"Every day in the United States, we are losing 15 factories."http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2011/nov/07/betty-sutton/betty-sutton-says-average-15-us-factories-close-ea/

Betty Sutton on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 in a speech in the House of Representatives

Betty Sutton says that on average, 15 U.S. factories close each day

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Romney reports net worth of $190M to $250M

By Catalina Camia, Jackie Kucinich and Paul Singer
USA TODAY

Mitt Romney's net worth has not significantly changed and remains between $190 million and $250 million, according to the Republican's presidential campaign.

Romney today submitted his personal financial disclosure report for last year, detailing in broad ranges the value of his assets and liabilities.

His report indicates assets with a value ranging between $83 million and $255 million, according to USA TODAY's estimate. The Romney campaign says the true range of Romney's assets is between $190 million and $250 million -- same as last year.

The report lists no liabilities, such as mortgages or loans, but he has several investment funds that could require additional investment of up to about $3 million.

"Governor and Mrs. Romney's assets are managed on a blind basis. They do not control the investment of these assets, which are under the control and overall management of a trustee. The trustee is Brad Malt, a partner at Ropes & Gray law firm," Andrea Saul, a campaign spokeswoman, said by e-mail.

Romney's wealth has been an issue in the campaign, as some critics have sought to show that the former Massachusetts governor is unable to connect with middle-class voters.

President Obama's net worth is between $2.6 million and $8.3 million.

Romney's report shows the presumptive GOP presidential nominee has sold many stocks in a wide range of companies -- including Procter & Gamble, Aflac, American Express, Apple, ExxonMobil, Google and JPMorgan Chase -- that were part of accounts managed by Goldman Sachs and Thornburg Investment Management.

The capital gains earned from the two account sales were reported as being between $100,000 and $1 million each, according to the report. Overall, he reported capital gains worth at least $4.5 million.

The new report also shows Romney received $189,975 from speeches, including two made in 2010 in which payment was received last year. According to his report, Romney most recently earned $68,000 for a speech to the International Franchise Association in Las Vegas in February.

Romney's writings have also provided some income. The report shows he received between $201 and $1,000 from a reprint of an op-ed column he wrote for The New York Times.

For his book, No Apology, Romney earned between $50,000 to $100,000 in royalties last year -- all of which were donated to charity.

Romney's holdings aren't all in securities. Like his rival Ron Paul, Romney also owns gold, worth between $250,000 to $500,000.

See photos of: Mitt Romney

Hello ALP,

For many Americans it is getting harder and harder, to make ends meet. But it is also getting harder to find goods made here in America. America has been treated or treated itself to being a consumer nation in the late'90's and early 2000's. Have you noticed this, too? We shipped complete factories overseas, due to cheap labor prices there and higher taxes here in America. Our congress has spent their tome on our dime enriching themselves, while in and to continue while they are out of congress. Elected Officials should not receive retirement benefits, as this is meant as a temporary position with few benefits. Adding this to our trade deficits guarantee a weaker America, going forward in my view.

What about you?

Hi Jim, not sure if I told you about this or not but it was announced back in March that the lock plant I worked in, until I retired, is closing. The plant has been there since 1953, almost 60 years. Although I've been retired from there since '04, when I developed chronic asthma and had to take early retirement, it was still a shock. Over the 37+ years I worked there, I made a lot of friends and became acquainted with a lot of people. Many of them have since passed on but there's still a lot that are still living. You know when you work a full time job, you spend more of your waking hours with those you work with than your own family so we develop attachments that last a lifetime and they become like second family.

It irks me no end to see all the lying crooks saying the economy is getting better and your article shows it's anything but. Remember when Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Act or NAFTA? I can remember thinking at the time that this would be detrimental to the US and it also worried me when he closed so many military bases.

I was a Democrat all my life until the last few years and I no longer consider myself one. I now consider myself an Independent because there's also things I don't agree with, with the Republican party. I try my best to do my research and although I know there'll never be the perfect candidate, I try to vote who, in my opinion, will do the best job. Hopefully Romney will win over the fraud there now but he'll sure have his work cut out trying to get us out of this mess we're in now and it just blows my mind that there are still idiots who support him. Did he inherit this mess? I don't think so but even if he did he's certainly done nothing to correct it and worked to make it worse. His plan to bring America down is working and I pray everyday he'll be defeated but even if he's not, I know God is still in control - that's what keeps me sane right now.

Here are a couple of links about the plant closing in Lenoir City. It's a sad situation for a lot people. There are several husband/wives employed there.

Quote:

Hello ALP,

For many Americans it is getting harder and harder, to make ends meet. But it is also getting harder to find goods made here in America. America has been treated or treated itself to being a consumer nation in the late'90's and early 2000's. Have you noticed this, too? We shipped complete factories overseas, due to cheap labor prices there and higher taxes here in America. Our congress has spent their tome on our dime enriching themselves, while in and to continue while they are out of congress. Elected Officials should not receive retirement benefits, as this is meant as a temporary position with few benefits. Adding this to our trade deficits guarantee a weaker America, going forward in my view.

What about you?

Manufacturing in Your State

An innovative and growing manufacturing sector is vital to America’s economic and national security, as well as to providing good jobs for future generations. Manufacturing is present in every state across the nation, including the District of Columbia, and contributes about 12 percent to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The data presented in the national maps show that U.S. manufacturing has been hit particularly hard during the recent recession. The maps also demonstrate this manufacturing decline is not entirely caused by the current economic downturn. U.S. manufacturing has been in a recession for the last decade, losing millions of jobs between the years of 2000 and 2009. http://americanmanufacturing.org/in-your-state