We’re back in Texas after a productive trip to Washington.  It was a busy three days, but a positive experience that provided a lot of insight and value to the members of the DRC and Fort Worth Chamber who accompanied us.

Yesterday, the DFW Congressional Summit wrapped up with briefings from the Department of Treasury, and an update on the Trinity River with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Here are a few highlights from our trip:

• We provided copies of the DRC’s newly approved Resolution on the Marketplace Equity Act to our delegation.
• U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios signed our dollar bills!
• The Greater Houston Partnership also had a delegation in DC, and we were able to enjoy some time with them, even getting a joint photo in front of the Capitol.
• A few lucky attendees heard from Texas Speaker Joe Straus at a breakfast hosted by the Texas State Society.

Overall, I’m pleased with what we accomplished in Washington, and proud of our efforts to improve our region’s knowledge and influence on federal issues.  Thank you to the numerous speakers who provided updates, the fifty business leaders who invested the time and energy necessary to make this trip, the legislators who took the time to learn about the issues we face as a region and spoke with us about the key issues and the Fort Worth Chamber for being a partner in making the DFW Congressional Summit happen.

It’s trips like these, together with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, that prove we are both committed to makeing DFW a better place.  We look forward to the next trip and hope you will consider joining us.

Hello from Washington, D.C.!  We’re starting day three of our joint DFW Congressional Summit, and have had a productive trip thus far.

The majority of our business leaders arrived over the weekend, and the summit unofficially began Sunday with a trip to Nationals Park to see the Washington Nationals play baseball.  That night, the group attended a reception celebrating the presentation of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award to Chamber member Freese & Nichols. 

Congress established the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1987 to promote quality awareness, to recognize quality and business achievements of U.S. organizations and to publicize these organizations’ successful performance strategies. Now America’s highest honor for innovation and performance excellence, the Baldrige Award is presented annually to U.S. organizations by the President of the United States. Awards are given in manufacturing, service, small business, education, health care and nonprofits.

This is an impressive honor, and celebrating the success of Freese & Nichols was an exciting way to kick off the trip.

Monday was spent at the offices of Patton Boggs, where we were briefed on transportation policy, education and tax and banking regulations by the experts.

Yesterday wrapped up with a cocktail reception at the Mayflower Summit Hotel, during which U.S. Trade Representative and former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk stopped by to say hello. The reception was followed by dinner and a presentation by Patton Boggs Managing Partner Ed Newberry covering leading municipal governments, colleges and universities, hospitals and other organizations in developing and implementing federal funding strategies and addressing public policy issues.

Tuesday was an exciting day on the Hill.  Our business leaders had the opportunity to spend some time with DFW-area legislators during the Congressional Delegation Meetings.

Senator John Cornyn; Congressman Joe Barton, 6th District;  Congressman Michael Burgess, 26th District; Congresswoman Kay Granger, 12th District; Congressman Jeb Hensarling, 5th District;Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, 30th District; and Congressman Sam Johnson, 3rd District; Congressman Ken Marchant, 26^th District; and Congressman Pete Sessions, 32nd District participated in the meetings providing insight into key issues facing our region.

Lunch, also in the Capitol building, provided a special opportunity to honor the public service of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

“Senator Hutichson has been such a positive force for Texas,” said Amb. James C. Oberwetter, President & CEO of the Dallas Regional Chamber. “She has impacted millions of lives during her career in public service in positive ways. Her accomplishments will benefit all Texans for years to come.”

In 1993, Texans elected Kay Bailey Hutchison to the United States Senate in a special election, and has been serving ever since.  She is the first – and, to date, the only – woman elected to represent the state in the Senate.

During her tenure, she has been a leader on issues important to business, commerce and Texans.  Her dedication to improving the lives of Texans and ensuring a strong business environment has led to a thriving economy in the state.

The DRC and Fort Worth Chamber are grateful for all she has done for the state, and our region in particular.  As a special thanks, the Chambers created a resolution in her honor and presented it to Sen. Hutchison during the event.

Day two ended with a casual cocktail reception and dinner.  Mark McKinnon, the Global Vice-Chairman of Hill + Knowlton Strategies, who provided a solid overview of the political landscape, including briefings on No Labels and Americans Elect.

The joint DFW Congressional Summit wraps up today, so visit the Chamber blog later this week for details on our final day on the Hill.

It all started 2 years ago with a letter to then newly appointed Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, asking him to keep the Dallas Regional Chamber in mind if his travels ever brought them to North Texas.  Fast forward two years to Monday and just hours before our luncheon with Dallas Fed President & CEO, Richard Fisher, we got confirmation Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, would be in Dallas this Thursday.  Needless to say, we are thrilled to offer this very special occasion to the North Texas community.

Join us for “A Conversation with the Secretary of the Treasury,” this Thursday, March 8^th, at the Sheraton Dallas from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  moderated by KERA’s Lee Cullum. Secretary Geithner will discuss the state of the economy and the President’s efforts to create jobs and a stronger American economy that is built to last. In addition, the Secretary will tour BNSF’s Alliance Intermodal Facility in North Fort Worth to highlight the importance of domestic infrastructure development to the competitiveness of American businesses and participate in a private roundtable discussion with a group of business leaders hosted by Southwest Airlines, a member of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

“The Dallas Regional Chamber is dedicated to bring high-level speakers focusing on international, national and local economies to our members and North Texas,” said Jim Oberwetter, President and CEO of the Dallas Regional Chamber.

This will be Geithner’s second visit to Dallas since being appointed to the position.  He was last here in September 2010 where he spoke at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Convention.

During his visit, the Secretary will discuss the President’s FY2013 Budget, which includes common-sense proposals to revitalize American infrastructure by creating a 21^st century transportation network that allows companies to ship their goods more efficiently throughout the country and the world. The U.S. Senate is scheduled to consider a key part of that plan – a multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill – this week. A modern transportation infrastructure network, supported by both public and private investment is vital for the economy and job creation.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are $65 for Dallas Regional Chamber members and $130 for non-members. A table of eight with priority placement can be purchases for $750. Click here to purchase tickets. Registration closes at 6am CST Thursday. No walk-ins will be allowed.

If you are a member of the media and would like to RSVP, please email John McCarley.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently launched I-9 Central, a new plain language online resource center dedicated to making guidance about the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, more accessible. Since 1987, all employers have been required to complete a Form I-9 every time they hire a new employee. That makes Form I-9 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s most commonly used form.

I-9 Central, located at www.USCIS.gov/I-9Central, is the one online location for the information employers and employees need to properly complete Form I-9.   I-9 Central has sections about employer and employee rights and responsibilities, step-by-step instructions for completing Form I-9, and information on acceptable documents for establishing identity and employment authorization. I-9 Central includes a review of common mistakes, guidance on how to correct errors, and answers to recent and complex questions from employers.

The What’s New section keeps employer and employees up-to-date with emerging information related to Form I-9 processing. Not only does I-9 Central make accessing Form I-9 guidance easier for you, it also makes it easier for USCIS to provide quick and useful updates.

Other Resources

I-9 Central complements the current Form I-9 page of www.USCIS.gov and the Handbook for Employers (M-274). USCIS offers free live webinars about Form I-9. Visit I-9 Central to see the webinar schedule. I-9 Central also links you to related information in other federal agencies.

I-9 Central comes on the heels of other USCIS employment eligibility verification initiatives, such as Self Check (www.USCIS.gov/EVerifySelfCheck), a free online service from E-Verify that allows workers to verify their own employment eligibility and, if necessary, update their records before they meet their next employer.

You can also visit www.DHS.gov/E-Verify to access E-Verify information and enroll in the free, internet-based Department of Homeland Security (DHS) service that allows employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of employees using information collected on Form I-9.

I-9 Central, E-Verify and Self Check work together to make employment eligibility verification easier for employers and employees alike. Please visit and bookmark www.USCIS.gov/I-9Central.  Subscribe to I-9 Central to get updates.

Joseph Vranich, a Pittsburgh native and 15-year California resident is a business relocation expert that specializes in business growth and relocation with clients located throughout the United States. We met with Vranich at coffee shop in Orange County in an effort to better understand why California companies are taking their business elsewhere.  The Irvine-based coach was recently interviewed for a series called “Saving the California Dream” that aired this week on KTTV News in Los Angeles (click here to view the video.)  In his interview, Vranich bluntly explains the business exodus from California calling it “the most regulated state in the United States” and goes on to give a list of reasons why companies are fleeing the Golden State for more business-friendly states like Texas.

The thing I appreciated most about Vranich was his honesty. While it may seem that he’s against businesses moving to or staying in California, he’s just stating facts. The fact remains that Texas is wide open for business. Come one, come all.

To learn more about Vranich, visit his website at www.businessrelocationcoach.com.

To view the “Saving the California Dream” series visit www.myfoxla.com/.

On behalf of the Dallas Regional Chamber, I am writing to urge you to voice opposition to a White House proposal to reduce the federal deficit by charging more taxes and fees to the U.S. airline industry and the traveling public.

Airlines lost fifty-five billion dollars over the last decade and will no doubt try to offset additional federal airline taxes by raising air fares or reducing service. Passengers will be left with fewer choices for when and where to fly. To many of our member companies, having the most service options and affordable pricing are imperative to the success of their businesses. They need these options to continue to keep and increase economic prosperity in our region.

Nearly eleven million U.S. jobs are tied to commercial aviation. U.S. airlines have already shed 160,000 jobs over the last decade. Further increasing federal airline taxes and fees would eliminate hundreds of thousands of additional good-paying airline jobs. Having two major airline companies headquartered in the DFW area means that many jobs would be lost here in our region, making this proposal of significant importance to Dallas Regional Chamber.

The airline industry, which is struggling in today’s economy, simply cannot take another round of new taxes without reducing service and losing jobs. I urge you to take all steps to ensure that this proposal is not included in any deficit reduction package that goes before Congress for a vote.

Thank you for your consideration, and please let me know if we can be helpful to your efforts.

Sincerely,

Amb. James C. Oberwetter
President and CEO
Dallas Regional Chamber

Have you registered for our upcoming Congressional Forum?  If not, here’s one more reason why you should! I was excited when I found out that Dallas area Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, and one of our guests of honor at our upcoming Congressional Forum had just been appointed to the newly formed Join Deficit Reduction Committee.  With all the news surrounding the debt talks in previous weeks it will be interesting to hear an insiders perspective.  In preparation for our upcoming Forum, Congressman Hensarling shared the following thoughts with the Chamber about his new appointment…

“The Chamber’s Annual Congressional Forum provides an excellent opportunity for me to hear from job creators and entrepreneurs in the Dallas area on ways to address our nation’s debt crisis and create jobs. I’m looking forward to this year’s discussion.”

“Times are tough, and Texas families have had to make many sacrifices over the last few years. While they didn’t cause this debt crisis, they’ve learned how to make do by tightening their belts and living within their means. It’s time Washington did the same, and I’m honored that Speaker Boehner has entrusted me to work with our colleagues to tackle these challenges and help solve our spending‐driven debt crisis.”

“With the recent stock market fluctuations and historically high unemployment, confidence in our economy is at a low and the American people are understandably frightened about their economic future. Job creation and growth depends squarely on our confidence in the economy. As long as we keep borrowing 42 cents on the dollar and sending the bill to our children and grandchildren, our debt will grow and confidence will continue to shrink.”

“The debt crisis is a legitimate threat to our nation’s future, and the American people cannot afford to wait any longer. Everyone can agree that we must stop spending money we don’t have, and the time to act is now. This commission will not be able to solve the crisis in a matter of months, but we can work together to tackle these challenges in order to bring back jobs, hope, and opportunity for the American people.”

Note:  The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is a 12- member bipartisan, bicameral panel tasked with finding at least $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade.

The Congressional Forum is August 25 at noon at the Hyatt Regency Dallas.  Join Congressman Hensarling with fellow Congressmen Joe Barton and Pete Sessions. Click here for more information and tickets.

The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) will host newly elected City Council Members Sandy Greyson and Scott Griggs at a luncheon tomorrow at the Tower Club Dallas.

Greyson previously served on the City Council and this is Griggs’ first elected public office post. 

Before running for the City Council, Greyson and Griggs had already established a solid record as community leaders and activists in their respective districts. Greyson represents District 12 and Griggs serves District 3.

The Thursday luncheon will provide Greyson and Griggs the opportunity to share their vision, goals, and objectives for Dallas with Chamber members, local elected officials, and business and community leaders.

For event registration information please click here.

Democrat and Republican leaders have met at the White House for the past few weekends with hopes to hammer out a deal to raise the debt ceiling, but the negotiations seem to have stalled. Republican Speaker of the House Boehner pulled out of the talks with the complaint that “Despite good-faith efforts to find common ground, the White House will not pursue a bigger debt reduction agreement without tax hikes.”

The Republican leadership has consistently maintained their position against any form of tax increase in spite of a compromise proposed by President Obama and Democratic negotiators. The compromise plan consists of roughly 83 percent spending cuts and 17percent tax revenue increases, which comes extremely close to the Joint Economic Committee Republicans proposal from earlier this year which called for a plan based on 85 percent spending cuts and 15% tax revenue increases. Yet the Republicans aren’t the only party unwilling to budge.

Social Security and Medicare, which take about roughly half of the federal budget, are still considered by many Democrats as the ‘third-rail’ of politics that is not to be touched, exemplified by Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Party Leader in the House, who recently stated “we are not going to balance the budget on the backs of America’s seniors, women and people with disabilities.” Many Democrats are unwilling to consider Social Security reform or Medicare cuts, furthering the gulf between Republican and Democratic positions.

Each side has their anchor, but something has to give. With less than two weeks left until the default date on the federal debt, it is increasingly clear that the head Congressional negotiators would be well served to take note of former U.S. Comptroller David Walker, founder of the Comeback America Initiative.

David Walker, former U.S. Comptroller under Presidents Clinton and Bush, and founder of the Comeback America Initiative, will be in Dallas to address members of the DRC’s Small Business community next month. Walker will address our members at 8 a.m., August 30, 2011 at the Park City Club.

Walker helps to re-focus the debate by providing the facts:

“Social Security is now negative cash flow and is adding to annual deficits. These deficits will increase in the future. In addition, Social Security has a $9 trillion funding gap in current dollar terms for the next 75-years of which about $2.6 trillion is backed by USG securities.”

If a compromise isn’t struck it could spur a global economic crisis. So what is to be done? For David Walker and the Comeback America Initiative, which he founded to promote fiscal responsibility and sustainability in order to achieve solutions to America’s fiscal imbalances, “the Debt Ceiling Limit offers the perfect catalyst for this discussion… [but] the Debt Ceiling will need to rise, and it will provide cover for Democrats and Republicans to make tough decisions in the name of compromise.”

If the plan were up to David Walker, he would create a plan that centers around “social insurance reforms, defense and other spending cuts and comprehensive tax reform that will raise more revenue.” Walker encourages negotiators to focus on “cutting more over a number of years and budgetary reforms instead of a shock therapy approach” and opposes any short-term fix. However, Walker is not in charge, and Speaker Boehner pulled out of the talks stating he could not get his conference to agree on anything other than a short-term solution.

Furthermore, Senate Minority Leader McConnell’s recent proposal received little support from the House, the ‘Cut, Cap and Balance’ bill proposed by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor doesn’t have the support to make it out of the House, and the White House negotiations have yet to produce any substantial legislation. There may still be hope in the new bill proposed by the bipartisan Senate “Gang of Six,” but the details are still vague and must be hammered out in negotiations. As Election year draws nearer and economic calamity looms, a ‘grand bargain’ seems increasingly unlikely and a short-term fix may be the only method of avoiding default.

To register for Walker’s address, part of the Small Business Initiative Speaker Series, contact Kelle Marsalis atkmarsalis@dallaschamber.org or CLICK HERE.

“While state leaders generally have opposed an increase in state taxes this session, many have set as a long-term goal the restructuring of the state tax system. In 1997, then-Gov. George W. Bush sought to revamp state taxes with a goal of enhancing fairness and efficiency.  That effort was unsuccessful, and dependable growth in state revenue has stalled and demands for state services such as education and health care have increased, new pressures have been placed on the state tax system.

Many cite Texas’ low rankings in generating revenue as a positive factor in promoting economic development and limiting the size of government.  Others say restricting state revenue prevents the state from meeting essential needs and shifts the spending burden to local governments such as cities and school districts.

Governing magazine ranked Texas’ tax system at the bottom in terms of adequacy and fairness, while giving the state higher marks for tax administration.  Texas is not alone in facing fiscal challenges.  Goverments at all levels across the nation are tightening their belts and seeking new revenues.”

Interesting stuff, right? Well, I didn’t write the above passage. I found it in a House Research Organization focus report dated FEBRUARY 26, 2003!  Enjoy your weekend. I’m going home to watch “Groundhog Day”…..