Source: American Progress

March 11, 2004

ECONOMY

The Six Month Wait

President Bush took six months to choose someone to fill the post of "manufacturing czar" and he still managed to get it wrong.

The position, announced last Labor Day with great fanfare, was designed to help the ailing manufacturing industry – which has hemorrhaged more than 2.8 million manufacturing jobs since Bush took office. The Administration planned to announce the nomination of Anthony Raimondo, CEO of Behlen Manufacturing Co., at a press conference this morning. But that event was abruptly canceled after serious concerns emerged about Raimondo's record. (American Progress released this backgrounder yesterday afternoon). Now several administration officials say "the nomination may be scrapped." A look at Raimondo's record reveals what a poor choice the President made for the position.

TONY RAIMONDO OUTSOURCED AMERICAN JOBS: When President Bush created the position last year he said the nation had "lost thousands of jobs in manufacturing...some of it because production moved overseas." And some of the jobs moved overseas were moved by Tony Raimondo. In 2002, just four months after laying off 75 U.S. workers, Raimondo announced he planned to build "a $3 million factory in northwest Beijing...employing 180." For his part, Raimondo was "unavailable for comment" because he was on a "business trip to China."

TONY RAIMONDO IS HOSTILE TO WORKERS: Raimondo is "a longtime board member of the National Association of Manufacturers," a group that is notorious for opposing efforts to improve conditions for American workers. NAM has lobbied to strip 8 million workers of federal overtime protections, consistently opposed any effort to increase the minimum wage to keep up with inflation and fought workplace safety laws.

TONY RAIMONDO IS A UNION BUSTER: According to the business publication Inc. Magazine, shortly after Raimondo took over Behlen in 1982 he pushed hard to decertify the labor union operating at his company. Raimondo coached management to sweet talk likely union supporters just prior to the vote and, on a close vote, was able to bust the union. Later, Raimondo said that had he not been able to get rid of the union he was not sure he would "have had the courage or determination" to continue operating the company.

TONY RAIMONDO FACED FINES FOR WORKPLACE VIOLATIONS: Under Raimondo's leadership Behlen has been accused by the federal government of maintaining unsafe working conditions. On 5/16/98 The Omaha World-Herald reported "the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a $123,000 fine against Behlen Manufacturing Co. of Columbus for alleged safety violations that resulted in an employee being injured."

TONY RAIMONDO SHILLED BUSH'S TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY: On 2/7/01 the Omaha World-Herald reported "Bush was meeting with Nebraskan Tony Raimondo and dozens of other small business executives as part of his weeklong effort to build momentum for his tax package." Raimondo was a natural ally - he had twice given the maximum contribution to Bush's presidential campaign. The tax cuts Raimondo supported will cut the taxes of a middle class manufacturing worker (making about $35,000 year) $560 next year. Meanwhile the top 1% of earners (who make, on average, about $1 million a year) will rake in over $41,000 because of the tax cuts.

TONY RAIMONDO MEANS MORE DELAYS: Some believe the Administration will pull the nomination of Raimondo and select someone else. That means, after 6 months, there will be even more delays before the position is filled. After learning of the appointment of Raimondo yesterday, Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said "On Labor Day, more than six months ago, President Bush came to my district to announce the creation of a manufacturing czar. The President took so long to name anyone to that post, we thought the job had been outsourced."