Metals Service Center Institute Policy Agenda

The Metals Service Center Institute’s government affairs efforts focus on legislation and regulation that impact the cost and competitiveness of North American manufacturing, and particularly, producers and distributors of carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum in North America.

We support legislation, tax policies and regulations that lower the costs of doing business and encourage free enterprise.

ü  We oppose the repeal of the LIFO accounting method. Repeal would create tax liabilities that could devastate service centers, producers and their customers.

ü  We oppose the Schumer – Van Hollen DISCLOSE Act , H.R. 5175/S. 3295. This legislation would limit corporate political speech and our constitutional right to influence elections and advocacy campaigns.  The bill targets corporations while continuing to allow unions to spend hundreds of millions to support candidates who are not sympathetic to business issues.

We support free and fair trade, which means enactment and enforcement of trade laws that combat illegal subsidies, manipulated currencies and all other mercantilist policies.

ü  We support the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act of 2009, S. 1027/H.R. 2378.  This legislation would provide relief for U.S. manufacturers impacted by currency manipulation and its export subsidy effects.

We support labor laws and policies that encourage profitability, opportunities for personal advancement, safety, and workforce development.

ü  We oppose the Employee Free Choice Act in any form.  In addition to its elimination of the secret ballot in union elections, we oppose these other provisions:

·         Binding arbitration,

·         Limits on corporate communication efforts during organizing campaigns,

·         Any form of a “quick election”, and

·         Increased penalties for corporations without increased fines for similar union activities.

We support energy policies that protect our environment, create reliable domestic energy supplies and work to ensure that North American manufacturers don’t leave for countries with limited or no regulations.

ü  We support regulations that would lead to a cleaner environment that are multiparty and commonly adopted by the entire world community.

ü  We oppose the Waxman – Markey Cap and Trade legislation and its unilateral regulation of U.S. industry.

ü  We oppose the EPA regulation of green house gases (GHGs) under the provisions of the Clean Air Act and its unilateral regulation of U.S. industry.

For a copy of MSCI's Policy Agenda, click here.

To contact your elected officials on any of the above policy positions, go to our "Take Action" page.

For more information on MSCI’s government affairs activities, click here.

For more information on MSCI’s new Brookings Institution Public Policy Symposium, click here.

If you have any additional questions or comments, please contact Jonathan Kalkwarf at 847/485-3007.