Dear Subscribers: Be sure to check out the new America's Business vodcast at www.americasbusiness.org...This Week on “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” American manufacturers are about to lose a champion in Congress. Six-term Pennsylvania Republican Rep. John Peterson will retire at the end of his term.Peterson, a guest on this week’s edition of “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” has a 100 percent approval rating when it comes to voting on legislation vital to manufacturing.He is also a leading proponent of opening offshore oil and gas exploration to boost energy supplies, an issue more important than ever considering high prices at the pump.“We need to open up the Outer Continental Shelf. We need to do coal to liquids, coal to gas, we need to open up more of Alaska,” Peterson says. “We need to do a lot of things because the energy crunch -- we have these high numbers without a real crisis in the world.”Manufacturers are battling an epidemic of counterfeit products on the market, from airplane parts to dog food and razor blades.Rick Cotton, NBC Universal’s general counsel, will join Mike to discuss what Congress and a group he heads are doing to battle the problem. Cotton leads the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, a joint project of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.“This is the new face of organized crime,” Cotton says.“America’s Business” will also discuss a new report from the Manufacturing Institute and the SM McGladrey professional services firm that examines how small and medium manufacturers are adapting to a more globalized and integrated supply chain.And the program will take a special trip to Stride Inc., a New Mexico writing instrument and office products company that is bringing much needed jobs and dignity to disabled people.In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of America Justice Partnership gives us the latest news on tort reforms while the National Association of Manufacturers’ Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.”And the NAM President John Engler gives us “The Last Word” when he talks about a favorable Supreme Court decision that will shield businesses from unnecessary lawsuits. For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.

Dear Subscribers: Be sure to check out the new America's Business vodcast at www.americasbusiness.org...This Week on “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” Coal might have a dirty reputation but it’s vital to America’s energy needs. Did you know half of the electricity generated in the United States comes from coal?West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin will appear on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” to talk about the role coal will play as America develops alternative energy sources. America can also use coal in an environmentally clean way, said Manchin, who represents the nation’s second largest coal producing state.“The bottom line is we’re going to continue to use coal in this nation as we move out in the next 10, 20, 30 years,” Manchin says. “I believe, truly believe, that we can do it much cleaner, much greener, much more responsible.”Speaking of energy, Louisiana Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu will visit “America’s Business” to discuss what Congress can do to ensure America has a stable and affordable energy supply. The senator recently voted against a motion to advance an energy bill because she believes taxes on oil and gas would hurt our energy supply.“We don’t need to be discouraging production of oil and gas,” Landrieu explains. “We do need to be promoting the production of alternative fuels but not at the expense of traditional sources.”With the presidential election season heating up, Greg Casey, president of the Business Industry Political Action Committee, will chat with Mike about what’s at stake for manufacturers. And two reporters from respected Capitol Hill newspapers will shed light on issues Congress could tackle in 2008.In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of America Justice Partnership gives us the latest report on tort reform while the National Association of Manufacturers’ Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.”And the NAM President John Engler will offer up the “The Last Word” when he talks about the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and how important free trade and exports are for the nation’s electronics makers.For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.

Dear Subscribers: Be sure to check out the new America's Business vodcast at www.americasbusiness.org...This Week on America’s Business, when it came to international trade, 2007 was a busy year for America. There was a textile agreement with Mexico in January, a broader deal with South Korea in April, and the year ended on a climatic note when Congress and President Bush approved a trade pact with Peru. America’s top trade negotiator Susan Schwab, a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick,” says things won’t slow down in 2008. “We have had a big year in trade in 2007 and anticipate an equally busy and productive year in 2008,” U.S. Trade Representative Schwab says. U.S. trade policy won’t be the only issue “America’s Business” tackles in its first program of 2008. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, chairman of the National Governors Association, will tell Mike about that group’s push to promote alternative energy sources. With oil lately hitting $100 a barrel and gasoline prices rising, Pawlenty says America must develop other energy sources. “Obviously one of the big issues facing our country is how we’re going to continue to access and use energy at an affordable, secure and predictable level,” he says. Attorney Cleta Mitchell will join Mike to talk about how new lobbying reforms could stymie manufacturers’ ability to connect with lawmakers. And Brian Johnson from the Alliance for Worker Freedom will discuss a new report on how states rate when it comes to worker rights. This winter is already shaping up to be one of the snowiest in years. All that snow is manna from heaven for snowmobile manufacturers. International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association President Ed Klim will join Mike to talk about how snowmobile makers are seeing sales rise in foreign markets such as Russia. In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of America Justice Partnership gives us the heroes and villains of tort reform battles and the NAM’s Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler gives us “The Last Word” when he talks about how the bright lights of Broadway could go dark if New York officials succeed in closing the Indian Point nuclear power plant. For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online, please click here. And for video highlights and more, check out www.americasbusiness.org.

Dear Subscribers: Be sure to check out the new America's Business vodcast at www.americasbusiness.org...This Week, America's Business, a rash of product recalls made toy safety a big issue in the news as this year's holiday shopping season approached. The recalls also prompted Congress to consider strengthening the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the agency charged with ensuring products sold in stores don’t hurt consumers and vulnerable children. This week on “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) will report on the status of legislation to increase funding and enact reforms at the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Dingell is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is working on the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act. “America’s Business” will explore another issue important to manufacturing – opening new markets abroad through trade agreements. U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab will join Mike to talk about the recently approved Peru trade pact and other initiatives. Although World Trade Organization members weren't able to finish the Doha round to further open global markets, 2007 was still a banner year for U.S. trade, Schwab says. "Anticipating equally busy and productive 2008," she says. And Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), co-chairman of the Reliable Energy Caucus, will share his views on how energy legislation is shaping up in Congress. On a lighter note “America’s Business” will take a look at popular gifts this holiday season. A Sony official will review some of that company’s hottest-selling electronic gadgets. Then “America’s Business” will go low-tech when it visits Whittle Shortline Railroad, a Missouri company that makes traditional wooden toys. In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of America Justice Partnership gives us the heroes and villains of tort reform battles while the National Association of Manufacturers Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the NAM Manufacturers President John Engler gives us “The Last Word” when he delivers a holiday message.

Dear Subscribers: Be sure to check out the new America's Business vodcast at www.americasbusiness.org...This Week, America's Business is turning its attention to a problem hitting the pocketbooks of manufacturers and everyday Americans – rising energy prices. The price of a gallon of gas recently averaged of $3 a gallon, up 30% from a year ago. Congressman Nick Lampson (D-TX) will join Mike to talk about why he was one of a handful of Democrats who recently voted against a controversial House energy bill. Lampson says the bill doesn’t boost fuel supplies and could cause more pain at the pump. “The bill really didn’t do anything to reduce energy costs for families in my opinion who are struggling to make ends meet,” Lampson says. Meanwhile Alexander “Andy” Karsner, assistant energy secretary, will discuss a program to help industrial plants cut energy costs. The Energy Department’s “Save Energy Now” initiative appears to be working and “America’s Business” has the proof – an official from Dow Chemical will tell Mike how the program helped his company slash energy expenses. America has sired some great inventors – Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison and George Washington Carver to name a few. But are Americans losing the lead when it comes to thinking up fresh ideas and products? John Kao, author of “Innovation Nation,” is worried we’ve lost our edge. He’ll drop by America’s Business to discuss this problem and how it could affect America’s future.“In my mind, it’s a scenario where America could become a much less happy place to live,” Kao says. In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of America Justice Partnership gives us the heroes and villains of tort reform battles and the NAM’s Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler gives us The Last Word when he talks about a proposed EPA ozone regulation that could cause the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs.

5 of 195 episodes displayed
View All Episodes >
(190 more)