Blog Archives | Lobbyit.com

Follow the Money: How Money Plays a Role in Lobbying

Lobbying firms of all sizes operate much like most other service businesses: They provide a service to their clients in exchange for a fee. The service paid for, in this case, is retaining the services of an experienced lobbyist to express the viewpoints of the business to lawmakers in Congress and other influential government officials.

The money paid to lobbyists for their time is for much more than just hanging around the halls of the House or Senate waiting to speak to Congressmen and Congresswomen. Rather, a good portion of their time is spent reviewing what bills are up before the House and Senate, and which ones will have the biggest effects on their clients, either negatively or positively, and then determining how the House and Senate would vote on that particular bill.

If the outcomes are positive, the bill already has a strong following, and it will likely pass, then the lobbyist concentrates on other bills of interest to their clients. For instance, there may be a bill up before Congress that will negatively impact small business owners’ tax rates.

In this example, the lobbyists would arrange meetings with committees, coalition groups, aids to legislators, and various legislators to voice their clients’ opinions on the bill and attempt to get the language or wording of it revised in favor of their clients, or would attempt to sway the lawmakers to vote against passing the bill.

Where Does the Money Go?

The money paid to firms and lobbyists is used for a wide array of purposes and functions. A good portion of the money collected from clients is used for payroll and to pay lobbyists working directly for various firms. Another portion of the money collected from clients is spent on researching the topics the clients want to attempt to sway lawmakers’ opinions about in their favor. For instance, what would be the long-term environmental impacts the implementation of a law could have on a particular region.

In addition, the money paid lobbyists is used to fund campaigns to increase public awareness through various media outlets, including:

Newspapers
Magazines
Billboards
Television
Social Media
Other Online Channels

By educating the general public, it can further help shape the opinions of people in favor of the client. In turn, these people can share their opinion on the matter by contacting their Congressional representatives, which further helps sway the lawmakers’ viewpoint.

Additionally, a small portion of the money paid to lobby firms is used to find experts that are familiar with particular pieces of legislation and pay for their time to testify on the behalf of the client in front of lawmakers on those bills of interest to the client.

Without lobbyists and their services, many lawmakers would have no idea about what issues were important to the small businesses and people in their Congressional Districts. To learn more about lobbying and to discover how you can get your voice heard on Capitol Hill, contact LobbyIt at 202.587.2736 today. We offer affordable lobbying services for businesses of all sizes!

April 8, 2017/0 Comments/by Paul Kanitra

Lobbying: Not Just for Corporations but for the “Little Guys,” Too!

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Small businesses play a vital role in the U.S. economy. According to the United States Small Business Administration, there are approximately 28 million small businesses, which account for 54% of all sales in numerous industries. Even with this large number of small businesses, one of the most challenging features for all business owners is getting involved in politics and lobbying efforts to ensure their voice is heard by lawmakers in the House and Senate.

Unlike major corporations that have deep pockets and can afford to invest several thousands of dollars into lobbying efforts with assistance from the top lobbying firms, small businesses have not had this luxury in the past. However, things are changing on Capitol Hill. Today, small businesses can enlist the help of Washington DC lobbyists from LobbyIt to make sure their concerns on various issues are heard by those that matter the most.

As a result, lobbying is no longer just for big businesses. Smaller businesses are effecting changes and getting the results they desire. In addition, the congressmen and congresswomen in the House of Representatives and senators in the Senate are starting to listen to the “little guys” and what they want because they are starting to understand their decisions have far-reaching effects that could hurt the future of small businesses and the economy.

While the U.S. Constitution gives every individual and small business owner the right to contact their representatives and senators to voice their views on different legal and political matters, doing so on your own does not provide you with the same advantages as you gain when you enlist the help of a qualified lobbyist.

The reason for this is because most lobbyists have previous experience working alongside various government officials, and may have been an elected official in the House or Senate, or been a staff member to elected officials. These previous experiences and relationships aid lobbying efforts because lobbyists know exactly which elected officials share similar views as the small businesses they represent and how their pull could sway the opinions of other elected officials in favor of the small business owner.

It is important to keep in mind that simply hiring a lobbyist does not mean the small business is off the hook and can sit back and relax while it waits for results. Small business owners still need to be active in promoting their viewpoints at the local and state levels, too. It can also be beneficial to find other small businesses, either in the same or different industries, who want the same things and to band together to increase the number of resources available for lobbying efforts.

Whether you decide to go it alone or start a coalition of small business owners, there are a few key points to consider:

What is it that you want?
How can you make a case that will interest and make sense to lawmakers?
Who will benefit from your efforts?
What impacts will it have on others?

Having general answers to these questions will aid your lobbyist and his or her efforts. To learn more about affordable lobbying options from Lobbyit, please feel to contact us at 202.587.2736 today!

Source

1. https://www.sba.gov/managing-business/running-business/energy-efficiency/sustainable-business-practices/small-business-trends

March 25, 2017/0 Comments/by Paul Kanitra

The Impact and Implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act: Part 2

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Effects on Medical Technology and Research Funding (Part II of IV)

In Part I of this four-part blog series, we provided a general overview of what the 21^st Century Cures Act is and some of the different medical fields where funding will be dispersed over the next ten years. In this second segment, we will explore in greater detail one of the primary provisions of the Act: the fast-track development and approval procedures for new medical devices and drugs.

Priority Approval for New Devices

A new priority review process to approve new medical devices that are considered “breakthrough” technologies or are aimed at specific illnesses and diseases, where there is currently no clearly defined or approved treatments, was included in the Act. This new method uses existing procedures but now makes it possible for the medical device manufacturer to request a priority review prior to submitting an application for FDA approval.

Changes to Clinical Trials and Studies

Previously, clinical trials and studies for both new medical devices and drugs were conducted in the region or area where they were developed. Under the new Act, companies could request a sampling of test subjects from a wider range or area outside of the location where the device or drug was originally developed.

“Real World Evidence” and Summary Data

In place of extensive clinical trials, the new Act allows pharmaceuticals and device manufacturers to submit “real world evidence and/or summary data” when being considered for fast approval.

Weighted Risk-Benefit Analysis

For some drugs, like new antibiotics, a risk-benefit analysis is allowed, based upon the risks/benefits the drugs could provide patients when they have untreatable or severe infections, compared to the harms of the illness or disease to obtain approvals.

Concerns About Fast-Track Approvals and FDA Changes

The bill was heavily supported by healthcare lobbying firms and various groups, most notably pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies. As such, some proponents that fought against the passing of the Act have concerns about the impacts it will have on the medical industry as a whole and the relaxed FDA requirements.

Some feel the previous standards set by the FDA were already sufficient for approving new and emerging medical devices and drugs, and the additional reduction further erodes the effectiveness of the FDA.

Other concerns are the long-term impacts approved medical devices and drugs would have on patients. Without detailed clinical trials and studies, there is effectively no way to determine the extent of potential side effects and other issues, current detailed trials and studies provide. Going forward, both medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies will need to keep these concerns in mind when considering which products to submit for fast-track approvals.

In Part III of this four-part blog series, we will further examine how the 21^st Century Cures Act will affect current healthcare practices. To learn more about lobbying and how using a lobbying firm can benefit your business, call the lobbying experts at LobbyIt by phoning 202.587.2736 today.

Sources

March 11, 2017/0 Comments/by Paul Kanitra

Tackling the Pros and Cons of Tax Reform in the Trump Era

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The Pros and Cons of Tax Reform Under a Trump Admin

After the noise of the 2016 presidential campaign dwindled, America was left waiting on the execution of a variety of promises that President Trump made over the prior eighteen months. One of the most pressing topics of discussion around Capitol Hill remains tax reform. As our new leader created his personal success in the boardrooms of corporate America, the legislature remains a collection of politicians born and raised on opposite sides of the aisle. The concepts included in the changing tax rates that Trump’s administration is tweeting out on his social media bear little resemblance to anything that either the Republican or Democratic parties have been testing out for the past four years in chambers. What kind of changes are in the pipeline? We’ve created a quick review of them and who may or may not benefit from these adjustments to the tax laws.

Corporate Tax Rates to Be Drastically Cut

Currently, the United States has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the developed world, topping out at 35% for large corporations and as high as 39% for self-employed small businesses. While the GOP has been promoting a tax reduction down 25% for corporations, the Trump contingent is fielding a rate as low as 15% when the business reinvests profits back into company growth.

The concept is to provide an environment that supports new businesses and growth in those presently operating. It would encourage companies that are looking at overseas expansion to consider remaining on U.S. soil and continuing to bolster the tax receipts of the government.

While this sounds fantastic for our capitalistic society, there has been a noted lack of discussion regarding the spending of fewer tax dollars. If a large segment of tax income vanishes from big business and the one-percenters, what will happen to the deficit and budget?

Tariffs on Imported Goods to Be Enacted

The current administration is looking at implementing import tariffs at a rate of up to 35% to be applied to goods manufactured outside of America and brought in for sale to consumers and businesses. This is supposed to help with the gap created by a sudden loss of corporate taxes without making significant spending cuts.

However, with America’s ability to actually manufacture many of the goods purchased on a daily basis by its citizens on a steady decline, retailers are arguing that the cost of the new tariffs will be passed directly to John Q. Public, indirectly raising his tax burden and chasing his wallet out of the brick and mortar stores.

No Spending Cuts Have Been Mentioned…Yet

While the song of tax reform has been steadily chanted throughout the campaign, few details have been shared on the intended budget process. If these tax cuts are enacted, the Tax Policy Foundation estimates that the government could lose as much as $9.5 trillion in the first ten years. As America continues to recover from fiscally irresponsible business models from the early 2000s, creating an even more massive deficit through lack of tax collection without reducing spending could seem like a path leading us down the proverbial rabbit hole.

However, with the GOP firmly in charge, cuts will certainly be discussed in committee in the name of creating at least a neutral budget. The big mystery is where will those cuts fall?

Which Segments of Industry, Education, and Public Safety Will Be at Risk?

As the Trump administration moves forward with many of their campaign promises, a clear indication of areas that will lose funding can be determined by reviewing popular areas of discussion over the past year.

Any company that is involved in the manufacturing and sale of goods would potentially see negative effects with the proposed reforms. The cost of importing products for sale or even as part of the supply chain for domestic final manufacturing will significantly increase the cost of doing business and retail prices, and negatively impact how far a family’s budget can stretch. With the international market only a click away on smartphones and laptops, there is a real risk that even more degradation of the brick and mortar retail model will occur when having staples delivered to your door beats out shopping at the corner store. The auto industry, clothing, electronics, and even grocery stores will be significantly impacted.

When budgets are being minimized, often the first services to be reduced are those associated with arts and sciences. Libraries, after-school programs, music and art in education, and funding for independent research programs could become limited. Even as great progress has been made over the last decade in improving our students’ ability to compete in the international employment market, deep cuts in funding schools will result in a negative rippling effect over the next ten years.

Finally, there is no possible way to have any discussion about where our tax dollars are being spent without talking about the great healthcare question. As the administration struggles to come to grips with creating a new Affordable Care Act, ensuring it remains properly funded while tax funds significantly decrease seems to be the latest version of a Rubik’s cube.

That seems like a lot of Americans that won’t benefit from the reforms, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Why Will the Reforms Pass?

While on the face it looks like the companies that produce the largest segment of tax income for the federal government may see their tax rate reduced by up to 20%, the gap created by this huge reduction has been explained by those promoting the Trump tax reform. Currently, the nation is enjoying economic growth of around one or two percent. By enabling businesses to lower their tax burden and allow for full-expensing instead of depreciation, experts say the rate of growth could expand to as much as 6%. The $6 billion loss of tax funds initially would be ultimately offset by new businesses flourishing and being able to reinvest their profits into the operation, while growing an ever larger tax base.

Even if the Trump proposals were not born out of the conservative side of the Capitol, highlighting the growth of the economy by supporting the expansion of big business will surely be embraced by the Republican Party, which currently is enjoying the majority in both the Senate and the House.

Who Will Be the Voice of Reason?

With the Democratic base increasingly agitated, it will be increasingly difficult for the liberal and even moderate side of the aisle to be seen as working with the GOP and the White House. Current bills for the reform have been created using budget reconciliation, which does not require bipartisan buy-in. It’s going to take a concerted effort on the part of manufacturing, education, and the healthcare industry to ensure that their interests are not forgotten in the rush to get the tax reform pushed through the system.

If you are concerned that the looming tax reforms will not provide a real benefit to your business or organization, top lobbying firms situated in Washington, D.C., can provide the assistance and presence needed to get your government to listen to you. If there was ever a time in history where actively pursuing political change was needed, this is it. Don’t hesitate to take action and become part of the democratic process today.

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/12/23/the-five-biggest-obstacles-to-trumps-plan-to-overhaul-the-tax-code/?utm_term=.f1514517bdf2

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publications/analysis-donald-trumps-tax-plan/full

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanellis/2016/11/10/trumps-tax-reform-will-champion-reform-conservatism/#3aa3734b3dc8

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/311096-five-questions-for-trumps-tax-reform

March 2, 2017/0 Comments/by Paul Kanitra

The Impact and Implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act: Part 1

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Effects on Medical Technology and Research Funding (Part I of IV)

In this four-part blog series, we will review the impact the 21^st Century Cures Act will have on the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and insurance industries. We will discuss what this Act entails, how it will impact medical technologies, healthcare practices, patient safety, and research funding.

What Is the 21^st Century Cures Act?

One of President Obama’s last acts before leaving office was to sign into law this Act, which passed both the House and Senate in December with unsurpassed bipartisan support, partly due to proactive healthcare and pharmaceutical lobbying efforts. The Act provides an overhaul of current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) processes and procedures for new healthcare devices and drugs and how they are currently approved.

Under previous guidelines, there were few, if any, provisions for fast-tracking a drug or new medical device, without the direct intervention of various government agencies and offices. Under the new Act, there will be special provisions in place to relax current requirements and make it easier to get certain medical devices and drugs through approval stages faster.

The Act calls to invest $4.8 billion into different research areas through the Nation Institutes of Health (NIH). Among these, former Vice President Biden was able to secure $1.8 billion for cancer research alone.

In addition, the Act gives the NIH permission to authorize financing for special circumstances, where there are high rewards for making advances in medical research, but which also come with high risks. In the past, funding for high-risk, high-reward research would require lengthy submissions to secure grants and other specialized funds through various agencies.

There are also a number of other areas where the estimated $6.3 billion in total funds tied into the Act are to be spent over of the next ten years, including:

The Precision Medicine Initiative will receive $1.4 billion. This program will collect genetic data from volunteers and help to further the development of new products, devices, and treatments.
The BRAIN Initiative will receive $1.56 billion. This project involves developing and implementing new technologies to map the human brain in greater detail to help develop a more comprehensive understanding of the brain’s functions and, eventually, develop new treatments for current brain-related ailments and diseases.
Over $1 billion in funding will be provided for addressing prescription drug abuse. The funding will be awarded to states that develop new programs to educate, prevent, and treat this growing type of drug addiction and substance abuse.

The 21^st Century Cures Act also contains specific provisions for creating new employment opportunities at the United States Department of Health and Human Services, with positions focused on substance abuse treatment, substance abuse research, and mental health.

In Part II of our four-part blog series, we will review one of the key components of the Act that focuses on fast-tracking the development and approval of new medical devices and drugs. To learn more about lobbying or to retain the services of a Washington DC lobbyist to ensure your voice is heard by those who matter, please feel free to contact LobbyIt at 202.587.2736 today.

Source

1. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/21st-century-cures-act-congress-health-care-passed/

February 25, 2017/0 Comments/by Paul Kanitra

Trump Tax Reform: Tax Cuts on Corporations and the Wealthy – What This Means for America

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During President Trump’s campaign for the Oval Office, he promised to overhaul the federal tax structure for both businesses and individuals with major tax reforms. In the past week, what is slowly starting to emerge is more of a tax relief plan, which could still deliver on campaign promises. Trump’s changes in the taxation structure do have several benefits and are not entirely focused on major corporations or the wealthy.

DC Lobbying Firms

Corporations

Currently, the corporate tax rate in the United States is one of the highest in the world. Trump’s tax plan calls to reduce the tax rate from 35% to 15%. However, some Republicans feel this is too deep of a cut and have countered with reducing it to 20%. Trump would also like to eliminate AMT (alternative minimum tax) for businesses. However, in exchange for reducing the tax rate, businesses would lose several deductions and would only be left with the research and development (R&D) tax credit for R&D conducted solely within the U.S.

Small and Medium Businesses

Small and medium businesses would also see tax rates cut to 15%, but could still end up paying a maximum of 25%, depending on their type of business structure. The AMT would also be repealed.

Individuals

For wealthy Americans, Trump’s tax cut plan calls to do away with the current tax bracket structures and cut these down to a total of three, based upon income. Individuals earning more than $112,500, and married couples earning more than $225,000, would have a tax rate of 33%. For the middle class earning between $75,000 and $225,000, the new tax rate would be 25%. For those earning less than $75,000, the new tax rate would be 12%.

The standard deduction rates would also increase, but, in exchange, personal exemptions would no longer be allowed. For individuals, their standard deduction would increase to $15,000, up from the current $6,300. For married couples, their standard deduction would jump to $30,000, compared to $12,600 currently.

Other changes for individuals include:

Eliminating Net Investment Income Taxes
Creating Three Tax Brackets for Capital Gains (0%, 15%, and 20%)
Repealing AMT
Capping of Itemized Deductions ($100,000 or $200,000)
Repealing Estate Taxes

It will be interesting to see what tax reforms do take place. For individuals and married couples, the proposed changes could help further strengthen economic growth, as consumers will have more money to spend because they will be paying fewer taxes.

Direct Lobbying

However, part of the obstacle facing the new president is being able to develop a tax plan that brings relief while at the same time does not drive up the deficit. Finding this balance is also going to require getting support from within the parties of Republicans and the Democrats.

Businesses concerned about changes in tax laws should enlist the help of DC lobbying firms to ensure their concerns are heard. To learn more about what lobbyists are and how they can help your business, contact LobbyIt at 202-587-2736 today!

February 8, 2017/0 Comments/by Paul Kanitra

Inside Look: Senate Democrats Challenge Trump with a $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan

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One of President Trump’s campaign proposals was to repair America’s infrastructure and update our roads, railways, electric grids, airports, bridges, waterways, and pipelines. In light of this, Senate Democrats have put together their own proposal that is somewhat different from Trump’s $1 trillion plan.

Washington DC Lobbyists

There are several key differences between the two plans, and it is important to understand how each of the proposals would affect the general public. In addition, both plans call for investing $1 trillion over the next decade, not all up front. Let’s first take a look at President Trump’s plan and how he might deliver on his promise to upgrade our infrastructure.

Under President Trump’s plan, he would encourage the development of relationships between private and public infrastructure groups in hopes private organizations will invest the $1 trillion for the needed updates. The main benefit of this plan is it would mean the federal government would not need to allocate tax revenues or seek sources to fund the projects, but rather rely upon money from private firms to fund projects.

In exchange for their investments, the private firms would expect tax breaks and other forms of compensation. Aside from tax breaks, others forms of compensation could involve tolls or other user fees passed along to the general public. The main drawback, which could meet with resistance from Senate Democrats, is it would limit what projects were selected and those in lower income areas could be neglected.

The Democrats’ proposal would allocate government funding to help pay for improvement projects. The plan allocates funds to a wide range of potential projects and infrastructure areas, along with the creation of a new entity to regulate finances and funding of the projects, rather than rely on private investing.

The major appeal of the Democrats’ plan is it would allocate funding where it was needed the most and would not limit itself to only those types of projects private investors would consider.

Lobbying Firms

However, standing in the way of this plan are Senate Republicans. They are hesitant to invest federal funding into new infrastructure programs since they are worried about how it is going to increase the ever-growing deficit.

Even with this resistance, their plan lets the President and Republicans know they are willing to work with them on improving infrastructure, as long as it does not exclusively focus on private investments or excessive tax breaks.

If President Trump delivers on his campaign promise, an infrastructure plan that includes aspects of private and government funding, along with compromises by both Democrats and Republicans, is most likely to come about.

Regardless of what proposal you favor, there are various ways you can ensure your voice is heard on Capitol Hill. Private individuals are encouraged to participate in grassroots lobbying, which is letting their government officials know where they stand on this issue. A more direct option for businesses is to obtain help from LobbyIt by calling 202-587-2736 today!

January 25, 2017/0 Comments/by Paul Kanitra

The Future of Small Business Regulations Under a Trump Administration (Part II)

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In the previous segment, we reviewed how a Trump administration could impact small business owners with changes to Obamacare and the repealing of a few executive orders. In this segment, we will look at wages, taxes, and labor regulations.

Federal Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage has been a hot topic all throughout Obama’s presidency. The current rate is $7.25 an hour and has remained at this level since 2009. President Obama had tried on several occasion to increase the rate to $10 an hour but without any success, partially due to Washington lobbyists rallying for business owners. Now that Trump is taking office, there is debate about whether he will pursue an increase or not.

During his campaign, Trump had stated on several occasions minimum wage laws should be left to the states to decide, not the federal government. This stance is evident in over half of the states, where new minimum wage laws have taken effect or are being slowly implemented. However, Trump has made some indications he would agree to an increase up to $10 an hour.

Small Business Taxes

Trump has maintained his objective to reduce taxes for businesses of all sizes. He has mentioned a rate of 15% on numerous occasions. While this rate might sound great to medium and large businesses, most small business owners are already paying that rate or less. One concern, though, is that Trump was not clear about the 15% rate and whether it would be a flat rate for all or a capped rate.

If it is the former, then some small businesses could end up paying more taxes in cases where they are paying less than 15%. If it is the latter, and the rate is capped, it could help some small businesses that are currently above the 15% rate.

Regulations on Labor

The new overtime regulations began on December 1, 2016, which raised the cap on those eligible to earn overtime, up to $47,476 annually. Initially, this was the Obama administration’s way to deal with a $7.25 an hour minimum wage and help increase the earnings of those working overtime but earning higher salaries. This change in labor law impacts small businesses and forces them to either cut overtime hours or migrate employees at higher wage levels to salaried employees.

Under a Trump administration, it is anticipated he will address this new regulation and take steps to either repeal it or modify it in some form. For instance, in exchange for raising the federal minimum wage to $10 an hour, there could be a provision included that could reduce the annual salary cap.

It will be interesting to see what issues President-elect Trump pursues immediately after taking office and how these will affect and impact small business owners. For help ensuring your concerns are voiced to Congress and others that matter, contact LobbyIt now at 202.587.2736! We provide a wide range of lobbying services for small businesses.

Sources

January 8, 2017/0 Comments/by Paul Kanitra

The Future of Small Business Regulations Under a Trump Administration (Part I)

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Whether you supported Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, now is the time to start considering the impacts the Trump victory will have on small business regulations in the coming years. There are several key areas president-elect Trump has stated he would target if he won the election. Now that he has, it is worth looking at how changes to these areas could potentially impact small businesses in this two-part series.

In Part I, we will look at some of those issues Trump made it clear he intended to address after being sworn into office. In Part II, we will look at those issues which related to federal minimum wage laws, taxes, and labor regulations.

Obamacare and Trump

Trump has stated on numerous occasions he would repeal Obamacare, which is also known as the ACA (Affordable Care Act). However, this raises some concerns for small business owners. While the ACA has its pitfalls, it has helped millions of people, including small business owners, obtain affordable healthcare insurance. Doing away with Obamacare would seriously impact small businesses.

In addition, to have the ACA repealed, it would require a majority vote in the Senate, which means at least 60 Democrats and Republicans would have to vote yes. The likelihood of this happening is very improbable. Furthermore, the insurance companies have a strong presence through DC lobbying firms and would most likely fight any repeal since they have already invested a large amount of time, money, and effort to implement Obamacare.

It is also worth noting any changes to the ACA would not happen overnight. It would take a few years before any approved changes would take effect. So, in the short run, at least for the next two years, do not expect drastic changes to the ACA.

In the latest statements from Trump, he has varied his objectives about repealing Obamacare. Rather, he is now saying the ACA does have certain areas that need to be overhauled but has promised to keep in place the provision regarding pre-existing conditions and not being denied coverage.

Reversal of Executive Orders

President-elect Trump has stated he would reverse many of Obama’s executive orders once he takes office. Among these are two key ones that have a direct effect on small businesses:

The EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) regulation of private lands’ bodies of water.
Deportation of illegal minors.

Under Obama, the EPA has been allowed to regulate bodies of water on private land. By overturning this executive order, it would ease some of the current regulations and help certain small businesses. Reversing the second executive order could also help small businesses, as it would mean jobs that potentially could be filled at some point by illegal minors would not occur.

To ensure small businesses’ voices and concerns are heard by those that matter, remember, help is available from LobbyIt and our DC lobbyists. Call us at 202.587.2736 today for more information!

Source

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2016/11/12/small-businesses-can-expect-policy-changes-under-trump/93608798/

December 25, 2016/0 Comments/by Paul Kanitra

The Future of Labor Under a Trump Administration
(Part II)

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In Part I of this two-part blog series, we started discussing how President Trump could influence and shape the future of labor and employment. Please feel free to review that segment, too, after reading this segment.

As previously mentioned in Part I, Trump does have certain executive powers he can use to influence labor policies. For changes in laws that do not have to be passed by Congress, as well as those which do not benefit public safety, he has mentioned he would create a new moratorium, where for every new labor rule or regulation, two existing rules or regulations must be dissolved.

This form of deregulation would essentially empower businesses to have access to additional revenue streams and allow them to reinvest in their operations, potentially create new jobs, and enable future growth.

One of the most important impacts Trump will have on labor and employment laws is the appointment of Supreme Court justices. During his time in office, he could easily have the opportunity to nominate and appointment as many as four new justices. The appointment of the new justices will have long-lasting effects on important labor issues reviewed and ruled upon by the Court.

In regards to OSHA, it is expected that Trump will loosen the reins of control the agency has had under the Obama Administration. Many anticipate Trump’s approach will be similar to those under President George W. Bush, where OSHA tended to lend assistance and developed cooperative programs.

One key area Trump is likely to address foremost, after taking office, is immigration. Trump has long been against illegal immigrants taking jobs away from others. It is expected that Trump will overturn Obama’s executive orders on immigration the moment he takes office, as well as implement steps to enforce existing laws.

In addition, Trump says he has plans to develop new controls to ensure qualified citizens have access to jobs currently being filled by illegal immigrants. Part of this plan will also include reforms to limit the number of legal immigrants being offered positions through current legal methods.

For labor unions, there could possibly be tough times ahead. While Trump has experience working with unions and developing positive relationships, it is not expected for all unions to be as open and accommodating, especially if he is loosening regulations and controls already in place designed to protect unions.

Employees and employers can expect some changes to occur quickly and swiftly after Trump takes office as our next president. However, other changes and reforms will take longer to implement if they require a new piece of legislation to be introduced.

Last, do not forget the power Washington DC lobbyists can have, even on those issues that would oppose the reforms Trump wants to make. For more information about lobbying, call LobbyIt now, at 202.587.2736, and make sure your voice on labor and employment issues is heard.

Sources

December 9, 2016/0 Comments/by interns@lobbyit.com

Effects on Medical Technology and Research Funding (Part II of IV)

Priority Approval for New Devices

Changes to Clinical Trials and Studies

“Real World Evidence” and Summary Data

Weighted Risk-Benefit Analysis

Concerns About Fast-Track Approvals and FDA Changes

Corporate Tax Rates to Be Drastically Cut

Tariffs on Imported Goods to Be Enacted

No Spending Cuts Have Been Mentioned…Yet

Which Segments of Industry, Education, and Public Safety Will Be at Risk?

Why Will the Reforms Pass?

Who Will Be the Voice of Reason?

Effects on Medical Technology and Research Funding (Part I of IV)

What Is the 21st Century Cures Act?

What Is the 21^st Century Cures Act?