a look at four senatorial races critical for the industry. Next, we examine the issues that stand to affect your business most in the coming years.
ELECTIONS IN FOCUS All 435 seats in the U.S. House of
Representatives and 36 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate are at stake in the 2010 mid-term elections. Currently, the Democratic party holds a majority in both legislative bodies, making it easier for its members to pass their agenda, including on the issues important to the metalcasting industry. But less than six months from the
Nov. 2 election, pundits continue to predict that Republicans will likely reduce the Democratic majorities. “There’s widespread talk of a sweeping change in House elections in November, but Senate races are less susceptible to national movements,” said political analyst Nathaniel Gon-
Pennsylvania
the 111th
The U.S. metalcasting industry provides cast components for the renewable energy sector and transportation.
zales of the Rothenberg Report. “Sen- ate races tend to be easier to localize, which should help Democrats who are otherwise carrying the baggage of unpopular Congressional leaders. But the political wind is decidedly not in favor of Democrats, and party leaders aren’t getting the favorable breaks they had been in recent cycles.” Washington, D.C., political analyst
Charlie Cook described the U.S. politi- cal atmosphere as containing “an anti- Democratic-incumbent wind...[and] a strongly populist, anti-Washington, anti-Wall Street wind.” The following four senatorial
contests will take place in political battleground states that are the largest producers of metal castings.
Ohio The race for the second largest pro-
ducer of metal castings’ Senate seat pits Democrat Lee Fisher against Republican Rob Portman. Fisher, Ohio’s current lieutenant governor, has made jobs creation a centerpiece of his campaign. He also counts energy, foreign policy and health care among his key issues. Portman is a former member of con-
Pat Toomey Joe Sestak
gress and held two cabinet-level posts in the George W. Bush Administration. During his time as a lawmaker, Portman voted in favor of export tax breaks, ac- cording to voting record watchdog On the Issues, and was rated 97% by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, indicating a pro-business voting record. He voted no on raising fuel economy standards and establishing incentives for alterna- tive fuels in 2001.
Indiana Independent Brad Ellsworth, a
former sheriff and current member of the House of Representatives, takes on GOP nominee Dan Coats in the fourth largest metal casting producing state. Ellsworth, whose father was a factory worker, brings a populist message to the election, with a focus on improv- ing the way business is done. During
MODERN CASTING / June 2010
Congress, Ellsworth voted yes
on stimulus spending, the bailouts for GM and Chrysler, and regulating the subprime mortgage industry. He was one of the few Democrats to oppose the House climate change bill, the American Clean Energy and Security Act and has shown repeated support for the development of alternative fuels. Coats is a former legislator with a
background in law. While serving in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, Coats voted to cut taxes and limit spending, including new en- ergy taxes. According to his campaign website, he plans to follow a similar agenda if elected to the Senate again.
Illinois Illinois, the fi fth largest metal casting
producer in the nation, will elect either Alexi Giannoulias or Mark Kirk to its open senate seat in November. Democrat Giannoulias, the State
Treasurer of Illinois, is a proponent of ethics in government and has made jobs and the economy the centerpiece of his campaign. As state treasurer, he has worked toward creating transpar- ency in the budgeting process. GOP candidate Kirk serves the 10th
district of Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was one of eight Republicans that voted in favor of the House climate change bill, and he voted against the health care reform bill signed into law in March. Kirk voted no on the auto company bailouts of 2008.
Pennsylvania Either Democrat Joe Sestak or Re-
publican Pat Toomey will walk away with the open Senate seat in Pennsyl- vania (the seventh largest producer of metal castings in the nation). Sestak is a current member of the U.S. House of Representatives and has an extensive military background. He has voted yes on stimulus and bailout funds, as well as the health care bill and the House climate change measure. He has also voted yes on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization. Toomey is a party-line conservative
with a background in fi nance and small business. As a former member of Con- gress, he made tax cuts and spending limits a focus of his agenda. According to On the Issues, Toomey has a 90% approval rating by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has not supported incentives for alternative fuels, and has been active
31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60