Issue Report: Immigration

The SA to DC team each prepared reports on specific issues they will face. Thanks to Manny Pelaez-Prada for leading the immigration issue team.

Senator Cruz talks economics and politics

If we could reform the tax system to decrease compliance costs, it would produce economic growth, argues Senator Ted Cruz in his discussion with the SA to DC delegation on February 4. More than 110 business leaders from San Antonio were in Washington delivering the business community's legislative priorities to our elected officials.

"We host a lot of small business focus groups and we will go around the table and I ask them to share an issue that is weighing on their heart," Senator Cruz said. He reported that he is hearing that Obamacare, is one of the concerns he hears the most.  "I believe the most important regulatory change we can accomplish is to repeal every word of Obamacare," he said. "I've not been shy about that."

Senator Cruz also said he would like to move "as close as possible to a simple flat tax." This, he said would be something that would be so easy that citizens could fill out their taxes on a postcard that is simple, fair and understandable. He acknowledged that tax reform is not impossible with two parties in leadership, but noted that during the Reagan administration, bipartisan tax reform happened and it helped the economy to improve significantly. With economic growth, we can address our problems in the country. For these reasons, Senator Cruz said his office is focused on economic growth.

Watch the entire video here>>>

Legendary news reporter kicks off SA to DC briefings

CBS News Senior White House correspondent Bill Plante shared presidential stories and his view of Washington as a longtime political reporter that helped to put the SA to DC delegation in the mood for taking our Federal Legislative Agenda to Capitol Hill at the kickoff breakfast meetings on February 3. He told the delegation that he saw that passing immigration reform is an area where "something big" might actually get done this year.

He also talked about how the Republican party continued to lack discipline, making it hard to predict if they would be able to take the Senate in the mid term elections this November. Plante reaffirmed that the number one opportunity they should focus on is the economy and jobs; however, he was not sure the party would.

Looking forward to the 2016 Presidential election, Plante said that there are 15 or more candidates in the Republican party who will take a shot at the primaries. He said for the Democrats, "it is either Hillary Clinton, or it's not. She is certainly the only candidate right now, if she decides to run."

Plante has been a CBS News White House correspondent during the administrations of Ronald Reagan (beginning in 1981), Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. During the administration of the first President Bush, he was CBS News' State Department correspondent (1989-92). Plante's reports are seen regularly on "CBS This Morning," where he is senior White House correspondent, and the "CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley."

Plante has been based in CBS News' Washington bureau since December 1976. He has covered every Presidential campaign since 1968.He shared several stories at the breakfast that were highlights from his 50-year career covering politics and Washington.

Watch his presentation here.

S.A. Business Leaders will visit D.C. to Advance Legislative Priorities

Over 110 San Antonio business leaders will travel to the nation’s capital Feb. 2-5 for SA to DC, where they will present a comprehensive federal agenda representing the regional business needs of our community. For 36 years, the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce has led a delegation from San Antonio to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators, administration officials and agencies and discuss key actions that will benefit our local community.

The SA to DC trip began in the late 70s with members of the San Antonio Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee traveling to the Pentagon to offer our support for the various Department of Defense (DoD) missions located in our community. While the trip has expanded to include additional hosts and a dozen other key industries and issue topics, the focus on our military missions remains a key objective during the trip.

Participants are scheduled to hear from Jim Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, and General Larry O. Spencer, Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, in addition to other senior leaders during meetings at the Pentagon. San Antonio is home to several commands and missions that are integral to our national defense, and our delegation will take time in Washington to speak with senior DoD officials about what the new budget agreement means for defense spending, how current service reorganization will affect San Antonio, and what our community can do to continue supporting growth in areas such as military medical training and cybersecurity.

The San Antonio Chamber’s Board of Directors will review and approve the federal agenda on January 23. The key issues and priorities include:

• funding for the construction of a new federal courthouse in San Antonio;
• reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank that supports small and large businesses selling to foreign customers;
• support for the Secretary of the Interior’s nomination of the San Antonio Missions as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and
• support for comprehensive immigration reform. 

San Antonio will travel to D.C. with representation from the business community, city and county, our public utilities and many organizations supporting the growth and development of industries across Bexar County.

In addition to the advocacy work accomplished during the trip, there may be no better way to get to know more than 100 of San Antonio’s top executives than during the annual 4-day fly-in to D.C.  There is still limited space available; click here to learn more.