exports and create jobs.

There’s a clear connection. In the decade after the U.S. helped China join the World Trade Organization in 2001, America lost 2.4 million middle-income factory jobs. http://www.epi.org/publication/bp260/ and our trade deficit with China keeps growing: It was $315 billion in 2012 alone.

HR1276 -- the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act -- would give American businesses the ability to seek redress when a foreign government targets their industries with a rigged currency.  The bill has 129 cosponsors but we need more members of Congress to step up for American manufacturing.  Stop by your Congressperson’s office and ask them to support this bill.  Tell them that if you fix one deficit, you fix the other!  Millions of out-of-work Americans are waiting for their support.

For more information, call me at 260-633-1060.  Thanks for helping to “Keep it Made in America”  www.americanmanufacturing.org

Rachel Bennett Steury, AAM Field Coordinator

Currency Manipulation Just Isn't Fair

Hello SOAR members. We are still working on the issue of currency manipulation and I wanted to share with you an update. Congressman Levin from Michigan introduced The Currency
Reform for Fair Trade Act (HR 1276) in March and we’ve been building support for it ever since. Now 116 Members of Congress are cosponsors of this bill, and last month the Senate stepped into action with its version: The Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act (S 1114), now with 12 cosponsors.

Why is this important to us? When another country manipulates its currency, it acts as a subsidy for goods entering our market and as a tax on our goods in markets overseas. China is the leading currency manipulation culprit, so the value of goods coming in from China seems cheap to our consumers. At the same time our goods going to China seem expensive to their consumers. If China’s currency were not undervalued, trade with China would not be so one-sided. Now China sells us billions of dollars more in goods ($315 billion more in 2012 alone) than we sell to them. This unbalanced trade arrangement costs us jobs and has to stop!

So if 116 Members of Congress and 12 Senators pledged their support, that means 319 Member of Congress and 88 Senators have not yet. This month, most of them will be in their Districts. Visit their offices and ask them to support these bills. For more information, give me a call at 260-633-1060. Thank you for helping to “Keep it Made in America.”

Rachel Bennett Steury, AAM Field Coordinator

Report from AAM (Alliance for American Manufacturing)

Recently, the women of AAM joined the Women of Steel at their international conference in Pittsburgh to share information about trade and the importance of having a solid manufacturing base. This industry is important for women since jobs in manufacturing are often high-tech and offer better pay and benefits than many other sectors. But looking at the numbers, women are not employed in manufacturing at the same rate as men. In fact, only 27% of all manufacturing workers in the US (3.3 million) and Canada (500,000) are women. Those of us in manufacturing should promote the industry to our sisters and daughters, dispelling the outdated notion that manufacturing jobs are difficult, dirty and best left for men. We can recruit a new generation of Rosie the Riveters!

Our elected officials must invest in manufacturing so that more of these jobs are available. We need women AND men making things, creating things and inventing things but our lack of a comprehensive plan to drive innovation, education and job growth is holding us back. Without strong support for manufacturing, we could be dependent on other countries that support their manufacturing base, and that’s not good for national security or prosperity. Consider this: one manufacturing job can create 4 to 5 other jobs in our economy. No other sector has a multiplier effect like manufacturing. Are your elected officials making it a priority to keep making it here? 

Let us know! For more information, please visit www.americanmanufacturing.org
Rachel Bennett Steury, AAM Field Coordinator 260-633-1060

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 1-25-13

Obama Inaugural Address Includes Support for Protecting Social Security, Medicare
President Barack Obama kicked off his second term on Monday, and his ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol was filled with pomp and pageantry. The traditional celebrations came a day after he was sworn in on Sunday, on the constitutionally-required date, in a low-key ceremony at the White House. In his inaugural address, Obama insisted that programs such as Social Security and Medicare -- long targets of conservatives seeking to cut the size of government -- remain vital to the maintenance of America's safety net for seniors, the poor and the disabled. “We, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it,” Obama declared, adding that tough decisions on how to address the nation's chronic federal deficits and debt must avoid choosing between “caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.”

“There is a reason that the Alliance worked to re-elect President Obama,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “That speech would have been very different if Mitt Romney had been delivering it. He likely would have used Monday to talk about turning Medicare into a voucher program. ”


Debt Limit Vote in House Makes March 1 the Next Moment of Truth
On Wednesday, the House passed legislation to eliminate the nation’s statutory borrowing limit until May, avoiding an economic showdown with President Obama. Under the proposal, the Treasury Department would be permitted to ignore the $16.4 trillion cap on government borrowing in order to pay the nation’s bills through May 18. At that point, the debt limit would automatically reset at a higher level. The House measure passed 285 to 144, with 33 Republicans voting no. More than half of House Democrats voted against the legislation, arguing that a longer extension of the debt limit is necessary to bring certainty to the sluggish economy. However, Democrats delivered enough votes to push the measure across the finish line. For a full tally of the vote, go to http://tinyurl.com/abszl2h. A Senate vote is expected as soon as next week. The White House has said that President Obama would not stand in the way of the bill.

In an analysis released Wednesday, the Bipartisan Policy Center predicted that the date of potential default would now be postponed at least until the end of July. The House measure also requires senators to adopt their own budget blueprint by April 15 or have their paychecks withheld and placed in escrow until this session of Congress ends in 2015. However, congressional leaders are already looking toward the next budget crisis: deep automatic spending cuts that look increasingly likely to hit the Pentagon and other federal agencies on March 1.

Also on Wednesday, leaders in both parties predicted in The Washington Post that cuts, known as sequestration, will take effect at least briefly while policymakers try to restart talks over a far-reaching plan to lower the national debt. After the sequester comes the threat of a government shutdown on March 27. “Using the debt ceiling to force cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is right now off the table,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. “However, Speaker Boehner wants to use March 1 as a deadline for taking the economy hostage unless cuts are made to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.” For more on this topic from The New York Times, go to http://tinyurl.com/alt3d5q. For an Alliance fact sheet on the budget showdown, go to http://tinyurl.com/a8cu68y.


Conference Call with Alliance Activists Sets the Stage for Next 6-8 Weeks of Action
Alliance leaders hosted a conference call about the budget showdown with nearly 1,000 activists on Thursday. Alliance members discussed plans to use January 30 as a Day of Action, partnering with the AFL-CIO and other progressive organizations to demand that seniors’ programs not be cut and that corporations pay their fair share. Also, Presidents’ Day week will be used by activists to deliver petitions and lobby Members of Congress with a similar message.

“Callers voiced their opinions on several poll questions concerning their use of social media during the budget showdown; lifting the cap on earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax; and demanding that drug companies provide discounts for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, saving the federal government $130 billion,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

GOP Becoming Less Unified in Opposition to Health Law
There is a growing split among Republicans over whether to continue resisting the Affordable Care Act. A critical feature of the health care reform law is creating an online health insurance marketplace that will allow citizens to shop for coverage and find out if they qualify for government subsidies or Medicaid, the state-federal health program for the poor. According to Kaiser Health News, Mississippi, Utah, Idaho, and Nevada are four Republican states - out of 17 overall, plus the District of Columbia - that applied to the federal government in December to establish a state insurance marketplace, or exchange. States that don’t set up a state insurance marketplace will have one created by the federal government. Two months ago, Republican opposition was nearly uniform across the country. But cracks are appearing and they will widen, predicts Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota.

On January 14, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), one of the health law’s most vocal opponents, backed the law’s optional Medicaid expansion in her state. Brewer became the fourth Republican governor and 23rd overall to embrace extending Medicaid to cover residents earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level ($32,000 for a family of four). As many as 17 million people would become eligible for Medicaid if all states participate. More at http://tinyurl.com/aqfhsxb.

Affordable Senior Health Insurance to Supplement Medicare
Affordable insurance supplemental to Medicare is available through the Retiree Health Plan endorsed by the Alliance for union retirees. The Open Enrollment period is currently in effect through February 28, 2013! During this period, these Medicare-eligible retirees and their spouses are guaranteed acceptance with no waiting periods, regardless of preexisting health conditions. If you have questions or would like to enroll in the program, please call 1-866-298-9117. You can also visit www.araretireehealth.com to get more information.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://tinyurl.com/bczosb3.

Retirees and workers need to remain vigilant

Dear Alliance Member,

Late last night Congress passed a last-minute deal to avoid the “fiscal cliff.”  Because of Alliance activists and others who made their voices heard at the grassroots level, there were no cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.  Thanks for everything you did to make this possible.

While we can celebrate, our work is not done.  Over the next two months, we can expect more misguided attempts by some in Congress to balance our budget on the backs of the programs we depend on.   However, with the strong voice of seniors like you, we can protect retirement security for all Americans and make sure we are not part of the last generation to retire.  Thanks for all you do.

For our take about what’s in the deal, check out this statement from Executive Director Ed Coyle.

“While the deal ending this latest round of high-stakes fiscal drama made some progress toward tax fairness, retirees and workers need to remain vigilant against long-standing threats to seniors’ health care and economic security.

“Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid – landmark national efforts to help retirees pay their bills and stay healthy – continue to be unfairly targeted as a way of keeping the wealthiest Americans and big corporations from paying their fair share of taxes.

“Despite what was heard daily in Washington and in the media, Social Security has not added one penny to the deficit.  We remain deeply troubled by a recurring policy proposal, coldly named the ‘chained-CPI,’ which would base future Social Security Cost-of-Living-Adjustments off a lower, badly-flawed measure of inflation, one that significantly under-estimates seniors’ day-to-day financial needs.

“As long as too many in Washington want those with the least to sacrifice the most, we must continue to educate and mobilize retirees and Americans of all ages.  In the 2012 elections, in public opinion surveys, and in recent grassroots actions, it has been crystal clear that Americans are opposed to cuts in these vital lifelines for millions of seniors. When will Washington truly listen?

“We are pleased that the New Year’s legislation spared seniors from worrying that their physicians would no longer treat Medicare patients because of cuts in reimbursement rates.  No older American should have to worry that their health care is being held hostage to Washington gamesmanship.

”This week’s agreement is a brief pause in the long-running threats to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, programs that help millions of Americans every day.  But until there is a long-term and equitable resolution to these fiscal debates, retirees and workers everywhere will need to remain educated and mobilized."

Buy American Made Products

The American factory played a big role in campaign commercials this year and candidates appealed directly to manufacturing workers on jobs, trade and China. In Cleveland, Ohio,  alone, couch potatoes witnessed 5,000 commercial spots highlighting trade. Talk about overload! Now that the election is over, we have another slew of commercials to contend with. If you watch TV, you are well aware of the steep discounts for early birds, and the buy-one-get-one-free deals that seem too good to be true.

The holiday season has arrived and the average American will spend $704 on holiday gifts and goodies this year, totaling more than $465 billion. We can all put the focus back on jobs and American manufacturing with as little as $64. Congress isn’t the only group of people that can support job creation. We all can help create jobs in this country by buying American-made products.  

If every one of us spent just $64 a year more on American-made products, we could create 200,000 new jobs here at home, not overseas. Ask your local retailers to stock more American made products, look at your labels and most importantly, share this information with your family. Buying American helps keep real people in real jobs across America, and it means safe, high-quality gifts for your family and friends. For information on American made products visit http://americanmanufacturing.org/blog/fashionfriday.   Happy Shopping!

Rachel Bennett Steury, AAM Field Coordinator