Marco Rubio touts manufacturing evolution in Iowa

KNOXVILLE, Ia. — Marco Rubio called on the country to “embrace” robotic manufacturing and other technology advances Thursday that some say will replace manufacturing jobs.

But the possibility that more “low-paying jobs” will be replaced by machines is not to be feared, the Florida senator said to an audience that included many employees of Weiler, a company that manufactures paving equipment here.

The Republican presidential candidate acknowledged possible job losses are “a source of insecurity and uncertainty.” But he countered that it’s “only part of the story,”Rubio said. “We will also see the creation of higher-paying, higher-skilled jobs that only humans can perform.”

Rubio likened automated manufacturing to the invention of the power loom during the industrial revolution “The loom increased production, and as production increased, so did demand," Rubio said. "And as demand increased, so did the need for skilled laborers who could operate the machines and manage the factories.”

The focus on manufacturing is especially important in Iowa, which is the No. 1 producer of agriculture equipment in America, with an estimated 13,800 jobs in the state in 2014. Iowa’s also No. 2 in construction equipment manufacturing, behind Illinois, with 7,600 jobs.

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“From taxes to trade to training our future workforce, the number of issues at stake in this election season will affect the future of manufacturing,” said CEO Pat Weiler. His company, which hosted the event along with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, manufactures equipment for the asphalt paving market.

Chasen Stevenson, a farmer in the area, said small businesses, including manufacturing, are a critical component of the rural economy. “It’s what we deal with on a daily basis,” he said.

Rubio used his speech to focus on key aspects of his economic platform, but did not offer proposals that he hasn’t spoken of before. Instead, he stumped on boosting the economy through deregulation, reforming corporate taxes and encouraging workers to learn skilled trades.

During a tour of the company, Rubio asked about the manufacturer's technology, as well as employee skills and training. He discussed his plan to promote trade skills and change the perception about this kind of work.

“Today, we rely on a higher education system that looks down its nose at skilled trades,” Rubio said during his speech. “It tells our kids that if they grow up to work with their hands instead of behind a desk on a computer they’re somehow less accomplished."

“We need a president with the courage to change this perception,” Rubio said, “Because it simply isn’t true.”

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ABOUT THE EVENTS

SETTING: Kent Corporation in Muscatine, and Weiler manufacturing in Knoxville.

CROWD: About 300 people in Knoxville, many of which were Weiler employees.

REACTION: The crowd remained mostly silent during his speech, but applauded at the end. Interviewed after, some said they’d wished Rubio had taken questions or offered more details about his proposals.

WHAT’S NEXT: Rubio will campaign in Dubuque Friday.