Business Groups Oppose “Buy American” in Jobs Bill

(Forbes – Doug Palmer, Reuters)

U.S. business groups urged congressional leaders Wednesday to avoid a “Buy American” mandate in legislation aimed at creating jobs and helping the economy’s recovery from the worst recession since the 1930s. In a replay of a fight earlier this year over the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a coalition of nearly 30 business groups warned that requiring projects funded by the jobs bill to use only American-made goods would undermine, rather than foster, U.S. job growth.

“We are very disappointed to see Congress ginning up more ‘Buy American’ rules in this jobs bill,” Bruce Josten, executive vice president of government affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. “They will be as counterproductive as those in the recovery act.”

The House is expected to vote soon on a jobs bill that includes $48 billion for ready-to-go construction projects… Read more here.