Elesha Barnette
+ FollowObama Makes Big Pitch on Boeing and Manufacturing
Last week, President Obama flew to Everett, Washington, where he toured a Boeing 787 Dreamliner Plant.
Obama referred to it as “the plane of the future”, citing the manufacturer’s use of composite materials which makes it “lighter, faster and more fuel efficient than any airplane in its class.”
During the tour Obama praised the company and its workers for helping bring “jobs and manufacturing back to America.” The plant was also the location Obama chose to deliver his weekly address from. There was a clear theme in the message: manufacturing is still the key to economic success.
In terms of location, politics and symbolism, the President could not have chosen a better location.
Boeing employs tens of thousands of Americans in its factories and facilities across the country, and the supply chain for its products reach into every state in the nation—supporting thousands of additional jobs. The company is also one of our top exporters, selling its commercial planes to 53 countries in the last five years.
The 787 Dreamliner, assembled in Everett, is the world’s most advanced commercial airplane. Nearly 8,000 people were directly employed in building the Dreamliner, and many more by the companies that supply its parts. And of the 870 orders already placed for the Dreamliner, about 80 percent of the planes constructed in the United States will be shipped to other countries.
“…the Dreamliner. It’s an impressive sight. And, to be honest, part of why I came was to see it up close. But I also came because this is a great example of how we can bring jobs and manufacturing back to America,” Obama said to the crowd made up mostly of Boeing employees.
With Boeing as the backdrop, the President used an opportunity to illustrate investment in and support of businesses like Boeing – which is hiring thousands of Americans across the country. Policy initiatives in the pipeline are steps such as removing tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas and giving them to companies that create jobs at home.
“…tax breaks should go to manufacturers who set up shop here at home. Bigger tax breaks should go to high-tech manufacturers who create the jobs of the future. And if you relocate your company to a struggling community, you should get help financing that new plant, that new equipment, or training for new workers,” he said.
There was a bit of posturing directly at Congress from the Boeing stage. “It’s time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding businesses that create jobs here in America,” argued the President. “And Congress should send me that kind of tax reform right away.”
While many are focused on the technology sector the President pointed out that manufacturing should not be ignored: it still represents nearly 60% of total U.S. exports.
“Another thing we’re doing is to make it easier for companies like Boeing to sell their products all over the world, because more exports mean more jobs. Two years ago, I set a goal of doubling U.S. exports over five years. And we’re on track to meet that goal – ahead of schedule.”
No doubt Boeing is contributing significantly to Obama being on track as it had more $34 billion in total exports in 2011, up over 45% since 2006.
In this year’s State of the Union Address, the President laid out a Blueprint for an America Built to Last. A significant portion of the blueprint focuses on manufacturing as the White House recognizes the vital role it must play in continuing to strengthen the economy.
“We have a big opportunity right now to build not only an economy that will help us succeed today, but an economy that will help our kids and their kids succeed tomorrow,” said the President. “We know what we need to do. We need to strengthen American manufacturing.”
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6 Responses to Obama Makes Big Pitch on Boeing and Manufacturing
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eric says:
If you are a worker, you haven't got a clue on which side your bread is buttered. If you are a republican to booth, you deserve everything nasty that is coming.
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C'mon man says:
Actually, the South Carolina plant was never “stopped”, as a matter of fact the complaint that the union and the NRLB submitted was withdrawn with an unprecedented contract negotiation approved by the union and its members through a vote in Dec. of 2011. I can understand that you wanna bash Obama and unions but at least get your facts straight. If it weren’t for unions there would be no middle class left in America. Companies would rather pay you $4.50 an hour with no benefits and no increased pay for overtime, evolution should have weeded you out a long time ago.
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florian_schach says:
Obama’s Manufacturing Initiative is indeed a good idea and one that should really take of here in the states. But to realize the initiative that he’s put forth business owners really need an incentive to bring both their businesses back here and create jobs. Though there might be a tax incentive for them to return, it can’t do much good if regulation and compliance costs are a constant nuisance making it hard for them to operate. With the cost of annual regulation being so high (http://eng.am/sTM3nH) we actually are working against ourselves for our own goals. Until we fix this we won’t be able to truly move forward in our economic recovery process.
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Simple, tax them good if they go offshore.
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Haha what a joke. Those employees should remember Obama and his corrupt unions stopped Boeing from building a factory in South Carolina. How can this guy claim to be pro-business and pro-free enterprise when he behaves like this?