WASHINGTON—Last year, it was very frustrating for the tire industry to get any legislative initiatives passed, and industry representatives in Washington don't expect the task to be any easier in 2014.
"It's very difficult to see any legislative action happening this year on any serious issue confronting this industry," said Charles Cannon, president of the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
"I don't want to be too pessimistic, and we will continue to be aggressive in pursuing issues of interest to our members," Cannon said. "But, as a consequence, we have no elaborate legislative agenda except to define and defend our positions."
Roy Littlefield, executive vice president of the Tire Industry Association, said he would have an opportunity to advance TIA's causes in 2014 through his presidency of the Small Business Legislative Council and membership in the Highway Users Alliance.
"The SBLC is a very respected group in Washington," he said. "It will give us a little more access to the White House, and give us a voice in regulatory reform, legislative reform and other issues in which TIA otherwise might not be involved."