Forward Janesville - TheReport - Spring 2016

SPRING 2016 • 13 D.C. Confidential: Local Perspectives During our annual trip to D.C., our group was fortunate to talk with a number of influencers in Washington, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Congressman Reid Ribble, policy and political experts from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and several high-level Congressional staff members. The primary reason for this trip is to share our area's legislative priorities with our Congressional delegation, including: • Changes to federal tax law to make Wisconsin companies more competitive both locally and globally; • Finding a long-term, sustainable source of transportation revenue to keep projects like the I-39/90 expansion on the front burner; • Leveling the sales tax playing field so that local small businesses are not at a competitive disadvantage compared to online-only retailers; • Allowing more international students to participate in the School District of Janesville's International Program; and • Making government programs that serve the citizens of Rock County (housing, public transit, worker training and criminal justice) more efficient and better funded. We received a lot of interesting feedback and got a true insider's look at how things work in the halls of Congress. Below are some insider perspectives I took away from our journey inside the beltway: Donald Trump Looms Large Believe it or not, the subject of Donald Trump and his upstart candidacy for the White House didn't come up too often during our time on Capitol Hill. When it did, our subjects politely demurred and moved onto another topic. But make no mistake: Donald Trump has shaken Washington to its core. Everyone—from high powered lobbyists to Congressional staffers—is scrambling to determine what a Trump Presidency could mean for them and for the nation. Over some adult refreshments, I asked a few D.C. insiders who joined our group to share their true thoughts on Trump's candidacy (alcohol is a great truth serum). One individual told me that he and his organization are "freaking the (bleep) out" about Mr. Trump's ascendency, and not in a good way. Others shared similar colorful thoughts. Love or hate him, Donald Trump represents a real threat to "business as usual" on Capitol Hill. While one might argue that this is a good thing, most of the Washington establishment is not welcoming the Trump revolution with open arms. A Lot of Business Still Gets Done at the Bar If you've ever visited the men's restroom at the Forward Janesville office (sorry ladies), you may have noticed a framed illustration of a donkey (Democrat) and an elephant (Republican) sitting at the bar laughing joyfully over beers. To me, this picture symbolizes that we probably have a lot more in common with our adversaries (political or otherwise) than we realize. Sometimes all it takes to get things done is sitting down to work out our differences. In Washington, going out for refreshments after work is a revered tradition. Many deals are still worked out at happy hour (and beyond). While our group wasn't working out any backroom deals, I will say that many of our trip participants got to know each other better after the day's work was done. Though the main reason for this trip is to share our priorities with lawmakers, participants realize a lot of networking benefits as well. I hope these new found friendships are lasting, fruitful and strengthen our community in the long run. Congress is Broken This is not a new thread. In the three years we have gone to Washington, Congressional dysfunction is front and center. Don't expect Congress to get much done this year ... and what doesn't get done by the end of July may have to wait until after the election, as all of Washington has its eyes cast towards November. That said, even in non-election years, Congress seems to get less done year after year. Why is that? Here's my theory: moderates from either party—and those who want to actually govern—are an endangered species in Washington. Here's how it goes: the electorate of any given state or Congressional district tires of what it sees in Washington and elects an 'outsider' to represent them. This outsider gets to Washington and has no idea what governing actually entails—and often has no desire to learn. Congress does even less, the American people get even more disillusioned and send more 'outsiders' to Congress, and the cycle repeats itself. It's an ugly mess and Congress has never been less productive as a result. I admire lawmakers who want to find solutions to our nation's problems through compromise and common sense. We are fortunate to have several legislators like this representing us, including House Speaker Paul Ryan. My advice to the American people? If you want to stop hating Washington and the work product of our government, elect reasonable people who are willing to compromise for the greater good. But . . . Washington is Still Inspiring Ready for some good news? Our nation's capital is an amazing place. We were fortunate to see some of America's most iconic sites during our time in Washington, and it was impossible not to be inspired. America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth, and we should put aside our differences and remember that. Furthermore, Washington is a place where your opinion does still matter. Those we met with were polite, receptive and took significant time out of their insanely busy schedules to hear our concerns. Another piece of advice for those who think our government is broken: take the time to get engaged. Contact a lawmaker about an issue you care about. Get brave and talk to that politician at the county fair. Don't be one of those people who says, "I don't care about government." Just try being involved, and your faith in the system could be restored. Regardless of party, public officeholders have dedicated their lives to serving the people and care about you what you have to say. Dan Cunningham - Vice President Government Relations & Education