Tag: CD3

Chamber of Commerce backs freshmen House Dems, marking shift

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has decided to endorse 23 freshmen House Democrats in this fall’s elections, a bipartisan move by an organization that has long leaned strongly toward Republicans.

The country’s largest business group is also endorsing 29 freshmen House Republicans, said a person familiar with the organization’s decision who described the actions. Even so, the decision has prompted internal divisions, with some state chamber officials criticizing the national group’s decision to back freshmen Democrats in their areas.

The House freshmen the chamber is endorsing include several who face tough reelections, such as Reps. Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne of Iowa, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Xochitl Torres Small of New Mexico, Anthony Brindisi of New York, Kendra Horn of Oklahoma, Joe Cunningham of South Carolina and Elaine Luria and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia. Continue reading.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorses Dean Phillips for Re-Election

Chamber lauds Phillips as a “friend of business” 

MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA – Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce officially endorsed Dean Phillips (D, MN-03) for re-election. A business leader and entrepreneur before running for office in 2018, Phillips refuses all campaign contributions from special interests, PACs, and federal lobbyists, and has emerged as a pragmatic, independent-minded leader on small business issues and government reform in Congress. Recognizing Phillips for his strong support of small business and economic growth, and his commitment to working across the aisle on issues of national importance, the nation’s largest business organization took the rare step of endorsing a freshman Democrat. 

“As one of the few entrepreneurs in Congress, I’m especially grateful to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for their endorsement,” said Phillips. “My thirty years of experience creating, leading, and growing businesses in Minnesota brings a unique perspective to policy-making and illuminates my mission to inspire a new era of collaboration in Congress. I’m grateful to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for recognizing and supporting the need for bipartisanship as we pave the path to prosperity for all Americans.” 

Continue reading “U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorses Dean Phillips for Re-Election”

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips says Minnetonka campaign office burglarized

A Minnesota congressman says his Minnetonka campaign office was burglarized overnight.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips tweeted the news of the break-in on Sunday, along with a photo of a shattered glass door.

“To the thieves stealing campaign signs from my supporters’ lawns across the district and the criminals who broke into our Minnetonka campaign office overnight, the irony isn’t lost on me,” Phillips wrote. “Your disregard for law and stoking of fear and disorder, only increases my resolve.” Continue reading.

New Bill Seeks to Bring Lobbying Out of the Shadows

The Lobbying Disclosure Reform Act of 2020 would add “strategic lobbying services” to the influence-seeking activities that would have to be publicly reported, among other provisions aimed at strengthening disclosure.

Lobbyists who work to influence the federal government report spending, combined, about $3 billion per year for their efforts. But that figure is just a fraction of what corporations and other interests spend on their lobbying. 

Besides making calls to congressional offices and holding briefings for staffers, lobbying organizations often employ “soft power” tactics to get information favorable to their causes in front of policymakers and influencers. For example, trade groups often plant op-eds built around their talking points on websites like The Hill that are read almost exclusively by D.C. insiders. It’s also common for groups to form astroturf coalitions and call on their audiences to lobby policymakers on their behalf. 

To increase transparency of these activities, freshman Reps. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and Ben Cline (R-Va.) last week introduced a bill—the Lobbying Disclosure Reform Act of 2020—that would require companies, trade groups and other entities that employ lobbyists to begin disclosing information about the “strategic lobbying services” they employ in support of their lobbyists. The bill would require reporting of individuals employed in strategic planning, earned media and press strategy, polling, production of public communications, and encouraging people to take action to support or oppose a legislative or regulatory action through the formation of formal or informal coalitions. Continue reading.

What’s the big idea? 4 proposals to reform America’s immigration system

We cannot let divisive rhetoric prevent us from working toward a compassionate immigration policy that lives up to the ideals of the American Dream.

What one reform if adopted by the federal government would move the nation forward in addressing the challenges and opportunities of immigration to the United States?

Focus on areas of agreement

Rep. Fred Upton: America has long been the land of opportunity for millions of immigrants who have enriched our communities and contributed to our economy. As a nation of immigrants, Democrats and Republicans must come together on bipartisan reforms to fix our broken immigration system.

One thing is certain — we cannot let divisive rhetoric prevent us from working toward a compassionate immigration policy that enforces our laws, supports our agricultural community and farm laborers, and lives up to the ideals of the American dream.

Reps. Phillips, Cline Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Fight Lobbyist Influence in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) along with Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) introduced legislation to reduce the influence of lobbyists and provide greater transparency into who is influencing our political process. The Lobbying Disclosure Reform Act would limit the ability of former members of Congress to influence the legislative process from the shadows, modernize lobbying data to make it more accessible to Americans and provide multiple reforms to strengthen enforcement. 

Rep. Phillips said, “I am on a mission to restore Americans’ faith in our government, which begins with reducing the corrupting influence of special interest money in our political system. Lobbyists spent nearly $3.5 billion to influence our elected leaders last year. As the Congress continues to grapple with the response to the COVID-19 crisis, spending trillions of taxpayer dollars in the process, our constituents deserve know which interests are in the room.” 

Rep. Cline said, “At the core of this bipartisan bill is the public’s right to know. Americans are dissatisfied with the way things get done in Washington, and updating the LDA with these common-sense provisions is a strong step to modernizing our lobbying laws and placing more power in the hands of the people rather than the lobbyists.” 

Continue reading “Reps. Phillips, Cline Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Fight Lobbyist Influence in D.C.”

As Pandemic Derails Economy, Rep. Phillips Proposes Tax Relief for Startups to Spur Innovation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) introduced a bipartisan bill in the House of Representatives to provide tax relief to startups that are ineligible for other types of business aid passed by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Phillips’s IGNITE American Innovation Act will allow small and mid-size businesses that weren’t able to utilize the CARES Act tax provisions to monetize up to $25 million accumulated tax assets. In addition, the bill will provide a bonus in tax assets generated by research and the development of products that will prevent, diagnose, and treat COVID-19. Phillips is leading the bill with Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN).

“I’ve had the privilege of getting to know some extraordinary Minnesota innovators and entrepreneurs as a Congressman and over the course of my career in business,” said Phillips. “Smaller startups and growth companies are unique business models and have to compete against large corporate incumbents – that’s challenging under regular conditions, and even more so during this time of economic uncertainty. These businesses make up large share of new jobs, and we must do more to ensure we have an even playing field so that entrepreneurs and innovators can continue to provide opportunities for the next generation of American workers.”

Specifically, the bill would: Continue reading “As Pandemic Derails Economy, Rep. Phillips Proposes Tax Relief for Startups to Spur Innovation”

Rep. Dean Phillips August 3 Virtual Town Hall

Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday, more than 5,000 Minnesotans joined the conversation on my fourth Dial-In with Dean, and more than 150 people shared ideas, questions, and criticisms. Dr. Michael Osterholm, the Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, joined in for a discussion about the pandemic and our government’s response, including the potential fourth COVID-19 relief package. If you were unable to join us last night, you can catch up here:

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Click here to listen to our conversation Continue reading “Rep. Dean Phillips August 3 Virtual Town Hall”

Newhouse, Phillips Lead Bipartisan Letter to Protect Small Business Expenses in COVID-19 Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Dean Phillips (D-MN) led a bipartisan letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Leader Kevin McCarthy, urging the inclusion of provisions to ensure small businesses can maximize their funding from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in the next COVID-19 relief package.

In the letter, lawmakers request the inclusion of legislation like the FIRST Act, which would provide relief to small businesses across the country who are utilizing PPP funding by allowing them to deduct ordinary business expenses paid with PPP funds.

“Contrary to Congressional intent, the IRS issued guidance prohibiting companies from taking tax deductions for these expenses,” wrote the lawmakers. “As the House continues to discuss another round of legislation to support our constituents during the COVID-19 pandemic, we must address this important matter and reassert Congressional intent of the PPP. We respectively request the inclusion of legislation like the FIRST Act in any further COVID-19 package.” Continue reading “Newhouse, Phillips Lead Bipartisan Letter to Protect Small Business Expenses in COVID-19 Package”