BCA's Washington Briefing
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on youtube Sept. 25, 2015


BOEHNER TO RESIGN AT END OF OCTOBER
 
After five years as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner, R-OH, announced on Friday that he will retire at the end of October.
 
His retirement sets in motion a race to replace him as speaker, referred to by Politico as "one of the most intense leadership scrambles in modern Congressional GOP politics." House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is second in line to the speaker and is widely expected to succeed Boehner.
 
Should McCarthy win the speakership, there will  an intense battle for majority leader between House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Republican Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.).
 
According to Politico, Chief Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is favored for House Republican whip.
 


ROGERS RECIEVES U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AWARD
 
U.S. Rep. Mike D. Rogers, second from right, received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Spirit of Enterprise Award on Wednesday for his leadership on business issues in Congress. Joining Rogers, R-Saks, at the award presentation were, from left, Business Council of Alabama President and CEO William J. Canary; Jeremy Arthur, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama; Clark Thomason, Manager, Southeast Region U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Rogers; and Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce Manager Linda Hearn. The award was made at the Calhoun County Salute to Industry Luncheon at the Oxford Civic Center. The Spirit of Enterprise Award recognizes federal legislators from both sides of the aisle who have worked to pass legislation and enact policies that bolster our country's economy, create jobs and keep our nation's spirit of enterprise alive. The award is given annually to members based on their votes on critical business legislation, and members who supported the Chamber's position on at least 70 percent of those votes. (Contributed photo)
BCA URGES CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON TAX EXTENDERS
 
The Business Council of Alabama this month joined hundreds of other businesses and organizations in urging Congress to extend vital tax breaks for the 2015 tax year.

A coalition led by the National Association of Manufacturers and joined by the BCA wrote Congress urging action this fall on so-called tax extenders in order to support jobs and growth.

"These tax provisions are critically important to U.S. jobs and the broader economy," the letter states. "Failure to extend these provisions is a tax increase."
The tax-extender letter states that failure to act will inject instability and uncertainty into the economy and weaken confidence in the employment marketplace and that prompt action that provides predictability in planning is necessary for economic growth.

The U.S. Senate has important tax extension legislation on its plate. S. 1946 by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the Tax Relief Extension Act of 2015, was introduced Aug. 8, approved by the committee, and is now on the Senate calendar.

The Senate Finance Committee overwhelmingly approved S. 1946.

It seeks to approve 50-plus tax code provisions that currently cannot be used retroactively by taxpayers this year unless extended. All tax extenders are designed to save business money, improve profitability, productivity, and investment return.

Some of the business provisions include: extension and modification of the research and experimentation tax credit; the business tax credit for employers of qualified employees that work and live on or near an Indian reservation; new markets tax credit; credit for railroad track maintenance; extension of mine rescue team training credit; employer wage credit for activated military reservists; the work opportunity tax credit; qualified zone academy bonds; extension of 15-year straight-line cost recovery for qualified leasehold improvements, qualified restaurant buildings and improvements, and qualified retail improvements; extension of bonus depreciation and AMT in lieu of bonus depreciation; extension of enhanced charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory; extension of election to expense mine safety equipment; expensing for certain film and television productions; and extension of certain energy, fuel, and biofuels tax credits.
GE NOW IS TRIPLING ITS OVERSEA JOB MOVES
 
Last week General Electric Co. said it would move 500 American jobs overseas due to Congressional failure to reauthorize the charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. On Thursday, GE said it will export another 1,000 jobs.

GE said it struck a deal with the United Kingdom that could eventually create 1,000 jobs there, the company's latest move to create jobs abroad after the U.S. Export-Import Bank's charter lapsed this summer, The Wall Street Journal reported.

GE for months has been warning that failure to reauthorize the export-financing agency would lead to job losses in the U.S. in order to avoid losing contracts for turbines, power projects, and other industrial equipment.

The Business Council of Alabama is a key supporter of a broad coalition of businesses and groups urging Congress to reinstate the Ex-Im charter. For more information and instructions on how to lend your voice to urge Ex-Im charter renewal, click here.

GE said it has an agreement with the U.K. export credit agency for up to $12 billion in export financing to support orders in markets including Brazil, Ghana, and India. GE said the 1,000 jobs would be focused in the energy sector, the Journal reported.
Last week, GE said it would move about 500 U.S. jobs to France, Hungary, and China in order to avoid losing business to foreign rivals.

GE says it is bidding on $11 billion worth of projects, mostly in developing nations, and that bids wouldn't be entertained if they aren't sponsored by an export-credit agency, the Journal reported.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 
U.S. Chamber Urges Legal Reforms to Enhance Business
U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (U.S. Chamber of Commerce 9/10) "The American civil justice system is the most costly in the world. Litigation costs affect the ability of businesses to compete and prosper. By adding rationality and predictability to the American civil justice system and rooting out unnecessary expenses and abuse, civil justice reform can increase confidence in the economy, help businesses expand, and create jobs. Such reforms can also increase respect for the judicial system, which is too often characterized by liability that is disproportionate to responsibility, inconsistent outcomes, and jackpot verdicts.

"'101 Ways to Improve State Legal Systems' offers some of the many options available to foster a sound legal system that promotes states' economies. It considers key issues confronting policymakers. For example, when government officials hire contingency fee lawyers, what safeguards will ensure that law enforcement is driven by the public interest, not the financial interest of attorneys with a stake in the litigation? What role should a business's compliance with government safety standards play in product liability litigation? How can the law address damages that exceed actual losses, pain and suffering awards that have become the largest part of tort damages, and punitive damages 'run wild'?

"101 Ways also considers fair and effective measures that would improve the litigation process, promote rational liability rules, and rein in excessive awards. In addition, the report addresses the latest trend in legal abuse: over-enforcement. This problem occurs when elected officials, regulators, and the trial bar team up to bring a series of enforcement actions against companies at the federal, state, and local levels-and invite follow-on lawsuits by plaintiffs' lawyers.

"The report presents legal reform options in a conceptual manner. It then directs readers to and summarizes approximately 101 legal reform bills enacted over the past several years. These recent laws show how legislators can move the proposals described in this guide from theory into practice."

(Part of a U.S. Chamber series on the U.S. legal climate and ways to change it.)

The Business Council of Alabama is the sole representative in Alabama of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.
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Sixth District
 U. S. Rep. Gary Palmer
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