Congressman discusses deficit on visit to Chippewa Falls factory
By Chris Vetter Chippewa Falls News Bureau | Posted: Thursday, June 9, 2011 11:33 pm
CHIPPEWA FALLS – U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy says a showdown over the federal budget ceiling is looming in Washington.
Duffy, who stopped at Extrusion Dies on Thursday, discussed the nation’s $14.3 trillion deficit and the plan to raise the debt ceiling by an Aug. 2 deadline.
“We’re going to borrow $1.4 (trillion) to $1.5 trillion dollars this year alone,” Duffy said to about 30 people gathered at the EDI headquarters in Chippewa Falls. “It is unsustainable. We can’t continue on this path.”
Duffy, R-Ashland, is optimistic that members of both parties are realizing that spending must be curtailed.
“We’re working hard on changing the conversation,” Duffy said. “It’s not about how much we’re going to spend, it’s now about how much we’re going to cut. It’s actually a bipartisan issue – Republicans and Democrats alike don’t want to see it raised.”
Duffy said a nonpartisan examination of the Republicans’ budget proposal shows it would take a full 30 years before the budget is balanced.
“That’s why it’s imperative we deal with that today, before it gets further down the road,” he said.
Duffy toured the EDI plant over his hour-long visit. The company makes dies, which are used in making flat-screen TVs, medical equipment, electronics, automotive components and other items, said CEO Gary Edwards.
“Over half of our products are shipped out of North America,” Edwards said. “Our sales are up over 30 percent from last year.”
Duffy was impressed with the technology in the plant. He greeted workers and watched machines cut and manufacture the dies. He said after the tour that he was glad he got to visit the business.
“It’s imperative to see our great Wisconsin manufacturers,” Duffy said. “This is a great success story – a company that is shipping overseas, instead of the other way around.”
Bob Deitrick, EDI sales manager, said the company recently added two new manufacturing machines and recently bought a nearby building to expand their operations.
“We’ve added 35 people over the last six months, and we’re still hiring,” Deitrick said.
The company employs 280 people in Chippewa Falls, including 174 in the manufacturing division. The company also has plants in Germany, China and Japan.
Deitrick said support from Congress has been important to the company in the past. EDI is entering its final year of a defense contract to develop equipment. The company has received federal research and development defense dollars for about the past 12 years, he said.