The Honorable Congressman Joe Donnelly can certainly be described as a friend to the manufactured housing industry. As just some of the evidence for this, consider the following:
- Two months ago, Donnelly (D-IN), put forward the Manufactured Housing Week resolution in Congress:
- On June 2, 2010, Congressman Donnelly hosted the manufactured housing finance summit in Elkhart, IN. This lead to a productive FHA finance meeting during the recent MHI Summer meeting, extensively noted here and in our exclusive Dick Ernst MHIndustry finance Interview.
- More recently, Donnelly is working for legislation to make floor plan financing more readily available for manufactured home retailers, as reported by our MHMSM.com INdustry in Focus Reporter Eric Miller.
It is also a fact that Donnelly has also supported Obama Administration initiatives, such as the massive health care bill that millions of Americans opposed, but was signed into law despite a strong and still growing opposition due to economic and other concerns.
So it is with some interest that we view Congressman Donnelly’s recently-launched TV ad, which touts his support of legislation strengthening U.S. Border security, and specifically distances himself from President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi:
This later issue doesn’t impact manufactured, modular or prefab housing directly. But we are all Americans, and what happens to our great nation impacts our Industry as well. Immigration, economic, regulatory and financing policies impact us as individuals, and thus our businesses and our Industry.
Against this backdrop, MHI PAC and Industry members are gearing up for this upcoming mid-term election campaign season.
We need to carefully consider the records, votes, positions and actions of Congressman, Senators and others as it relates to our Industry. We need to consider what the records of Industry friendly Congressman, such as Joe Donnelly, and consider carefully their opponents and who we will support with our energy, time and treasure.
The manufactured housing Industry is facing a series of defining moments. Our new MHMSM.com issue goes online this week. In this August issue, there is an article that will deal with that potential. That article and an upcoming The Masthead blog post that will follow it, reveals:
- We have the opportunity to grow and earn more than ever before in our Industry’s history.
- We could grow our Industry’s new home sales 400% to 1600% in 12 months, by following common sense and doable steps.
- We have to be willing to do what it takes to tap that potential, to improve and grow like never before!
Sound business and political actions are needed to achieve our potential. I know how challenging it can be to keep up with all that is going on, but we have no choice if we desire to move ahead. Tune out or turn down distracting background noise, get and stay focused. It is the only way to succeed.
Day by day, let us stay informed and then do what it takes to achieve the potential our great Industry offers each committed member! Some will fail. Don’t be among them. Do what it takes, and you will soon see a day that today you might only dream about. # #
L.A. ‘Tony’ Kovach, MHM – editor and The Masthead blogger at
Manufactured Home Marketing Sales Management online trade journal at
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com aka www.MHMSM.com
tony@mhmsm.com
847-730-3692
