Stephanie Salmon, AFS Washington Office; Jeff Hannapel & Christian Richter, The Policy Group, Washington, D.C. WASHINGTON ALERT GOP Sweeps to Senate Majority
Republicans picked up more than the six seats they needed to take control of the Senate and complete their control of Capitol Hill. But they will have fewer than the 60 votes needed to break Democratic filibus- ters. Republicans picked up at least eight seats election night in Montana, South Dakota, West Virginia, Iowa, Colorado, Arkansas, Alaska and North Carolina. Te GOP could add another Senate seat in Louisiana in the state’s Dec. 6th runoff. Republicans also added nearly
a dozen House seats to enjoy their largest majority since the 1920s. So they will likely enjoy either a 53 or 54-seat majority. At least 70 new members of
Congress will be sworn-in on Jan. 3, 2015. Metalcasters are encouraged to host plant tours to educate new Congress members on the industry and key issues facing their facility.
ON THE HILL
AFS Submits Comments on EPA’s Waters of the U.S. Rulemaking
Earlier this year, the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed changes to the Clean Water Act, including changes to the definition of “waters of the U.S.” The EPA argues the rule is necessary because Supreme Court decisions make it unclear what the agency may regulate under the Clean Water Act. AFS argues EPA’s proposed rule- making significantly expands EPA’s authority. Manufacturers of all sizes likely would have to obtain permits for a new, wide range of waters, leading to substantially higher permitting costs, lengthy project delays and possible citizen lawsuits.
The changes were proposed in April and open for public comment until November 14. AFS submitted
comments to EPA and the Corps of Engineers asking that they withdraw the proposed rule. In addition, AFS joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce com- ments along with 375 associations. The Republican-led 114th Congress, which begins in January, is anticipated to look for ways to block the proposal.
Congress Expected to Debate Tax Extenders in Lame Duck
Lawmakers will have to decide if they will extend all, some or none of the more than 50 expired and expiring tax provisions during the lame duck session, which began on November 12. These tax provisions, such as R&D tax credit, bonus depreciation and Section 179, are critically important to many U.S. metalcasting facilities. Party leaders are considering renewing only the tax breaks for 2014 as a way to postpone de- ciding the fate of the provisions without
inconveniencing millions of taxpayers. Some conservative groups are pushing House leaders to hold off on an extension until Republicans take control of the Senate in January. These groups want to eliminate some of the tax extenders they’ve long hated, such as the one subsidizing the wind energy industry. Some House Republicans agree and are threatening to punt the entire extenders package into January. The business community opposes this plan, as it would wreak havoc on the upcoming tax-filing season. AFS recently signed a coalition letter with nearly 500 business groups urging Congress to act in the lame duck ses- sion to extend the expired and expiring tax provisions. Congress is slated to adjourn on December 11.
For additional information, contact Stephanie Salmon, AFS Washington Off ice,
202/842-4864,
ssalmon@afsinc.org. December 2014 MODERN CASTING | 13
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ALSO GAINED SEATS IN THE HOUSE IN THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS Senate Republican
leaders have said they will first look to bills that have received Dem- ocratic support in the past and might be able to earn enough votes to reach the 60-vote threshold for passage. Te most likely early bills they would take up include the Keystone Pipeline, an official delay in Obamacare’s em- ployer mandate (which the administration has already put off through executive ac- tion), a rewrite of the health care law to define full-time employment as 40 hours a week instead of 30 hours as currently stated, repeal of the medical device tax, and a measure to require the approval of liquefied natural gas exports to all World Trade Organiza-
tion member countries. Another issue that could advance in a Republican Senate is trade promo- tion authority, which would allow President Obama to fast-track trade deals in Congress. In regard to envi-
Sen. Mitch McConnell is the Senate Majority-elect.
ronmental matters, the new Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Commit- tee, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), is expected to emphasize recent
EPA regulations, particularly the New Source Performance Standards for new and existing plants and the impending ozone rulemaking. “Waters of the U.S.” also will be a
priority for Inhofe, and high profile hearings early in the first session of the 114th Congress can be expected.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60