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Elections

Democrat Doug Jones campaigns for the U.S. Senate in Alabama. (Photo: AP)

Democrat Doug Jones campaigns for the U.S. Senate in Alabama. (Photo: AP)

DEVELOPING: Democrat Doug Jones has won the 2017 special election for U.S. Senate in Alabama, defeating Judge Roy Moore in an upset to replace Attorney General Jeff Sessions. UPDATE: With 98% reporting, Mr. Jones led with 49.5%, or 639,088 votes, to 48.8%, or 629,749 votes.

It’s the first time a Democrat has won the state of Alabama in more than 20 years, since Richard Shelby in 1996, and comes on the candidate’s 25th wedding anniversary.

“This is a speech I’ve been waiting for my entire life and now I just don’t know what the hell to say,” Mr. Jones said in his victory speech. “I’m truly overwhelmed.”

Mr. Jones carried several counties that voted overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump, who consequently remains very popular in the state. In fact, his favorability rating among a heavily GOP-depressed electorate was still 50% in the state he won by 62.1% to 34.4%.

Lee, Chambers, Madison and several others voted for the Democrat over the embattled Republican candidate. Madison is the home turf for Rep. Mo Brooks, a Republican who lost in the first round of primary voting.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell targeted Rep. Brooks during the first round and the attacks were effective due to his relatively low name recognition outside of his district. President Trump, who initially backed incumbent Senator Luther Strange, did get behind the eventual nominee even as the party abandoned him.

Judge Moore had been plagued by allegations of sexual misconduct, which clearly had an impact. As of 98% reporting, 22,019 voters were write-in votes. That’s more than enough to make up the margin Mr. Jones won by. President Trump cited the write-ins on Twitter, though he congratulated Mr. Jones on his hard-fought win.

However, PPD editor and Big Data Poll Director Richard Baris says he sees a bigger problem brewing for Republicans.

“If this was just a one-off example of low turnout for the Republican Party this past year, then I’d say we shouldn’t read into it too much,” he said. “But this isn’t even the third instance of depressed turnout for the GOP.”

Big vote-getters such as Montgomery and Jefferson came out for Mr. Jones and Judge Moore’s margins were subpar juxtaposed to President Trump’s and other Republicans in the last two decades.

“Republicans have a turnout problem.”

Democrat Doug Jones has won the 2017

Economy

Producer Price Index (PPI) Graphic

Producer Price Index (PPI) Graphic

The Producer Price Index (PPI) again offered positive news on inflation in November, rising 0.4% for the third straight month in a row. Further, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Labor Department (DOL) report showed the year-on-year rate on an unadjusted basis rose 0.3% to 3.1%, the highest in nearly 6 years.

That’s the largest advance since a 3.1% gain for the 12 months ended January 2012. With today’s report, the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) is all but certain to raise rates at the policy-making meeting on Wednesday.

Inflation hasn’t been strong enough with the economy at full employment.

In November, three-fourths of the rise in the final demand index is attributable to a 1.0% gain in prices for final demand goods. The index for final demand services climbed 0.2%. The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services rose 0.4% in November, the largest advance since increasing 0.6 percent in April.

For the 12 months ended in November, prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services moved up 2.4%.

The Producer Price Index (PPI) again offered

Economy

President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks on tax reform at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Wednesday September 27, 2017. (Photo: PPD)

President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks on tax reform at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Wednesday September 27, 2017. (Photo: PPD)

In February, Dow Chemical (NYSE:DOW) CEO Andrew Liveris said that the Trump Administration is “probably the most pro-business administration since the founding fathers.” His remarks came after attending a meeting with President Donald Trump, who hosted manufacturing leaders at the White House almost one month exactly after his inauguration.

“The opportunity of this economy to grow it even more than the 2% rate is there,” Mr. Liveris said, adding “what I’ve noticed about this president is that’s what he wants to do.”

Nearly 10 months later, forecast models project the U.S. economy to grow by 3% or higher in the fourth quarter (4Q) 2017. If the 4Q forecasts are matched or exceeded, it’ll mark the third straight quarter of economic growth at or above 3% for the first time since 2004. It also means the first year of economic growth under President Trump is all but certain to surpass the strongest under Barack Obama.

Nearly 10 months later, the prospects of tax reform are fueling historic levels of optimism and confidence, both for businesses and consumers.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) said Monday manufacturers’ optimism in the 4Q of 2017 is the highest in the 20-year history of the Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey. The NAM said the survey has “risen to unprecedented heights” as a result of the tax reform bill.

“Four quarters of record-setting optimism don’t happen by accident,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “It is the direct result of manufacturers witnessing a sea change in policymaking in Washington, D.C., empowering them to hire more, invest more and build more—all in America.”

Now, 94.6% of respondents say they are positive about their own company’s outlook, making this quarter’s optimism level the highest ever recorded.

Optimism has been at historically high levels throughout the year, averaging 91.8% in the four quarters of 2017, up from just 64.3% for the average in 2016. Those levels of optimism are warranted given the boom in job creation in the sector.

Since a recent low in November 2016, before President Trump was elected on a platform to protect the manufacturing sector, industry employment has increased by 189,000. The November jobs report conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed manufacturing added a robust 31,000 jobs.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said small business optimism soared in November and is now closing in on the record high set in 1983. The Index of Small Business Optimism gained 3.7 points in November, largely the result of progress made by the U.S. House and Senate to pass the president’s signature overhaul.

“This is the second-highest reading in the 44-year history of the Index,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “The NFIB indicators clearly anticipate further upticks in economic growth, perhaps pushing up toward four percent GDP growth for the fourth quarter. This is a dramatically different picture than owners presented during the weak 2009-16 recovery.”

Again, these levels of optimism are warranted.

In a sign the U.S. economy is beginning to return to normal reliance on higher-paying, full-time jobs, small businesses (1 – 49 employees) added 50,000 jobs in the ADP National Employment Report for November. Mid-sized businesses with 50 – 499 employees added 99,000, while large businesses added only 41,000.

“The job market is red hot, with broad-based job gains across industries and company sizes,” Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, said.

The report also showed strong job creation in goods-producing sectors.

“The labor market continues to grow at a solid pace,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute. “Notably, manufacturing added the most jobs the industry has seen all year.”

The Conference Board said consumer confidence exploded in October to a new 17-year high and September was revised higher to 126.2. The Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 129.5 (1985=100), up from 126.2 in October and easily topping the 124.5 median forecast.

“Consumer confidence increased for a fifth consecutive month and remains at a 17-year high (Nov. 2000, 132.6),” said Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “Consumers’ assessment of current conditions improved moderately, while their expectations regarding the short-term outlook improved more so, driven primarily by optimism of further improvements in the labor market.”

The Present Situation Index continued to increase from 152.0 to 153.9, while the Expectations Index rose from 109.0 last month to 113.3.

In October, the Survey of Consumers posted the highest pre-holiday reading in more than 10 years. The current expansion pace is the second-highest its been since the mid-1800s. The Survey of Consumers showed the preliminary reading in November signaled an expected gain of 2.7% in real consumption expenditures in 2018.

“Perhaps the most important changes in early December were higher income expectations as well as a higher expected inflation rate in 2018,” Richard Curtain, chief economist for the Surveys of Consumers said.

The closely-watched gauge of consumer sentiment has hit multiple records, multiple times this year. By nearly every economic indicator, the U.S. economy is finally on the precipice of an explosion of prosperity after 8 years of subpar growth in the post-World War II era. Only failure in Washington can hold it back now.

“Small business owners are paying very close attention to what is happening in Washington,” NFIB President and CEO Juanita Duggan said. “They continue to list taxes as their number-one problem, but they now have clear expectations that Congress and the President will address that problem. As long as Congress and the President follow through on tax reform, 2018 is shaping up to be a great year for small business, workers, and the economy.”

The prospects of tax reform are fueling

Economy

President Donald Trump hosts a meeting with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on Monday January 23, 2017. (Photo: Reuters)

President Donald Trump hosts a meeting with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on Monday January 23, 2017. (Photo: Reuters)

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said small business optimism soared in November and is now closing in on the record high set in 1983. The Index of Small Business Optimism gained 3.7 points in November, largely a result of progress made by the U.S. House and Senate to pass President Donald Trump’s signature tax reform overhaul.

It would be the first overhaul to the U.S. tax code in 31 years and is exactly the reason why small business optimism has been on the rise since the 2016 presidential election. It was already at a near-record high in October.

“We haven’t seen this kind of optimism in 34 years, and we’ve seen it only once in the 44 years that NFIB has been conducting this research,” said NFIB President and CEO Juanita Duggan. “Small business owners are exuberant about the economy, and they are ready to lead the U.S. economy in a period of robust growth.”

Eight of 10 components posted gains, including a rare and extraordinarily strong 16-point jump in Expected Better Business Conditions. Sales Expectations saw a 13-point jump.

“This is the second-highest reading in the 44-year history of the Index,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “The NFIB indicators clearly anticipate further upticks in economic growth, perhaps pushing up toward four percent GDP growth for the fourth quarter. This is a dramatically different picture than owners presented during the weak 2009-16 recovery.”

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) said Monday manufacturers’ optimism in the fourth quarter (4Q) of 2017 is the highest in the 20-year history of the Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey. The NAM said the survey has “risen to unprecedented heights” as a result of the tax reform bill.

“The change in the management team in Washington has dramatically improved expectations,” Mr. Dunkelberg added.

The employment situation and labor market remained very strong despite a slightly decline in hiring. Job Creation plans gained 6 points in November and the number of owners who said it’s a Good Time to Expand rose 4 points; Inventory Plans rose by 3 points; Inventory Satisfaction gained by 3 points; and Actual Earnings Trend increased by 2 points.

“Job creation faded, but hiring plans soared, primarily in construction, manufacturing, and professional services,” Mr. Dunkelberg continued.

Finding qualified workers has been a persistent problem all year for small business owners, a reliable sign of growing economy. Last month, it was the second most important problem facing small business owners. Only taxes polled higher.

President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Labor to address the skills gap through apprenticeship initiatives meant to pair those who prepare workers with prospective employers.

“Small business owners are paying very close attention to what is happening in Washington,” Ms. Duggan said. “They continue to list taxes as their number-one problem, but they now have clear expectations that Congress and the President will address that problem. As long as Congress and the President follow through on tax reform, 2018 is shaping up to be a great year for small business, workers, and the economy.”

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

Elections

President Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Pensacola, Fla., Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. (Photo: AP)

President Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Pensacola, Fla., Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. (Photo: AP)

President Donald Trump urged voters to focus on the issues, tweeting Tuesday that the “people of Alabama will do the right thing” and “VOTE ROY MOORE!”

“The people of Alabama will do the right thing. Doug Jones is Pro-Abortion, weak on Crime, Military and Illegal Immigration, Bad for Gun Owners and Veterans and against the WALL,” President Trump tweeted. “Jones is a Pelosi/Schumer Puppet. Roy Moore will always vote with us. VOTE ROY MOORE!”

Polling has been all over the place in the Alabama race to replace Jeff Sessions in the U.S. Senate. Emerson College Polling, which was the second closest to Judge Moore’s margin during the primary (behind only the PPD Poll), had the Republican up by 9 points. The Fox News Poll had Democrat Doug Jones up 10 points and CBS News had him trailing the judge by 6 points.

Trafalger had Judge Moore leading Mr. Jones by nearly 6 points. But as People’s Pundit Daily (PPD) editor and Big Data Poll Director Richard Baris notes, the hill is steep for Mr. Jones.

Source: Voter Files

Source: Voter Files

“Republicans in Alabama are conservative and they are many,” Mr. Baris notes. “Democrats need a mass sit-out for Mr. Jones to prevail and that doesn’t appear to be a likely scenario. Data collected this week also indicated his support outside of the Seventh Congressional District has weakened over the previous week, significantly.”

The special election in Alabama comes as President Trump hopes to wrap up his signature tax reform package, the first overhaul to the U.S. tax code in 31 years. The U.S. House and Senate have passed similiar but differing versions, sending it to conference for approval before it can get to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

Mr. Jones would not support that bill if he made it to the U.S. Senate, nor any of the other key agenda items Alabama voted for in 2016. Mr. Jones and Democrats are hoping a barrage of sexual misconduct allegations outweigh the issues.

Judge Moore made that very argument at his final “Drain the Swamp” rally at Jordan’s Activity Barn in Midland City, located in Dale County. The Wiregrass region is a Republican bastion and he’ll need to run up the margins against Jones. He carried it over incumbent Senator Luther Strange in the primary runoff back in September by a 2-to-1 margin, as did President Trump against Hillary Clinton.

He was joined by Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, Breitbart executive chairman Steve Bannon and former U.S. Army Captain Bill Staehle, who served with Moore in Vietnam.

President Donald Trump urged voters to focus

Politics

President Donald Trump signs the Presidential Space Directive - 1, directing NASA to return to the moon, alongside members of the Senate, Congress, NASA, and commercial space companies in the Roosevelt room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

President Donald Trump signs the Presidential Space Directive – 1, directing NASA to return to the moon, alongside members of the Senate, Congress, NASA, and commercial space companies in the Roosevelt room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

President Donald Trump on Monday signed White House Space Policy Directive 1, a public-private partnership for human missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. The U.S.-led program represents the latest change in national space policy under the Trump Administration aimed at renewing U.S. engagement in space.

“The directive I am signing today will refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery,” President Trump in a statement. “It marks a first step in returning American astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, for long-term exploration and use.”

“This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprints — we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, to many worlds beyond.”

The ambitious effort will make government more effective by partnering with the private industry and increase international efforts toward returning humans on the Moon. Directive 1 calls for the NASA administrator to “lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities.”

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said the directive will lay the foundation that will eventually enable human exploration of Mars. It was the result of a unanimous recommendation made by the new National Space Council, chaired by Vice President Mike Pence, after its first meeting October 5.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, America will lead in space once again on all fronts,” said Vice President Pence. “As the President has said, space is the ‘next great American frontier’ – and it is our duty – and our destiny – to settle that frontier with American leadership, courage, and values. The signing of this new directive is yet another promise kept by President Trump.”

In addition to a mission returning humans to the moon, it also ends NASA’s existing effort to send humans to an asteroid. In July, the President revived the National Space Council and empowered them to help implement his space policy. It makes human exploration of the solar system a national priority.

“NASA looks forward to supporting the president’s directive strategically aligning our work to return humans to the Moon, travel to Mars and opening the deeper solar system beyond,” said acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot. “This work represents a national effort on many fronts, with America leading the way. We will engage the best and brightest across government and private industry and our partners across the world to reach new milestones in human achievement.”

NASA said work toward the new directive will be reflected in their Fiscal Year 2019 budget request next year.

“Our workforce is committed to this effort, and even now we are developing a flexible deep space infrastructure to support a steady cadence of increasingly complex missions that strengthens American leadership in the boundless frontier of space,” Administrator Lightfoot added. “The next generation will dream even bigger and reach higher as we launch challenging new missions, and make new discoveries and technological breakthroughs on this dynamic path.”

President Donald Trump on Monday signed White

Politics

Christopher Steele, left, the former MI6 agent and head of the Russia desk, and Bruce G. Ohr, right, former associate deputy attorney general at the Justice Department. (Photos: AP/ Global Initiative)

Christopher Steele, left, the former MI6 agent and head of the Russia desk, and Bruce G. Ohr, right, former associate deputy attorney general at the Justice Department. (Photos: AP/ Global Initiative)

The wife of a high-level Justice Department (DOJ) official who was recently demoted reportedly worked for Fusion GPS through the fall of 2016. The revelation that the shadowy smear firm employed Nellie Ohr, wife of demoted DoJ official Bruce Ohr, was uncovered by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI).

“The House Intelligence Committee is looking into all facets of the connections between the Department of Justice and Fusion GPS, including Mr. Ohr,” Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., told Fox News in a statement.

Mr. Ohr, who was the associate deputy attorney general and director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), was ousted from his office on the fourth floor of “Main Justice.”

While he maintains his title at OCDETF, Mr. Ohr was stripped of associate deputy attorney general after it was revealed he met with Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson shortly after the presidential election. The meeting was believed to have been facilitated by Christopher Steele, a former MI6 British Intelligence Officer and research-gatherer for the so-called Trump dossier, otherwise known as the Steele dossier.

DOJ initially did not offer an explanation for Mr. Ohr’s demotion, but later confirmed he had withheld his meetings with and ties to Fusion GPS. Mr. Steele, who notably was the former head of the Russian desk at MI6, almost exclusively used sources linked to the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After a year of denying the allegations, a bombshell report recently revealed that the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) paid more than $10 million to fund the dossier. Congressional investigators have long suspected Obama Administration officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and DOJ used the unverified dossier as justification to spy on Team Trump.

The nonprofit Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging both the Clinton campaign and the DNC violated campaign finance law by failing to accurately disclose payments for the discredited dossier.

As People’s Pundit Daily (PPD) previously reported, Fusion GPS has been less than cooperative with both the House and Senate committees investigating their role in what appears more likely to be a smear campaign. In a 10-hour long interview with the Senate Judiciary Committee, Simpson refused to answer lawmakers’ questions.

Congressional sources told PPD Simpson and his lawyer Josh Levy provided thousands of “disrespectful” records to the committee, being that most were blank or press clippings. He also wanted an assurance the transcript would be kept “confidential,” and only made public after they reviewed it for accuracy and redactions were made.

This is the latest in a growing list of politicization stains connected to federal law enforcement agencies and officials allegedly involved in high-profile investigations.

Peter Strzok, a top investigator on the Democrat-dominated team assembled by Special Counsel Robert Mueller III, was fired over the summer before it could be revealed he was sending anti-Trump texts to another government lawyer, with whom he was having an affair. Lisa Page, the lawyer having an affair with Mr. Strzok on the other end of his anti-Trump messages, was also hired and fired by the special counsel.

Mr. Strzok played a key role in changing the memo drafted by fired former FBI director James Comey to exonerate Mrs. Clinton. The language was amendment to change “gross negligence” to “extreme carelessness” to describe her handling of the classified information.

He not only oversaw the interview with Lt. General Michael Flynn that resulted in charges of lying to federal agents but also of Hillary Clinton, which did not. FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is under several inspector general investigations for his conduct during and handling of the Clinton email investigation. Mr. McCabe’s wife also gave roughly a half of million dollars to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, a top Clinton ally.

The wife of a high-level Justice Department

US

Akayed Ullah, 27, suspect in an explosion at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan on Dec. 11, 2017. (Photo: New York Taxi Commission via AP)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the suspect behind an attempted terror attack on the Port Authority in New York City was in the U.S. due to chain migration. Akayed Ullah, 27, a Bangladeshi national living in Brooklyn, was one of four injured when his pipe bomb exploded prematurely in an underground passageway between Seventh and Eighth Avenues on 42nd Street.

“The Department of Homeland Security is taking appropriate action to protect our people and our country in the wake of today’s attempted terrorist attack in New York City,” Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen said in a statement. “We will continue to assist New York authorities with the response and investigation and we urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.”

Secretary Nielsen spoke with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner James O’Neill in the wake of the attempted terrorist attack. Mayor de Blasio, a supporter of sanctuary cities and unfettered legal and illegal immigration, isn’t interested in curbing chain migration.

“Let’s be clear. This was an attempted terror attack,” Mayor de Blasio said at a press conference. “There is no specific threat.”

However, that directly contradicted what law enforcement sources told PPD early Monday, which is that jihadis have recently been sharing an image of Santa Claus with a pipe bomb at Times Square. The online graphic is meant to inspire so-called lone wolf attacks like the one attempted by Ullah.

The term Chain Migration refers to the endless chains of foreign nationals who are allowed to immigrate to the United States because citizens and lawful permanent residents are allowed to sponsor their non-nuclear family members. Annual immigration has at least tripled since chain migration began in the mid-1960s, though some estimates are even higher.

For instance, in 2001, the United States admitted 1,064,318 immigrants-, roughly 4 times greater than in the 1950s. As the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) notes, that’s enough people to populate or even create a major city the size of Chicago, Illinois.

Only five years after chain migration began, the number of immediate relative admissions nearly doubled from 32,714 in 1965 to 79,213 in 1970. Thirty-six years later, the number of immediate relatives admitted was more than 13 times higher–443,964.

It has led to millions being consigned to visa waiting lists and chain migration further incentivized illegal immigration, which has been exacerbated by programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

“More broadly, the administration continues to adopt significant security measures to keep terrorists from entering our country and from recruiting within our borders,” Secretary Nielsen added. “The enemy we face is persistent and adaptive. But they should know this: Americans will not be coerced by terrorism, and we will not allow it to become the new normal. We will fight back aggressively and bring terrorists to justice.”

Police block off a sidewalk while responding to a report of an explosion near Times Square on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in New York. (Photo: AP)

Police block off a sidewalk while responding to a report of an explosion near Times Square on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in New York. (Photo: AP)

Law enforcement officials said Ullah was “ISIS-inspired,” but as of now there is no indication he made direct contact with the Islamist group. The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission confirmed Ullah was a licensed cab driver from March 2012 to March 2015.

His TLC For-Hire Vehicle Driver’s License was not renewed after 2015.

President Donald Trump has said repeatedly that chain migration would be a deal-breaker for any immigration reform legislation passed by Congress and sent to his desk. On Twitter in September, he said it “cannot be allowed,” indicating he would use his veto power.

He also called on the U.S. Congress to “immediately terminate” the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program. As PPD was first to report, Sayfullo Saipov, the 29-year-old Uzbekistan national who killed 8 and injured at least 11 others during a terror attack near the World Trade Center in November, came to the U.S. under the program in 2010.

The Obama Administration singled out Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide “a limited number” of visas for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants.”

Diversity visas (DV) are allegedly issued to those who come from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S., regardless of risk to national security. They are distributed among 6 geographic regions as a lottery, and registration costs are non-existent.

In August, President Trump–flanked by Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and David Perdue, R-Ga.–introduced the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy Act, or RAISE Act. Supported by more than 70% of Americans, the RAISE Act reform the U.S. legal immigration system from a family-based (chain) to a merit-based in order to benefit U.S. workers.

It is estimated to cut entries by 50% over the next decade and establishes a points-based merit system that prioritizes high-skilled immigrants and those who have the potential to become job-creating entrepreneurs. The changes are modeled on the immigration systems adopted in Canada and Australia.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Press Conference

DHS confirmed Port Authority suspect Akayed Ullah,

Economy

President Donald J. Trump meets with the National Association of Manufacturers at the White House on March 31, 2017. (Photo: Reuters)

President Donald J. Trump meets with the National Association of Manufacturers at the White House on March 31, 2017. (Photo: Reuters)

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) said manufacturers’ optimism in the fourth quarter (4Q) of 2017 is the highest in the 20-year history of the Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey. The NAM said the survey has “risen to unprecedented heights” as a result of the progress made by the U.S. House and Senate to pass President Donald Trump’s signature tax reform overhaul.

“Four quarters of record-setting optimism don’t happen by accident,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “It is the direct result of manufacturers witnessing a sea change in policymaking in Washington, D.C., empowering them to hire more, invest more and build more—all in America.”

The U.S. Senate earlier in the month passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the first overhaul to the U.S. tax code in more than 30 years.

Now, 94.6% of respondents say they are positive about their own company’s outlook, this quarter’s optimism level is the highest in the survey’s 20-year history. Optimism has been at historically high levels throughout the year, averaging 91.8% in the four quarters of 2017. That’s up from just 64.3% for the average in 2016.

“These incredible numbers demonstrate the absolute urgency of getting tax reform signed into law because manufacturers are saying loudly and clearly that more jobs, better pay and manufacturing growth are on the horizon,” Mr. Timmons added. “This also serves as a warning to lawmakers: Fail to get this done, and American manufacturing workers will suffer the consequences of inaction.”

The Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey also found that failure to enact tax reform would have serious consequences for manufacturers. Nearly 60% of respondents say they will lose opportunities to grow their businesses and more than 20% say they will be unable to expand their facilities and hire new workers.

An overwhelming two-thirds of manufacturers would consider a vote against tax reform as a vote against their businesses.

More than three-quarters of manufacturers surveyed support the current tax reforms being debated in Congress. Nearly 63% said comprehensive business tax reform would encourage their company to increase capital spending, and more than half (57.9%) said they would expand their businesses and hire more workers (53.8%).

Nearly half (48.8%) would increase employee wages and benefits.

The November jobs report conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed manufacturing added a robust 31,000 jobs, including in machinery (+8,000), fabricated metal products (+7,000), computer and electronic products (+4,000), and plastics and rubber products (+4,000).

Since a recent low in November 2016, before President Donald J. Trump was elected on a platform to protect the industry, manufacturing employment has increased by 189,000. The positive employment situation in the government jobs report follows the ADP National Employment Report, which also showed a stronger-than-expected labor market in the private sector.

“The labor market continues to grow at a solid pace,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute. “Notably, manufacturing added the most jobs the industry has seen all year.”

About the Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey

For 20 years, the NAM has surveyed its membership of more than 14,000 large and small manufacturers to gain insight into their economic outlook, hiring and investment decisions and business concerns. The NAM releases these results to the public each quarter.

Manufacturers’ optimism in the fourth quarter (4Q)

People's Pundit Daily
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