Tonight’s debate took on a very different format, and a very different tone from the first debate. It was much more combative with the candidates painting very different pictures of their vision for economic recovery and manufacturing growth.

Both President Obama and Governor Romney spoke early and often in support of growing manufacturing jobs in the United States. While it’s good to hear the support, it is incredibly important to implement policies that will not just lead to recovery, but to sustained growth. The candidates spent much of the night discussing the elements that make it 20 percent more expensive to manufacture in the United States—taxes, regulation, energy and trade.

Time and again, the conversation returned to job creation—fundamentally the most significant issue in this election. Manufacturers couldn’t agree more, but we’d like to remind the candidates that it’s also essential that we fill the 600,000 job openings in the manufacturing sector that remain unfilled today because employers can’t find workers with skills that match the jobs.

Energy policy is an immediate pathway to jobs. President Obama spoke about increased oil production and a desire for an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, but yet again, this debate came and went without the President mentioning the Keystone XL pipeline. Governor Romney had it absolutely right when he told the audience at Hofstra University that we need to “take advantage of energy resources we have and we’ll see manufacturing jobs come back.” Governor Romney advocated in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline again and also spoke of shale gas, a game-changer that would create 1 million manufacturing jobs. The President also supported shale gas efforts, but his endorsement of more federal regulation on shale will handcuff the growth opportunity that it represents.

Special attention was paid to trade tonight—a critical aspect of our economy for manufacturing growth. President Obama deserves credit for signing the Colombia, South Korea and Panama free trade agreements and increasing exports. But manufacturers need more—the United States has a trade surplus with nations with whom we have free trade agreements. Governor Romney is right in the need for expanded trade that will open up markets for manufacturers in the United States and level the playing field around the world.

As the debate repeatedly returned to jobs, tax policy and its impact on economic growth was a focal point. Tonight the candidates doubled down on their position—Governor Romney in his support for bringing down rates across-the-board and President Obama in his support for an increase in the top individual rate. Unfortunately, if the two-thirds of manufacturers who file at the individual rate are hit with the looming tax hike, they will see a continuation of the tough times they’ve experienced over the past four years. With energy and health care costs increasing and the fiscal abyss approaching, manufacturers are getting squeezed on both ends. That’s not a recipe for economic growth.

Getting the nation on track again and putting our fiscal house in order requires addressing the factors that make it 20 percent more expensive to manufacture in the United States. The moment that we put in effect the pro-growth policies that manufacturers are calling for is the moment our true recovery can begin.

Tonight’s debate opened with a focus on jobs. It was a good start and exactly where our focus needs to be.

Manufacturing means jobs. Manufacturing means secure, good-paying jobs that help drive our economy. Governor Romney laid out a strong jobs program built on the fundamental principles of a pro-growth agenda. He correctly noted that tax revenues for the government only go up when people have jobs that allow them to pay taxes in the first place. Sixty-six percent of manufacturers pay taxes at the individual rate, and a tax hike for these job creators will stop job creation in its tracks. Washington policies that include looming tax hikes have resulted in 55 percent of surveyed small businesses and manufacturers saying they would not start a business today. Allowing manufacturers to invest in their businesses and their workforce is the only true path to economic recovery.

Ensuring that the workforce has the proper training and skills is a consistent concern for manufacturers in the U.S. Despite an unemployment rate that has been above 8 percent for the past few years, we still have 600,000 jobs that remain open because manufacturers can’t find workers with the skills to match the jobs. President Obama’s focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education opportunities is a critical aspect of creating the type of workforce that will drive the innovation that will maintain America’s place as the number-one manufacturing nation in the world.

But the spirit of the American dream, of people lifting themselves up through education, could take a backseat if the trend of picking winners and losers in business continues. The attempt to “villainize” energy producers in the U.S. was predictable, but it won’t get us any closer to the “all-of-the-above” energy policy that we sought after. Manufacturers, as consumers of one-third of our nation’s energy supply, need affordable and consistent energy resources to drive our economy. Governor Romney was absolutely right when he called for the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. Keystone XL represented one of the single strongest opportunities for job creation in the past couple of years, and the discussion of energy policy returned the debate right back to where the focus needed to be on—jobs.

Today, TransCanada Corporation formally proposed a new route for its Keystone XL Pipeline project, one that avoids Nebraska’s Sandhills region.  This means the clock is once again ticking on Keystone XL’s environmental review process. From day one, the Keystone XL Pipeline has meant jobs, economic growth and energy security for manufacturers in the U.S. – consumers of one-third of our nation’s energy supply.

If you recall, TransCanada first applied for a Presidential Permit in September 2008.  After three years of rigorous environmental review–by far the most detailed and comprehensive environmental review ever conducted for a cross-border pipeline–the company was told that federal regulators needed more time examine its environmental impacts.  TransCanada lived with that decision, re-routed the project and and re-filed its application.

One thing is immediately obvious from a review of today’s application: TransCanada is intent on avoiding any potential environmental impacts raised by regulators and the public.  Not only does the new route avoid the areas NDEQ suggested avoiding but also additional areas commenters identified as vulnerable.

So let’s get on with it.  It has now been four years since TransCanada first applied for its permit.  The Keystone XL Pipeline is a clear job creator that would improve the nation’s energy security.  NAM hopes this latest round of permitting is completed quickly and efficiently, allowing the project to move forward.

Today the State Department published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the new routes for the Keystone XL pipeline. This is another important step in moving forward to the approval of the pipeline to create manufacturing jobs.

Keystone XL will immediately create 20,000 manufacturing and construction jobs and 118,000 spin off jobs. Not to mention the much needed energy supply.

We will continue to urge the President to approve the pipeline as soon as possible to help get Americans back to work.

Today, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that the Trans Mountain pipeline project in Canada will begin its expansion west, creating thousands of jobs during its construction and operation. Manufacturers continue to scratch our heads and wonder why the U.S. can’t get its act together and approve the Keystone XL pipeline — which would not only create thousands of jobs but would give us access to affordable energy from a neighboring ally.

With Washington putting politics before sound policy on Keystone XL, it has left Canadian officials looking to other markets for crude. According to the WSJ: 

Canadian oil executives have sought to open new markets for their crude, especially after the White House rejected the Keystone XL project. The pipeline became ensnared in a political battle in Washington, with environmental groups and many Democrats opposing the pipeline. Republicans embraced it as a way to bolster energy security and create jobs.

Manufacturers need affordable, reliable energy to compete in the global marketplace, and by continuing to miss out on opportunities to have access to energy sources from allies, we only jeopardize our nation’s national security. In manufacturers’ eyes, with the development of the oil sands in Canada, our nation is missing the opportunity of a lifetime.

Aric Newhouse is senior vice president of policy and government relations, National Association of Manufacturers.

The Nebraska State Legislature passed LB 1161 this afternoon on a 44-5 vote that brings TransCanada closer to finding a new route for the Keystone XL pipeline in Nebraska. This is positive news as it means TransCanada is that much closer to applying for another Presidential Permit to build the pipeline across our border with Canada. Approval of the pipeline means jobs and access to an affordable source of energy.

Gov. Heineman is expected to sign the legislation which will allow TransCanada to work with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to find a suitable route for the Keystone XL pipeline. The legislation also gives the governor 30 days to review the route and indicate whether or not they approve of the routes reviewed by DEQ

We cannot forget this project could have been well underway if the President had signed the permit last fall. This is the prime construction season and as many as 20,000 people would be working or gearing up to work on the project. The ripple effect through the economy, not only in the Midwest but throughout the country, would have been substantial – creating 118,000 jobs.

It’s unfortunate that the creation of these jobs will have to wait because the President put politics before policy and jobs. This only hurts our nation’s job creators who are struggling with high gas prices.

We need a common sense “all of the above” energy policy that provides us with greater stability and access to energy from domestic and friendly sources. A true “all of the above” strategy includes the Keystone XL pipeline and expanded domestic exploration and drilling. Manufacturers can’t afford to wait. This time around we hope the President approves Keystone XL as soon as possible. 

Chip Yost is vice president of energy and resources policy, National Association of Manufacturers.

Today President Obama spoke about energy policy at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland. The President said we need an energy strategy for the future and an “all of the above” strategy for the 21^st century that develops every source of American-made energy.

The Administration seems to have missed the mark again. Clearly every source is not in the Administration’s plan as the EPA’s Utility MACT regulation is forcing the closure of clean coal power plants throughout the country, resulting in lost jobs.

The President also stated that his Administration has approved dozens of new pipelines to transport oil:

We’ve quadrupled the number of operating oil rigs to a record high.  I want everybody to listen to that — we have more oil rigs operating now than ever.  That’s a fact.  We’ve approved dozens of new pipelines to move oil across the country.  We announced our support for a new one in Oklahoma that will help get more oil down to refineries on the Gulf Coast. 

The pipeline in Oklahoma the President is referencing is what will be a section of the Keystone XL pipeline which TransCanada announced they will begin construction on soon in Oklahoma and Texas. The President decided that it wasn’t in the nation’s best interest back in January to approve the entire stretch of the pipeline from Canada down to Texas. Keystone XL would bolster our supply and provide manufacturers with an affordable source of energy.

Manufacturers can’t afford more of the same policies from Washington which are driving up energy prices and stifling growth. It’s time for a real “all of the above” approach which includes developing all domestic sources of energy to drive down energy prices.

It’s extremely disappointing the Senate failed today to take a stand for jobs and manufacturers by voting down important amendments to the transportation bill that would delay the harmful Boiler MACT regulations, expand exploration of the Outer Continental Shelf and approve the Keystone XL pipeline project. Senators failed to pass these amendments which would have saved jobs, created jobs and injected the economy with new life. 

There were 52 votes in support of the Collins amendment. Lisa Jackson, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has spent much of the past eight days up in the Senate meeting with Democratic Senators trying to convince them that there was really no need for the Senate to pass legislation. The standards the EPA has put forward are not achievable with our current technology, and the EPA knows this.

Manufacturers want reasonable and achievable regulations. They want some degree of certainty. They want government to quit trying to pick winners or favorites.

The Vitter amendment to expand drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) was rejected on a 46-52 vote. Senators need to realize that every barrel of oil produced in North America is another barrel that we don’t have to pull from somewhere else in the world. The more sources of oil and the more supply of oil means energy will be more affordable for manufacturers and that means more jobs. The Vitter amendment would open up vast tracks of the OCS to oil exploration and make the country more self-reliant.  (continue reading…)

Gas prices are starting to dominate the news again.  Manufacturers, like all Americans feel the pinch of rising gas prices.  Why do manufacturers care?  We use one-third of the energy consumed in the U.S. and rely heavily on moving goods. 

Manufacturers disagree with President Obama’s so called solutions on how to bring prices down.  This is why Washington needs to get serious about a real “all of the above” approach to energy. This approach shouldn’t demonize energy producers as it won’t solve the problem. 

Raising taxes on energy producers isn’t going to solve the problem either.  What we need is expanded access to our vast natural resources and the ability to work with our neighboring countries for more sources of energy.

If President Obama is serious about an “all of the above” approach to energy his Administration needs to move forward with approving permits including the Keystone XL pipeline and expanding our domestic sources of energy.

Today TransCanada announced they will begin construction of a section of the Keystone XL pipeline from Oklahoma to Texas after President Obama blocked the approval of the full Keystone XL project in January. The construction of this project will begin to create jobs in construction and manufacturing, however manufacturers are urging President Obama to approve the Keystone XL project as soon as possible which will create tens of thousands of jobs.

Today White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement that the Administration welcomed TransCanada’s announcement to begin construction of the pipeline saying:

“Moving oil from the Midwest to the world-class, state-of-the-art refineries on the Gulf Coast will modernize our infrastructure, create jobs, and encourage American energy production,” Carney said in a statement. “We look forward to working with TransCanada to ensure that it is built in a safe, responsible and timely manner, and we commit to take every step possible to expedite the necessary federal permits.”

If the President is serious about an “all of the above” approach to energy then why did he determine that the Keystone XL pipeline is not in the best interest of the nation and reject its approval last month? The project will provide much-needed jobs and provide manufacturers with an affordable source of energy.

From today’s statement the Administration fully supports this section of Keystone XL and they state they will take every step possible to expedite the necessary federal permits. Will the Administration take the same steps with the full approval of Keystone XL? Manufacturers hope so.