Chief economist for the National Federation of Independent Business William C. Dunkelberg, issued the following statement on the March job numbers, based on NFIB’s monthly economic survey that will be released on Tuesday, April 10, 2012.

The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC) expressed its support for President Obama's State of the Union commitment to homegrown and clean energy sources.

We all have to face some pain (like ending mortgage deductions) as the Gang of Six plugs trillion-dollar holes in the U.S. treasury. And small firms resent big corporate tax dodges that worsen the deficit, and take capital needed to retool woodworking and other industries.

Woodworkers and other contractors saw unemployment rate fall to 17.8%.

Woodworkers and other contractors saw unemployment rate fall to 17.8%.

Wood construction and other sectors lost 16,000 jobs during the month.

Under the heading of “better late than never,” let’s give the Democratic Party credit for finally realizing that American manufacturing is vital to our economic recovery.

In a move some say is better late than never, just last week the U.S. and Canadian governments signed a deal that allows Canadian companies to participate in state and local public works projects in the 37 states that receive funding by the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In return, U.S. manufacturers/suppliers from those same states will be given the opportunity to compete for Canadian municipal and provincial contracts.