West Virginia Manufacturers Association

News from NAM

BULLETIN
 2001 Quarrier Street * Charleston, WV 25311
Telephone (304) 342-2123 * FAX (304) 342-4552 * Email: wvma@wvma.com

December 27th, 2007

Top Story

U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) Begins. Led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson and Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, the third round of the SED is being held in Beijing Dec 12-13. Talks will include a number of high-priority manufacturing issues including the value of China's currency, product safety, energy and environmental issues, and bilateral investment. We expect there will be an agreement signed between the United States and China that will increase the safety of food, drugs and medical devices imported from China. The NAM briefed the Administration on manufacturing priorities last week and will continue to push for a healthy trading relationship. Details: Pat Mears, (202) 637-3141.

Economic Data

Fed Cuts Interest Rates. The Federal Reserve cut a key short-term interest rate Dec. 11 by a quarter percentage point, to 4.25 percent, signaling concern over financial market strains and a cooling economy. The NAM supported the cut as a boon for manufacturing and business investment. Details: David Huether, (202) 637-3148.

Energy and Environment

Energy Bill Vote Expected Today. The Senate is expected to vote today on a new version of energy legislation. While the package included important energy efficiency provisions and incentives, unfortunately, it did not expand access to domestic oil and gas that could have lowered energy costs for manufacturers. The NAM will continue to work on behalf of commonsense energy policies that will make manufacturers more competitive as Congress continues to consider this matter. Details: Keith McCoy, (202) 637-3175.

Human Resources Policy

Flaunt Your Success Stories — NAM Call for Abstracts. The NAM and DMAA: The Care Continuum Alliance are now accepting presentation proposals for the Integrated Care Summit, held Sept. 9-10 at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, Fla. Members who are interested in wellness and prevention initiatives — don't miss this opportunity! Please note, the primary presenter MUST be an employer/purchaser; abstracts without an employer/purchaser will not be considered. All proposals must be submitted by Friday, Jan. 25. View complete policies and guidelines and follow links to abstract submission systems for the Summit here. Details: Amee Short, (202) 637-3131.

NAM Advocates Health Information Technology. The NAM signed a joint letter Dec. 10 by a diverse group of industry and consumer organizations to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Ranking Member Michael Enzi (R-WY), urging legislation to promote the adoption of health information technology (Health IT). The NAM is a strong advocate for Health IT and the valuable payoffs for both patient and provider including lower costs, better quality and greater efficiency. Details: Jeri Gillespie, (202) 637-3127.

Regulatory and Legal Reform

House Energy and Commerce Committee To Mark Up CPSC Bill. Today, the full House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to mark up H.R. 4040, The Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act of 2007. The NAM opposes any amendments that seek to include objectionable provisions from the Senate bill, including the weakening of protections for business information submitted to the CPSC, having the Commission adjudicate employee-employer disputes, and raising the cap on penalties to $100 million. Details: Rosario Palmieri, (202) 637-3177.

Arbitration Fairness Act. On Dec. 12, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing before the Subcommittee on the Constitution on S. 1782, “The Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007.” This bill nullifies contract provisions that include pre-dispute arbitration agreements including employment, franchise and business-to-business contracts. Hearing notice and witness list here. Details: Rosario Palmieri, (202) 637-3177.

Tax, Pensions and Technology

Congressional Action Needed To Extend the Terrorism Insurance Program. The clock continues to tick on the scheduled Dec. 31, expiration of the federal terrorism risk insurance program. The House and Senate have each passed slightly different bills that would extend the program but Congress has not yet sent final legislation to the White House. The NAM is supportive of the program, which provides a federal backstop for terrorism insurance. The program, put in place after 9/11, has helped the nation's businesses secure the insurance coverage necessary to protect our nation's economic security. Details: Dorothy Coleman, (202) 637-3077.

NAM Drives IP Protection Effort. The NAM participated in a media roundtable Dec. 12 on “The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2007” (H.R. 4279) as part of the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy — of which NAM is a founding member. The roundtable teed up today's hearing by the House Judiciary's Subcommittee on Courts, The Internet and Intellectual Property. The NAM is a leading advocate for intellectual property protection and for the House bill — which is supported by more than 500 businesses and trade associations, as well as organized labor. Counterfeiting and piracy are a global epidemic, costing the U.S. economy alone more than 750,000 jobs and $250 billion annually. If passed, the House bill would double the penalties for counterfeiters whose actions result in injury or death, increase resources for enforcement at U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and create a permanent position at the White House dedicated to intellectual property protection. More information here. Details: Marc-Anthony Signorino, (202) 637-3072.

Trade Policy

President To Sign U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement. President Bush is expected to sign the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Authority Act during a ceremony tomorrow, making it the only trade agreement to be completed in the 110th Congress. The Peru agreement is also the first to include enforceable labor and environment provisions agreed to in the May 2007 Bipartisan Trade Policy Agreement between Congress and the Administration. Trade agreements boost manufactured goods exports, which make up two-thirds of total U.S. exports — a boon for America's economic and job growth. Details: Doug Goudie, (202) 637-3078.

Court Cases Affecting Manufacturers

More Secondhand Exposure Litigation. Five states have recently rejected employer liability for off-site secondhand exposure to substances that employees bring home from work. The mere foreseeability of harm to third parties is not enough to extend the employer's duty of providing employees with a reasonably safe work environment to potential harm outside the workplace. The NAM and other organizations filed an amicus letter Nov. 26 in the case, Honer v. Merck & Co. (CA), Nov. 26 urging the California Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling that would impose such a new duty on employers. This is yet another example of a case where courts have been asked to extend liability beyond that which is generally available in our tort system. If such a leap is to be made, it should be made by state and federal legislatures considering all the policy implications, and not by individual judges. Details: Quentin Riegel, (202) 637-3058.

NAM Opposes Automatic Reverse Bifurcation. The flood of asbestos cases filed in Philadelphia over recent years has led the courts there to practice reverse bifurcation, where issues of medical causation and damages are tried before issues involving theories of liability and product identification. The NAM believes this procedure, virtually automatic, is prejudicial to defendant manufacturers. Juries are asked to determine how high the damages are, and then, afterwards, to decide whether the defendants are liable. For hundreds of years, in regular tort cases, liability and damages have been tried simultaneously. The NAM and others filed an application Dec. 10 to join as amici, or friends of the court, in Donoughe v. Hobart Bros. Co. (Pa. Supr. Ct.), in a petition for reconsideration of the court's procedure. Details: Quentin Riegel, (202) 637-3058.

Other News

NAM Can Help You Reduce Rx Costs by 4-10 Percent. Through Aon Consulting, the NAM has entered into exclusive relationships with two national prescription drug coalitions to help members reduce their prescription drug costs by 4 percent to 10 percent. If you have 175 to 9,999 employees and retirees, and are self-insured, your company is eligible to participate in the Caremark Prescription Drug Coalition. This coalition allows you to combine your buying power with an existing pool of more than 600,000 lives. If your company has more than 10,000 employees and retirees and you are self-insured, you are eligible to participate in the Medco Prescription Drug Coalition. This coalition allows you to combine your buying power with an existing pool of more than 1 million lives. In addition to cost savings, each coalition has added benefits exclusively available to NAM members. Get a free savings analysis today at www.nam.org/RX. Details: Dan Akman, (202) 637-3196.

NAM Buyer's Guide Helps Deliver Sales Leads. Promote your company's products and services on the NAM Manufacturing Buyer's Guide (formerly the Buyer Seller Network). The Guide is an online trade directory of NAM members that allows buyers domestically and around the world to find and contact those NAM members who provide the products or services they need. The Guide, searchable in 10 languages, allows buyers to send your company requests for quote (RFQs) and click through to your Web site. Seller listings are exclusive to NAM members. Basic listings are free. Premier listings offering preferred placement, links to your catalog and the option to be networked on 17 other international directories are also available. Don't delay driving motivated sales leads to your company. Register online today at www.nambuyersguide.com. Details: Wendy McIntyre, (202) 637-3197.

NAM Spring Board Meeting Sponsorship Opportunities. Would you like to get your brand in front of a virtual who's who of manufacturing? Well, look no further than the spring 2008 NAM Board of Directors Meeting. Held March 5-8, 2008, in Naples, Fla., a sponsorship commitment offers your organization invaluable face-to-face networking time with your peers and numerous benefits such as branding, product placement and recognition by NAM's Executive and Board Leadership. Currently, the NAM is accepting sponsorship commitments for a variety of programs including receptions and dinners, networking luncheons, multi-event packages, and promotional product sponsorships. Details: Wendy McIntyre, (202) 637-3197.

 
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