Friday, October 23, 2015

Business Groups Push Congress to Revive Export-Import Bank



Business Groups Push Congress to Revive Export-Import Bank
by Alex Swoyer 23 Oct 2015Washington, DC
Whether or not to reauthorize the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank is an issue that has divided Republicans in Congress, with many conservatives – including Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) 94%– saying it is a form of corporate welfare.

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs conducted a subcommittee hearing on Friday over whether or not Congress should reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank, which expired this summer, with many businesses encouraging Congress to vote to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank next week.

Chairman Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) 76% released the following statement prior to the hearing:

It has been over three months since the authorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States expired. The Senate voted to revive the bank and the House is set to vote on reauthorization later this month. While some see the Bank as essential for U.S. businesses to compete globally, opponents of the Bank see it as corporate welfare at odds with the free market.  The hearing will provide members the opportunity to hear from experts on the issue and gain a better understanding of the ramifications of the Export-Import Bank ahead of the important vote on October 26.

Three out of the four officials who prepared testimony for the subcommittee on Friday morning encouraged members of Congress to vote to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank.

T.J. Raguso, the Executive Vice President of the International Division at Amegy Bank National Association, argued the expiration of the bank negatively impacts Amegy and its customers.

Amegy Bank’s customer is a manufacturer of oilfield service tools. Although the company had both domestic and international sales, it did not require financing for many years. After 2007-08 economic downturn, the company saw a reduction in domestic sales and an increase in foreign sales, generating a need for export financing. Ex-Im supported financing has allowed the company to grow its international sales, making 2014 the best year ever in the company’s 100 year history.

Like Raguso, Air Tractor Inc. Financial Analyst Tyler Schroeder said Air Tractor’s future growth “is undoubtedly through our ability to export aircraft, and we believe this to be true for the U.S. economy. Lacking the export services of ExIm Bank will be disastrous on our company and the employees and families we support. Air Tractor has demonstrated the ability to create and sustain jobs in the smallest and most rural communities.”

Chief Operating Officer at the Lexington Institute Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D. argued that the arguments to kill the Ex-Im bank “are illogical and fact-free, whereas the case for keeping it is empirically and analytically overwhelming.”

Disagreeing with the other three official’s testimony pushing for the Ex-Im Bank reauthorization, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation Diane Katz argued that Congress should oppose reviving the Ex-Im Bank.

A number of media outlets in recent weeks have reported that thousands of U.S. jobs are being moved overseas because Congress rejected reauthorization the Ex-Im charter. Such claims are unfounded. The real story is that Boeing, General Electric and other top beneficiaries of the government bank are trying to scare Americans into further subsidizing their hugely successful multinational operations.”

“In fact, pending legislation is largely a regurgitation of “reforms” previously mandated by Congress—without appreciable effect. The only meaningful way to remedy Ex-Im’s multibillion-dollar risk to taxpayers—and the rampant cronyism the export subsidies perpetrate—is to reject reauthorization of the charter.

General Electric
General Electric Company gets export financing support from the Export-Import Bank of the US.

Note: Susan Hockfield is a director at the General Electric Company, and a trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York. 
Newton N. Minow is an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago. 
Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for the General Electric Company.
R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.  
Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP, and is Craig M. Robinson’s sister. 
Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP, Madelyn Payne Dunham was his maternal grandmother, and is the president for the Barack Obama administration.
2013 Barack Obama inauguration was the second inauguration for the Barack Obama administration.
Texas State Society was the organizer of Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball for the 2013 Barack Obama inauguration.
Ted Poe was a director at the Texas State Society, and is a house member for the TX congressional delegation.
Madelyn Payne Dunham was Barack Obama’s maternal grandmother, and an aircraft inspector for the Boeing Company.
William M. Daley was a director at the Boeing Company, the chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration, and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.    
W. James McNerney Jr. is the chairman & CEO for the Boeing Company, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was the president & CEO for the GE Aircraft Engines.
GE Aviation
GE Aviation, a subsidiary of General Electric, is headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, outside Cincinnati. GE Aviation is among the top aircraft engine suppliers, and offers engines for the majority of commercial aircraft. GE Aviation is part of the General Electric conglomerate, which is one of the world's largest corporations. The division operated under the name of General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEAE) until September 2005.
Boeing Company received export financing support from the Export-Import Bank of the US.
Penny S. Pritzker is a director at the Export-Import Bank of the US, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Barack Obama administration, was the national finance chair, fundraiser for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a co-chair for the 2009 Barack Obama inaugural committee, a fundraiser, national co-chair for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a contributor for the 2013 Barack Obama inaugural committee, the host for the Barack Obama fund-raising dinner, 7/2/2008, and Craig M. Robinson’s basketball coach for the children's team.
Michelle Obama is Craig M. Robinson’s sister, and was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.
Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for the General Electric Company.
General Electric Company gets export financing support from the Export-Import Bank of the US.
Boeing Company received export financing support from the Export-Import Bank of the US.
Michael B.G. Froman is a director at the Export-Import Bank of the US, Barack Obama’s law school friend, and was an assistant to the president for the Barack Obama administration.
Jackie Clegg Dodd was the vice chairman & first VP for the Export-Import Bank of the US, and married to Christopher J. Dodd.
Christopher J. Dodd is married to Jackie Clegg Dodd, and was the candidate for the 2008 Christopher Dodd presidential campaign.
James D. Jordan was the senior adviser for the 2008 Christopher Dodd presidential campaign, is a house member for the OH congressional delegation, and a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is a committee for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Nell Minow testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and is Newton N. Minow's daughter.
Newton N. Minow is Nell Minow’s father, an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago. 
Susan Hockfield is a trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and a director at the General Electric Company.
Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for the General Electric Company.
General Electric Company gets export financing support from the Export-Import Bank of the US.
Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP, and is Craig M. Robinson’s sister. 
Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP, Madelyn Payne Dunham was his maternal grandmother, and is the president for the Barack Obama administration.
2013 Barack Obama inauguration was the second inauguration for the Barack Obama administration.
Texas State Society was the organizer of Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball for the 2013 Barack Obama inauguration.
Ted Poe was a director at the Texas State Society, and is a house member for the TX congressional delegation.
Madelyn Payne Dunham was Barack Obama’s maternal grandmother, and an aircraft inspector for the Boeing Company.

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