Dear Sir or Madame-
Click here to view an archive of past newsletters
In this May 19, 2010 Publication:
Kerry, Lieberman Unveil Climate Bill,
Receive Obama's Endorsement
New CBO Estimate Increases Cost Of
Health Reform By $115 Billion
Health Care Reform: Adult Child Coverage
and Related Tax Treatment
Manufacturing Matters – Participate in
the Annual Shipment Census
Understanding Metalworking Fluids 101
Metalcasters Speak Out on Importance of
Manufacturing to U.S. Congress
Just Announced! June 2nd NADCA Energy Efficiency Workshop
Kerry, Lieberman Unveil Climate Bill, Receive Obama's Endorsement
The AP (5/13, Daly) reports Sens. John Kerry
and Joe Lieberman unveiled their Senate climate bill "that aims to curtail pollution blamed for
global warming, reduce oil imports and create millions of energy-related jobs...the product of more
than seven months of negotiations and tweaked recently in response to the Gulf oil spill." The
legislation "also includes new protections for offshore drilling and for the first time would set a
price on carbon dioxide emissions produced by coal-fired power plants and other large polluters,"
while aiming "to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases by 17
percent by 2020 and by more than 80 percent by 2050." At a news conference to unveil the bill, Kerry
said, "This is a bill for energy independence after a devastating oil spill, a bill to hold polluters
accountable, a bill for billions of dollars to create the next generation of jobs and a bill to end
America's addiction to foreign oil."
McClatchy (5/13, Schoof) reports Kerry stressed "it was possible to get the bill
passed this year, though time for debate will be limited, given the Senate's crowded agenda and
November's congressional elections." Said Kerry, "We're going to fight for 60 votes to make America
more competitive, safer and stronger," adding "that several Republicans had told him they were
'encouraged' by parts of the draft." The article notes that the bill "arrives as the oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico is revealing a hidden cost of the nation's dependency on oil," but it "would give
states the right to veto drilling within 75 miles of their coastline and would give a separate veto
to neighboring states with a high risk of damage from a spill."
New CBO Estimate Increases Cost Of Health Reform By $115 Billion
The AP reports
President Barack Obama's "new health care law could potentially add at least $115 billion more to
government health care spending over the next 10 years, congressional budget referees said Tuesday."
If Congress "approves all the additional spending called for in the legislation, it would push the
ten-year cost of the overhaul above $1 trillion -- an unofficial limit the Obama administration set
early on."
The Hill says that Energy and Commerce Republicans stated, "We can
expect the true cost to grow even higher, since CBO noted this new estimate does not include 38
sections of grant programs, which cover 406 pages of legislation." The "White House quickly responded
to the latest figures from CBO by pointing out that the new estimates would need to be paid for and
therefore do not affect the deficit."
Health Care Reform: Adult Child Coverage and Related Tax Treatment
This bulletin discusses certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, signed into law by President Obama on March 23
and 30, 2010, respectively (referred to collectively in this bulletin as the “Reform Legislation”),
IRS Notice 2010-38 and the Interim Final Regulations regarding coverage of children to age 26. This
bulletin is the second in a series that will examine the impact of the legislation and implementing
guidance on employer-sponsored group health plans.
The Reform Legislation contains two provisions relating to adult children and employer-provided group
health plans: one provision imposes a coverage requirement and the other affects how coverage will be
taxed. These two provisions are complementary and allow employers to provide immediate favorable tax
treatment for certain adult child coverage. This is good news for employers who wish to adopt the
coverage requirement early or who provide insured plans in states that require coverage of adult
children.
This bulletin will briefly address the coverage requirement, explain the tax provision and compare
the two provisions to highlight taxation and plan changes that employers may be able to immediately
implement.
Please click here to view the entire bulletin in HTML format:
http://www.thompsonhine.com/publications/publication2092.html
Manufacturing Matters – Participate in the Annual Shipment Census
NADCA developed a system of tracking annual shipment pounds of die castings. NADCA annually collects the same data
yearly to allow us to provide valuable information to you and our politicians. This is an annual industry census
recording shipment trends from year to year. The Department of Commerce stopped collecting this data a few years
ago.
This census is for North American Die Casters only. To enter your company's data, please visit www.diecasting.org/shipments/all by May 31st.
Understanding Metalworking Fluids 101
It seems that more and more die casters are performing secondary operations like machining, vibratory
finishing and sub assembly of cast components. These operations add value to casted parts and profits
to casting companies. Machining operations are many times the first step in the secondary process,
and the die caster has many decisions to make regarding the types of machines needed, the types of
tooling required and the coolant necessary to maximize the quality of each part produced.
Manufacturing engineers are usually well-versed regarding the machine and type of tooling needed, but
in many cases the coolant aspect of the operation is the least understood and the least researched.
Coolant is usually purchased based on cost-per-gallon, past experience or a recommendation from a
tooling or machine supplier. To read more about the various types of coolants and the best ways to
maximize their performance in the sump, click here to login and read this month’s issue of Die Casting Engineer.
Metalcasters Speak Out on Importance of Manufacturing to U.S. Congress
Wheeling, IL – May 21, 2010 – The 2010 Metalcasters Alliance for Government Affairs Conference was held in Washington, DC, on May 5-7, 2010. More than 125 attendees representing the metalcasting industry gathered to emphasize the need for policies that encourage economic growth and improve manufacturing’s competitiveness.
Economist and professor Peter Morici was the luncheon keynote speaker, offering insight into the Capitol Hill economic, tax and trade agenda. Attendees heard presentations on pending legislative and regulatory issues, as well as this fall’s election campaigns.
Conference participants met with lawmakers and key staff from 22 different states in more than 100 pre-scheduled meetings during Metalcasting Advocacy Day. Pertinent issues such as concerns regarding the Environmental Protection Agency regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, the lack of permanency in tax code, currency manipulation, card check and climate change legislation were addressed. Friday was set aside for upcoming regulations. Attendees heard about several new OSHA enforcement directives and upcoming rules, including crystalline silica and combustible dust.
“The die casting industry was well-represented at the Government Affairs conference," said NADCA president Daniel L. Twarog. "More than 20 people attended from the die casting industry, and they visited 30 different Congressmen and Senators. Our message on manufacturing’s importance was delivered and well-received.”
The conference, cosponsored by the American Foundry Society and North American Die Casting Association, is the premiere legislative event for metalcasters each year. For more information on the 2010 Metalcasters Alliance for Government Affairs Conference and issues affecting the metalcasting industry, click here.
Just Announced! June 2nd NADCA Energy Efficiency Workshop
Save the date for this one day seminar featuring Alex Monroe’s
Cap and Trade Key note Presentation. The seminar will be held at Nemak in Sylacauga, AL. More information to come.
For the most current information visit: www.diecasting.org/meetings/energy
