With the midterm election just days away and all polls showing the economy and jobs topping the list of voter concerns, the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) made its final stop on the 2010 “Keep it Made in America Tour” in the Wausau area yesterday. Dozens of local manufacturing workers, retirees, corporate representatives, civic leaders, students, and interested citizens participated in a town hall meeting, which took place at Stoney Creek Inn in Rothschild.
“A majority of likely voters say the U.S. no longer has the world’s strongest economy and that Washington isn’t doing enough to rebuild manufacturing,” said AAM Executive Director Scott Paul. “People are greatly concerned about our lost standing. They know China is overtaking us, and they want the United States to be number one again.
“Through town hall meetings, we have provided voters with a chance to ask their candidates directly, ‘What are you going to do about restoring manufacturing and the millions of jobs we’ve lost to China,’” Paul said.
Over the past few weeks, the non-partisan AAM has held Town Hall meetings in 10 states to help voters directly question their candidates and elected officials on such key issues as unbalanced trade with China and rebuilding U.S. manufacturing for the global economy. All candidates for federal or statewide office were invited and encouraged to participate. AAM does not endorse political candidates.
The Rothschild Town Hall featured a special report on the recent U.S. International Trade Commission ruling ordering duties on coated paper imports. Petitions filed by the United Steelworkers, Appleton Coated LLC, New Page Corporation, and Sappi Fine Paper North America led the commission to conclude that unfairly traded imports from China and Indonesia are a significant contributor to mill closures and job losses in the United States.
The Rothschild event also boasted the first screening of “Papertown,” a music video documenting the struggle and survival of paper mill communities nationwide.
A wide range of Wisconsin candidates attended in the Wausau town hall, including Rob Taylor, Constitution Party candidate for Senate; Julie Lassa, Democratic Party candidate for the 7th Congressional District; State Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker; Rep. Donna Seidel, Democrat from the 85th State Assembly District; and Chuck Eno, Republican candidate for the 85th Assembly District.
“This was a rare opportunity for business, labor and community leaders to come together and express a shared desire for sensible trade policy. Manufacturing has to be at the heart of any long-term economic recovery,” said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt. “Wisconsin workers can compete and thrive in a global economy, but in order to do so our elected leaders must make a commitment to buy and build American.”
After the political candidates made their remarks, Neuenfeldt participated in an expert panel which included Andy Gussert, National Director of the Citizens Trade Campaign; Mike Roemerman, Human Resources Director for NewPage Corporation; and Dr. Gerry Ring, Professor and Chair of the Paper Science and Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.
The town hall meeting and the civic panel focused on the need to create good jobs for the 21st Century; the importance of fighting for manufacturing as the key to any economic recovery; and leveling the playing field for American workers and businesses in the global marketplace.
More information about the Fall 2010 town hall tour can be found at: www.americanmanufacturing.org.
The Alliance for American Manufacturing is a nonpartisan, nonprofit partnership of several leading U.S. manufacturers and the United Steelworkers.
Local media turned out to cover the Town Hall. Below are links to two of the press clips.
WOAW-TV Channel 9: http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=13414507
Wausau Daily Herald: http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20101030/WDH0101/10300499/Manufacturing-jobs-focus-of-Alliance-for-American-Manufacturing-meeting
(Top Photo: Expert panel at the "Keep it Made in America" Town Hall Meeting in Wausau. Bottom Photo: 7th Congressional District Candidate Julie Lassa. All photos courtesy of the Alliance for American Manufacturing. For additional images, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38128181@N06/sets/72157625270600762/with/5127302933/.)
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