80th
Legislature Summary
What Would Have Happened Without TAM?
Legislative
Landscape of the 80th Legislature
The need for the Texas Association of Manufacturers has never been more critical
as fewer and fewer elected officials represent or truly understand modern
manufacturing. Gone are the days when manufacturing fell neatly into traditional
categories like mining or agriculture. Today’s manufacturers are complex
and solutions to propel our businesses are equally complicated – creating
an urgent need to educate elected officials about the new realities of 21st
century manufacturing in the global marketplace.
All Texas manufacturers should be involved in the political and legislative process so that elected officials understand that manufacturing is a foundation industry that makes long-term investments in communities and grows more jobs than any other sector. All good jobs start with manufacturing, a fact that too few people know. That’s why the Texas Association of Manufacturers exists. We hope you’ll help TAM spread the word that manufacturing is the cornerstone of Texas.
What would have happened
this session without TAM?
With the session behind us, let’s look what would have happened if TAM
wasn’t at work everyday for manufacturers. Without TAM:
TAM battled everyday at the Capitol to fend off dozens of proposals that would have crippled Texas manufacturers.
TAM at Work
for Manufacturers
TAM adopted a series of policy principles about energy, transportation, taxes,
water, air, and competitiveness, which guided the Association’s efforts
during the 80th Legislative Session. As always, TAM operated with an eye toward
public policy's impact on jobs and manufacturers' ability to remain domestically
and globally competitive.
Energy
TAM led the charge to protect electric reliability and affordability during
the session. We know energy costs are among the most important issues to manufacturers
and tracked more than 200 energy related-bills. On a daily basis during the
session, industrial customers of all sizes were exposed to legislation promoting
subsidies, mandates, and additional electricity costs. TAM was at the legislature
everyday successfully battling billions of dollars of added annual costs and
attempts to disrupt reliability. For example, one amendment would have given
residential customers a 50% transmission reduction - paid for by industrials.
TAM will spend the next 18 months until the 81st Legislature working with
lawmakers to develop market-based energy policies.
Taxes
Continuing its leadership role that began during the special session to create
the new business margins tax, TAM was at the table to craft clarifications
of the new tax to make the system more clear and fair for manufacturers. TAM’s
efforts to educate lawmakers are crucial as critical tax issues promise to
resurface during the 2009 session. TAM was also a leader in a coalition that
promoted R&D tax credits and will remain committed to pursuing tax credits
for the R&D that is central to a thriving and competitive manufacturing
industry.
Environment
A troubling trend in environmental policy was pervasive at the Capitol as
many were more interested in splashy headlines touting quick fix solutions
- rather than sound environmental policies that would actually generate demonstrable
results. TAM repeatedly staved off mandates, subsidies, redundant policy and
“special deals” for narrow market segments that would be paid
for by manufacturers. TAM insisted that environmental solutions actually reflected
Texas realities and did not interfere with successful, existing programs.
As manufacturing becomes more complex, our environmental policies must be
innovative and cutting edge. As such, we made significant progress by helping
to pass legislation that promotes energy efficiency, creates an eWaste program,
and expands successful programs like TERP and LIRAP. TAM was also central
to the passage of a bill that will create several study commissions that will
allow manufacturers to participate in the examination of water infrastructure
needs, costs, funding gaps and all current water fees.
Transportation
TAM kept the Texas economy moving by helping to pass legislation that will
expedite the permit processing and move loads faster through the state. TAM
understands that commerce can’t move without efficient permitting and
manufacturers can’t move without permits. TAM will also participating
in comprehensive study of future public policy issues on road building and
financing during the interim.
Competitiveness
To continue the drumbeat about the importance of manufacturing, TAM supported
an initiative housed in the Governor’s office to showcase and promote
the manufacturing industry. As part of improvements to the Texas Emerging
Technology Fund and Texas Enterprise Fund, TAM ensured proper focus on protecting
and sustaining existing jobs as well as bringing more jobs within our borders.
Tort Issues
TAM was successful is blocking dozens of flawed tort proposals and new causes
of action that would have rolled back reform, threatened jobs, increased the
cost of construction, increased questionable lawsuits, increased healthcare
costs and even eliminated the right to contract. TAM’s efforts helped
to close a legal loophole that threatened jobs through maritime lawsuits against
dredging employers. TAM successfully defeated harmful legislation focused
on potential state qui tam (whistleblower), anti-indemnity, anti-consolidated
insurance, and antitrust issues. Throughout, TAM was steadfast in protecting
and continuing tort reform in Texas.
TAM Looking
Forward
TAM’s inaugural session was extremely productive yet our work to promote
manufacturing is just begun. Texas manufacturers face enormous challenges,
not only from increased international competitive pressures, but from a growing
lack of understanding of modern manufacturing. Our business is increasingly
complex and public policy solutions are more complicated than ever.
Never before has the need for education and outreach about manufacturing been more crucial. The interim presents several opportunities to advance the manufacturing cause through participation in interim studies and recommendations of pro-manufacturing appointees to environmental, utility, workforce and education agencies. During the interim, TAM has the chance to be at the table on issues concerning:
We look forward to – and depend on - ongoing support from our membership to continue the fight for manufacturers.