11 GBTA 2015 Government Relations Agenda Bay Area Business
Travel Association May 18, 2015
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2 Agenda Why GBTA has a Federal program Washington Update GBTA
Government Relations Priorities 2014 GBTA Legislative
Symposium
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3 Rationale for GBTAs Federal Program Fiction Reality
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4 Washington Update
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5 2014 MidTerm Elections AK Total Seats Democrats: 188
Republicans: 247 188 247 Total Seats Democrats: 44 Republicans: 54
Independents: 2 44 54
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6 JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJune Timing Unknown Immigration:
With the passage of the CRomnibus in the lame duck, Congress may
threaten to shut down DHS over Obamas executive action Debt
Ceiling: Watch for confrontation over spending and issues
Republicans could attach to a debt ceiling deal Fossil Fuel: GOP is
pushing for legislation approving Keystone XL, but is unlikely to
override a presidential veto Online Sales Tax: Not a high priority,
but lobbying efforts from states and small businesses may push GOP
to allow for an online sales tax Affordable Care Act: Barring more
extreme action (full repeal or major overhaul) in the wake of a
Supreme Court decision eliminating federal exchange subsidies in
King v. Burwell, medical device tax repeal and smaller regulatory
changes to coverage requirements are possible Highway Trust Fund:
Republicans will likely change spending levels and attempt to
eliminate the gas tax in a Highway Trust Fund renewal Doc Fix:
Expect another short-term fix or a long- term plan paid for
primarily through deficit reduction; conservatives may push to tie
ACA reforms to a renewal No Child Left Behind: GOP Senators want to
push for less federal involvement in school performance evaluation
and move more responsibility to states EPA Regulations: GOP may try
repealing EPA regulations on carbon emissions through a budget/debt
ceiling vote Foreign Policy: A confirmation battle is expected over
the nomination of Ashton Carter for Secretary of Defense;
Republicans want confrontation with Iran; President Obamas actions
to normalize relations with Cuba will likely set up battles over
confirming an ambassador and/or funding an embassy International
Trade: The Republican Senate will likely grant Obama Trade
Promotion Authority to sign the TPP and TTIP trade agreements
Appropriations: A regular-order budget is possible, but another CR
is a strong possibility; some GOP members have hinted at
reconciliation FCC/Net Neutrality: Republicans may restrict the
FCCs authority or withhold its funding if it implements more
expansive regulations Export-Import Bank: Republicans are split on
whether the bank should expire; it may or may not be reauthorized
Tax Reform: Movement on comprehensive tax reform remains unlikely
in a Republican Congress, but corporate tax reform is possible Top
Tier Issues 114 th Congress
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7 Republicans Hold Majority of Senate Seats Up For Election in
2016 2016 U.S. Senate Elections by Incumbent Party Recommendations
and detected threats OH WV VA PA NY ME NC SC GA TN KY IN MI WI MN
IL LA TX OK ID NV OR WA CA AZ NM CO WY MT ND SD IA UT FL AR MO MS
AL NE KS VT NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD AK HI Republican-Held
SeatsDemocratic-Held SeatsOpen SeatsNo Election in 2016
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8 2016 Elections Recommendations and detected threats OH WV VA
PA NY ME NC SC GA TN KY IN MI WI MN IL LA TX OK ID NV OR WA CA AZ
NM CO WY MT ND SD IA UT FL AR MO MS AL NE KS VT NH MA RI CT NJ DE
MD AK HI
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9 GBTA 2015 Federal Agenda
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10 Priority Passenger Screening & Facilitation
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11 Priority Fees and Taxation
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12 Priority Regulations If youre against letting airline
passengers talk on cellphones, youve gained a powerful ally. The
Global Business Travel Association, a trade group for the worlds
business travelers, submitted its opposition last week to a plan by
the Federal Communications Commission to lift a ban on voice calls
on planes. Business Travel Group Asks DOT to Reject IATA on New
Distribution Capability GBTA: FIX ANCILLARY FEE MESS NOW!