Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, spoke about the current state of manufacturing issues in the United States at the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Focus on Manufacturing Breakfast Friday in Milwaukee.
Timmons said the manufacturing industry has an oversized impact on the national economy, but has faced a number of challenges in recent years, especially global competition.
“We’re the voice of 12 million men and women who make things in America,” he said. “Washington has to start taking our competitors and our competition much more seriously than it does now.”
Timmons outlined NAM’s national growth agenda, which includes corporate tax cuts to make U.S. companies more price competitive internationally.
He condemned Congress for its inability to compromise on the fiscal cliff and now the sequester, which is keeping companies in uncertain territory.
“This type of week by week budgeting is having an effect not just on manufacturing, but on other industries,” Timmons said.
Timmons lauded Gov. Scott Walker for his work promoting manufacturing and attracting businesses to Wisconsin.
“I thank you for what you have done to ensure that manufacturing remains strong in this state,” he told the crowd.
After Timmons spoke, a panel discussed manufacturing in Wisconsin, the United States and the world. Kurt Bauer, president and CEO of WMC, moderated the panel. The panel included Aaron Jagdfeld, CEO of Generac Corporation, Ulice Payne Jr., managing member of Addison-Clifton LLC and Alan Petelinsek, president and owner of Power Test Inc.
