Business Organizes Fight Opposing Waxman Markey

"Those who do not stand up for their own rights will certainly lose them" (theCommonSenseCurmudgeon@blogspot.com).

Despite being a summer dominated by heated public involvement and media coverage of the national health care debate, and relatively cool temperatures for the Upper Midwest, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the National Association of Independent Businesses (NAIB) have been planning and now have launched a multi-state campaign designed to influence Senate debate of Waxman Markey.

Together with state manufacturing associations in Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Virginia, this powerful business coalition is encouraging small business owners and the public to make sure their collective voices are heard on the devastating economic impact of Waxman Markey on the national economy.

The national advertisement portion of the "Speak Out" campaign will run through September 4 and will include television, radio and the Internet.

Their early August-announced Study of the Economic Impacts of Waxman Markey conducted by NAM and the American Council of Capital Formation (ACCF) produced the following five key findings:

1. cumulative loss in GDP up to $3.1 trillion (2012-2030);

2. employment losses up to 2.4 million jobs in 2030;

3. residential electricity price increases up to 50% by 2030;

4. per gallon gasoline price increases up to 26% by 2030; AND

5. the manufacturing sector would absorb 55-66% of the jobs lost

NAM and NAIB are urging the public to lobby their Senators to oppose any climate legislation that damages job creation or raises consumer and business costs.

Considering the unemployment rate increases and stagnating incomes during the great recession that began in 2006, sounds like good advice to me.