NAM launches campaign opposing higher energy taxes

As a part of its “Manufacturing Means Jobs!” campaign, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) on September 8 launched a multi-state, multi-million-dollar advertising campaign opposing costly energy taxes. This campaign comes days after the Obama Administration’s announcement of a $50 billion infrastructure proposal that White House officials say could be offset by new taxes on the energy sector. A new tax increase on businesses will not help spur job creation or economic growth for our economy.

The goal of the campaign is to prompt Congress and the Administration to consider the big picture – what it will take for businesses in the United States to succeed in the global marketplace. The clear message is that this country needs more jobs, not higher energy taxes. Proposed costly energy taxes will make it more difficult for businesses to compete, create jobs and grow our economy.

“Our message to Congress is very clear,” said NAM president and CEO John Engler. “At a time when unemployment remains over 9 percent, costly energy taxes will make our nation’s economic situation worse by raising costs for businesses and consumers and hurting businesses’ ability to compete in a global marketplace. We are encouraging manufacturers, small businesses and the public to tell Congress to say yes to jobs and no to higher energy taxes.”

The initial phase of the campaign will focus on the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and several state manufacturing associations will join the campaign in many of the states.

In June 2010, the NAM launched its “Manufacturing Means Jobs!” campaign with the release of the “Manufacturing Strategy for Jobs and a Competitive America,” which explains in clear terms what is at stake for manufacturing in the United States and provides a road map for policies that will allow manufacturers to create jobs and compete. Manufacturers urge Congress and candidates seeking federal office to endorse and publicly support this strategy. To read the Manufacturing Strategy, visit www.nam.org.

To view the spots that will run in these states, click here.

The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation’s largest industrial trade association, representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing has a presence in every single congressional district providing good, high-paying jobs.