The MCAA Government Affairs Update is emailed to the association membership on a regular basis. This informative newsletter contains information on state and federal legislation that impacts the sameday delivery industry. Also, included are government affairs news and other actions the MCAA Government Affairs Team is taking on behalf of the membership. To receive this weekly newsletter and other legislative action alert emails, please contact John Ferraro at 202-207-1121 or jferraro@mcaa.com to join the MCAA.
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Most Recent MCAA Government Affairs Update Newsletter
September 1, 2010 Issue
Political Strategist Charlie Black to Speak at MCAA’s Last Mile Delivery Forum
Charlie Black, who is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading Republican political strategists, will speak the morning of October 2nd at MCAA’s Last Mile Delivery Forum at the Westin Diplomat Resort in Hollywood, Florida. His session titled “The Outlook for the November Elections” will feature his expert analysis of how the congressional elections will play out. Not sure who is going to be elected from your congressional district? Just come and ask Charlie! To register for the Last Mile Delivery Forum, click here:
http://kellen-web.ungerboeck.com/reg/reg_p1_form.aspx?oc=20&ct=MCAA07ELS&eventid=5168
Charlie Black is currently Chairman of Prime Policy Group. He served as senior advisor to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Mr. Black also served as a principal public spokesman for President Bush in the 1992 presidential campaign. During 1990, Mr. Black served as chief spokesman for the Republican National Committee. He served on President George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns as a volunteer political advisor and surrogate spokesman. An attorney with more than thirty years of experience in government, public affairs and politics, Mr. Black has managed the successful elections of more than ten members of the United States Senate and more than a dozen members of Congress. He served as political director of the Republican National Committee under Chairman Bill Brock.
Federal Judge Rules in Favor of FedEx
This week a federal judge ruled that FedEx Ground drivers in Kansas are independent contractors and not employees. The lawsuit was brought by a handful of drivers working in the state and is part of a larger, multistate suit that covers about 30,000 drivers in 40 states. In a separate ruling, Judge Robert Miller in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana sent similar lawsuits by drivers back to state courts for further consideration. These states included Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and Virginia.
Obama Continues to Blame Senate Republicans for Holding Up Bill
The last thing President Barack Obama did before leaving for his ten day vacation was blast Republicans in the United States Senate for opposing his jobs bill. Now, back at the White House, the president has picked up where he left off. After receiving his daily economic briefing on Monday, Obama made a statement from the rose garden calling out Senate Republican leadership for playing politics with the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell responded by saying his fellow Republicans were holding the bill because it amounts to tax increases that will do more harm to the economy than good.
Republicans Widen Their Lead in Latest Poll
This week, a new Gallup poll was released showing Republicans hold a record ten point lead over Democrats on the “generic ballot” test which asks voters if they prefer a Democratic or Republican congressional candidate. This is the largest Republican polling edge at this stage in the 68 years of the generic ballot poll. The poll is not necessarily an indicator of how congressional races will go in each district, more of an indication of the national mood of the electorate. Republicans need to net 39 seats to win control of the House in the next Congress.
Democrats in Congress Distance themselves from Pelosi
Some vulnerable Democratic lawmakers are making an attempt to distance themselves from the idea that they are completely supportive of the national Democratic agenda set by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has become an easy target for voter anger on both sides of the political spectrum. These lawmakers, most of whom are in danger in the upcoming election due to their conservative-oriented districts, have begun distancing themselves from Pelosi as proof that they are independent from Democratic leaders and the current Capitol Hill agenda. Some Democrats, including Congressman Jason Altmire, have begun running television ads emphasizing their ability to stand up to Pelosi and challenge bills that go against the views of their constituents.
John Ferraro
Director, Government Affairs
Messenger Courier Association of America (MCAA)
750 National Press Building
529 Fourteenth Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20045
Office: 202-207-1121
Cell: 703-656-6171
www.mcaa.com