Roll Call (09/22/08); Ackley, Kate

The intensely partisan environment and fast-approaching election have many companies and lobbying organizations focusing on 2009's agenda. The next Congress is forecasted to be dominated by financial services, health care, energy/environment, taxes, and economic stimulus matters. Jade West, senior vice president of government relations at the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, expects to spend much of her time fending off potential tax increases and measures such as the labor-backed Employee Free Choice bill, which would allow workers to vote to unionize without conducting a secret ballot. "We are actually anticipating a relatively unfriendly environment," West says, adding that much of the environment depends on the outcome of Congressional races. "Projections for House and Senate losses among pro-business minorities were pretty daunting a few weeks ago. Today, who knows?" Business lobbyists will be ready to play defense on other fronts if Democrats gain more power in November. Bruce Josten of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says that if Democrats do well, he expects the trial lawyer bar to push its agenda, but notes that if the U.S. economy is in a recession, that will likely override partisanship no matter what the margins in Congress are or who is president. "You can bet that whoever's president is going to spend considerable time and effort crafting an economic stimulus package," Josten says.(www.rollcall.com)

© Copyright 2008 Information, Inc.