WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, major businesses and the Illinois Manufacturing Association celebrated the progress of Kirk's effort to revive the Export-Import Bank Thursday in the U.S. Senate.
Conservative groups such as Heritage Action worked against the Ex-Im Bank, arguing that the bank assisted big companies such as Caterpillar, GE and Boeing rather than mid- and small-sized manufacturers. They claimed the Ex-Im Bank was more crony capitalism than it was benefitting America's productivity.
Illinois Review asked the Kirk campaign for a response to such criticism. We asked, "… A considerable number of people say the Ex-Im Bank is crony capitalism and only helps the biggest companies, while doing nothing to assist small- and mid-sized manufacturers – and it has nothing to do with ironing out a problematic political system that helps only the big guys. How would Senator Kirk respond to that criticism?" we asked. "Thanks for your consideration."
Within the hour, Kirk's campaign manager Kevin Artl responded:
In other words, Artl's response was that the Senate vote was overwhelmingly in favor of Kirk's Ex-Im Bank proposal, so there was nothing more to say.
Illinois Review contacted Heritage Action to ask for their response to Artl's reply. Dan Holler, the group's vice president of communications and government relations replied:
"Senator Kirk's refusal to engage in constructive dialogue with his constituents is concerning," Holler said. "Does he believe his constituents should subsidize Boeing's business ventures into Iran? How about Caterpillar's sales to its own Dutch subsidiary? Or subsidize the cost of GE shipping jobs to Mexico?
"The truth is that more than 99.5-percent of small business exporters in the state of Illinois export without the Export-Import Bank. It is a bank that caters to the few — and every lawmaker knows it."
Sources say that the conservative groups will raise the Ex-Im Bank issue again in the near future.
A release sent out by the Kirk campaign earlier in the say said that more than 244 Illinois small businesses rely on the Ex-Im Bank, and more than 200,000 American jobs are supported through the Bank.
“We brought the Export-Import Bank back to life, so American manufacturers and workers can compete against our foreign competitors on a level playing field,” Senator Kirk said. “We should ship goods, not jobs, overseas. Thanks to Senators Heitkamp, Blunt, Graham and Ayotte for working with me for over a year on this legislation to save American jobs.”
The statement included accolades from Boeing, GE and Caterpillar executives.
“Caterpillar commends Senator Kirk's leadership and dedication to preserve and grow jobs in Illinois and the United States through reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank. Our economy can only benefit when companies have the tools to compete on a level playing field with our global competitors. The Ex-Im Bank is important, not just to Caterpillar, but to our suppliers, customers, dealers and employees,” said Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman.
The timeline of the legislation is as follows:
- March 19, 2015: Senators Kirk and Heitkamp introduce the Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act (S. 819).
- June 10, 2015: A test vote on Ex-Im in the Senate passes 65-31.
- June 30, 2015: Ex-Im charter expires, no new loans are made and companies consider moving jobs overseas.
- July 27, 2015: Senate passes Kirk-Heitkamp Ex-Im legislation as an amendment to the highway will (the DRIVE Act) by a vote of 64-29.
- October 27, 2015: House passes Kirk-Heitkamp Ex-Im legislation with over 300 votes and a majority of the majority. The vote was 313-118.
- December 3, 2015: Highway bill keeps Kirk Ex-Im language intact, passes the House and Senate and is sent to the President’s desk.
