Articles

GBTA News - October 2013

From: Shane Downey [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2013 9:14 AM
Subject: Shane's Daily, Shutdown Continues - Tell Us Your Story The Business of Travel

Good Morning

As you will see below in the National Journal section, President Obama shared stories from people about how the government shutdown is impacting them. Do you have a story to tell? Has the government shutdown impacted you, your business or your business travelers? Share them with GBTA at [email protected] or [email protected] and feel free to ask your colleagues and chapter members to do so as well.

Don’t forget to read “The Latest” GBTA’s Government Relations newsletter and the Blog!

The Latest: http://www.gbta.org/usa/governmentrelations/Pages/TheLatest.aspx

The Business of Travel: http://www.blog.gbta.org

News From NBC and Politico

NO END IN SIGHT: The federal government shutdown enters its second week with no end in sight. And guess what: We’re already moving to the debt-limit fight, as House Speaker John Boehner vowed that his party won’t vote to raise the debt ceiling without concessions from President Obama, especially when it comes to entitlement programs. “The votes are not in the House to pass a clean debt limit. And the president is risking default by not having a conversation with us,” Boehner said on ABC yesterday. “We’re not going down that path. It is time to deal with America’s problems. How can you raise the debt limit and do nothing about the underlying problem?” Boehner is determined to get the president to negotiate on, well, something. But the Obama White House maintains it will negotiate only AFTER the government shutdown ends and the debt limit is raised cleanly. “It's Congress's job to fund the government and it's Congress's job to make sure we can pay our bills,” Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said on “Meet the Press,” adding: “There's nothing here that we're asking for from Congress for them to do that. We are happy to negotiate on reasonable policies with entitlement reform and tax reform that closes loopholes. That's something that we would like to do.”
TRANSPORTATION — SHUTDOWN IMPACT:  While safety-critical employees — think air traffic controllers and baggage screeners — have been exempted from the furloughs gripping much of the rest of the federal workforce, unions say the workers can function for only so long without relief from support staff that's been sent home. The strain is already apparent at the NTSB, which has had to cut short some crash investigations or not respond to accidents it would have dealt with otherwise. Airports are fretting over the impact to capital improvement projects, all sectors of business with a stake in new aviation products are sweating the absence of FAA workers who are supposed to process new product certifications, and Amtrak could conceivably run out of operating money without a new infusion of appropriations in the weeks ahead.
 
TAXES — TAX REFORM IN GRAND BARGAIN? The push to lower corporate tax rates has been dwarfed by the bigger fiscal policy fights that have brought Washington to a standstill. The upcoming debate over lifting the debt ceiling may be the last chance to move on corporate tax cuts anytime soon. As part of a deal to lift the nation's borrowing cap, House Republicans want Democrats to advance several other policies, including tax reform. Though there's broad support in both parties for lowering corporate tax rates, the effort could bog down amid disagreements over how to overhaul the tax system for individuals.  GBTA has met with key members encouraging them to NOT end the Corporate Travel and Entertainment expense item.
 
Route 66: On this day in 1960 CBS premiered the TV show Route 66, which in turn spawned the Depeche Mode song - VIDEO J
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cbs-broadcasts-the-premiere-episode-of-route-66
 
The National Journal is below
 
Shane
 
Shane Downey
Director, Public Policy
GBTA
Global Business Travel Association
Main: +1 703-684-0836 ext 131
Direct: +1 703-236-1131
gbta.org
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From: NJ Need-to-Know Memo [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2013 8:12 AM
To: Shane Downey
Subject: Shutdown Continues as Parties Remain at Odds Over Budget