Many in the beverage industry are getting on board with First Lady Michelle Obama’s call to end childhood obesity by voluntarily posting calorie counts on the front of their products. This “front of the product” labeling makes calorie content more obvious and transparent for consumers.
The American Beverage Association recently announced their support for this type of labeling which goes beyond what is mandated by food labeling regulations. However, this new packaging could be end up being required by the Food and Drug Administration in the next few months as they review new food-labeling standards across the beverage industry. Some companies, however, are voicing concerns over the potential impact of new regulations.
City Year is a national organization that sponsors the collaborative efforts of young people aged 17 to 24 in a full year of service to partner with school systems and provide hands on educational support to children.
“At City Year’s locations across the United States and in South Africa, young people – called “corps members” – serve full time for 10 months. These young leaders put their idealism to work for children and communities through school-based service, youth leadership programs and community transformation…”
City Year is a good example of a successful program that is a collaborative effort between public school systems and private efforts comprising donations of time, talent, and funding from individuals, groups, and corporations. National Leadership Sponsors include blue chip corporations such as T-Mobile, Comcast, CSX, Pepsi, Aramark, Bank of America, Cisco Foundation, Deloitte, Walmart and Timberland.
US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is quoted on the City Year website as follows:
“You have to have folks with our students every single day, making a difference in their lives. That’s what City Year does, with its diversity, with its long term commitment, with its passionate young people. There’s no one else I know of in the country who is having that kind of impact.”
Last night the “Idealism in Action Gala” was held for the Washington DC chapter of City Year. It was an inspirational evening complete with City Year corps members who were present to mingle with attendees, sharing their stories of their year spent in D.C. Public Schools. Later, in an awards ceremony, City Year recognized a number of local individuals as “Idealists of the Year” for their contributions to the community. A “Lifetime of Idealism Award” was presented to TIME Managing Editor Richard Stengel. Cassidy & Associates was proud to be a Silver Sponsor of this event.
Decisions made in Washington have a profound impact on the lives of most Americans. This is especially true for CEOs in both the corporate and non-profit world. A crucial element in shaping major government decisions is timing. When an issue is debated and voted on will have enormous impact on what is contained in the measure ultimately enacted into law.
Gaining insights into the legislative calendar and preparing our clients to make effective use of this knowledge is part and parcel of what we do every day as lobbyists. Policymaking in Washington navigates byzantine paths. Demystifying this complex process and guiding clients through it is as important as any other element of strategy and advocacy. Many mornings start here at our firm with partners literally walking the hallways and asking “what do you hear on the calendar?” We learn from each other—and benefit from the fact that numerous Cassidy partners here formerly worked for leadership, House and Senate, Democratic and Republican, as well as the White House.
This sensitivity to schedule is especially true again this week as Congress wrestles with a package of tax extenders important to several clients, votes on a controversial supplemental appropriation that funds military needs and Gulf oil spill response, and tries to get out of town for the Memorial Day break.
I appreciate the sensitivity to calendar in part because I worked for more than a decade from a cat bird seat on the Senate floor, a small armless chair between the Majority Leader and the gentleman who was then my boss, the Senate Majority Whip. Scores of senators would walk by, stepping into the Senate well during votes to be counted, then stop with a question. What were we asked most often? “When…When is the next vote? When is the last vote? When are we taking up my proposal? When are we developing a compromise with the House of Representatives or the Administration?”
Knowing when a proposal will be put to the test is crucial to strategy and tactics for any effective lobbyist. For example, voting on an energy conservation proposal in the midst of a heat wave might garner different policy outcomes than, say, voting on the same proposal days after an oil spill disaster. One of the great benefits of collaborating with colleagues in my firm is piecing together insights. Since numerous colleagues here also have politically diverse backgrounds we can come up with timely analysis on these calendar measures. Today, we have been discussing timing for considering issues as diverse as the FY11 defense appropriations vote in House subcommittee (now likely off until July), ratification of trade pacts (likely off until 2011) and R&D tax credits (this week).
We also share insights into how Congressional leadership is likely to use the calendar to force votes. Notice how major challenges — think of the health care reform votes just before last Christmas and Easter — are most often pressed just before a scheduled congressional recess? This is one way Capitol Hill leaders use the calendar to force resolution of politically challenging issues. Understanding these very same factors can help colleagues at our firm shape the best outcomes for our clients’ initiatives.
Cassidy Vice Chairman Gregg Hartley’s interview with Gibraltar and Associates CEO Eric Bovim regarding social media in Washington.
Cassidy CEO Marty Russo just posted his contribution to National Journal’s discussion of the revolving door as a regular contributor to its Under the Influence expert blog.
Here is another interesting take entitled Lobbyists don’t have power, their interests do from Thomas Spulak writing for The Hill
The House Agriculture Committee is in the process of holding a series of hearings across the country in order to review the current agricultural policy as lawmakers prepare to draft the 2012 Farm Bill. As these meetings take place, priorities are beginning to emerge.
This week, in a meeting in Sioux Falls, regional farmers and producers lobbied for crop insurance protection reform. The consensus among the attendees was that crop insurance should be viewed as a critical part of the farm safety net in order to help avoid the dangers of production and commodity price instability.
However, advocates in Congress will face an uphill battle in the current “belt-tightening” climate. Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture Colin Peterson (D-MN), stated that the Committee was already working to find a better safety net to pair with crop insurance protection and some of these concepts would be announced in the coming weeks.
CFOs are always looking for ways to reduce risk and achieve greater return on investment. Recently I read an interesting study that referenced how the impact of government policies tie in to the famous question of “what keeps the CEO up a night.” In a recent business outlook survey conducted jointly by Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and CFO Magazine, its findings clearly state that the “Federal Government Policy/Agenda” is high on the list — the number two concern of U.S. business leaders. It is interesting to note that concerns about potential government action rank even above other financially relevant concerns such as “Price Pressure from Competitors” and “Credit Markets/Interest Rates.” Clearly, business leaders are keeping a close eye on developments in Washington.
The First Lady’s Childhood Obesity Task Force Unveiled their Action Plan today entitled Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation. Rachel Ray celebrity chef was also in Washington to lobbying for better school lunches. Congress continues to examine this issue as part of the child nutrition reauthorization legislation and other related bills pending before the Congress.
The IRS report we mentioned last month is out. The report outlines some key findings by the IRS from the IRS’s audits of a number of colleges and universities. The IRS continues to examine the data which includes information on compensation, endowments and governance issues.
The recently passed healthcare bill which aims to cover millions of uninsured Americans included several provisions that corporations are feeling the effects of, in spite of the fact that many of these conditions will not be enforced until 2014. Specifically, one stipulation under the new law is that businesses will no longer be able to write off a federal subsidy that covers part of the cost of retiree prescription drug coverage.
CNN Money has reported that many major companies are already attempting to account for this new potential cost and as a result, are taking preemptive actions. For instance, Caterpillar is one of many companies that currently receive tax-free subsidies as an incentive to continue their drug-benefit program. Recently, they took a $100 million charge to earnings in the first quarter. This type of action is a reflection of the potential taxes Caterpillar will have to pay as a result of the change in treatment of the subsidy. Further, there is the potential that this added cost could result in some employers dropping healthcare benefits altogether and instead accepting the penalty that comes along with it.
As the days and months tick by it is very likely that we will see more unintended consequences of the healthcare bill with companies such as Caterpillar acting accordingly. And, although the healthcare reform bill has passed in Congress, action on the regulatory front will likely be the norm in the future as the effects of the healthcare bill are fully felt.
