February 15, 2008 “When NAM spoke, we listened,” says Jay Timmons, recalling the trade group’s reputation when he was Sen. George Allen’s (R-Va.) chief of staff. Now, Timmons is on the other side of the table, effectively the No. 2 at the National Association of Manufacturers. And Washington has decidedly morphed since Timmons’ heyday on the Hill, when Republicans controlled Congress and NAM’s leader, Gov. John Engler, found good company among other conservative rank-and-file Republicans in the leadership. Longtime allies of NAM on the Hill have retired or are expected to do so in the coming months. And while NAM has largely been seen as a Republican organization, those… Read More