The Power of A

As Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday and millions begin to pack their luggage to travel, associations are providing valuable advice and information to ensure that everyone has a safe and less stressful holiday season.

Thanksgiving week is considered the largest travel weekend of the year, with millions of Americans driving and flying to different destinations to celebrate the holiday.  While airlines are expecting fewer delays than last year, the crowds and number of people flying can increase stress among all participants.  The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) estimates that 4 million fewer people will fly this year, but still has a resource page of tips for fliers to minimize their delays and make their air travel smoother.  The American Automobile Association (AAA) is estimating that the number of car travelers will be increasing by over 2% this year, making for more crowded roads.  American Trucking Associations has a list of tips for Thanksgiving drivers to ensure safe travel on the highways, including have an emergency kit for breakdowns, be aware of truck blind spots, and know the local weather.

Of course when most people think Thanksgiving, they think of turkey.  The National Turkey Federation has a Thanksgiving turkey site, which in addition to having recipes for cooking turkey, has information on safe eating and preparation as well as how to contact health officials if you suspect food poisoning.  But if you plan on not cooking this Thanksgiving, you are not alone.  According to the National Restaurant Association, 11% of Americans eat at a restaurant on Thanksgiving, while 53% of consumers use restaurant-prepared takeout dishes as part of their Thanksgiving meal.

Does your association have good tips or information for the Thanksgiving holiday?

Quick Hits

The New York Times analyzes how the “Cadillac” health care plan tax proposal will affect consumers… The American Medical Association and AARP are launching media ads about how health care reform proposals will affect Medicare… The Hill interviews an FCC Commissioner on net neutrality.

Update - The text of the House bill can be seen here. (10:56 AM Eastern)

Today at 10:30 AM on the west front of the Capitol, the House Democratic leadership will unveil its compromise comprehensive health care bill, the product of the Tri-Committee bill merged with a series of deficit-friendly changes designed to gain the necessary votes for passage.

Keep checking The Power of A for details on the legislation, but a few details have been obtained by the media.  The bill will contain a public option with rates negotiated by the insurer; the public option will not have the Medicare reimbursement rate that was sought by the liberal members of the caucus.  In terms of budget scoring, the bill is expected to run a surplus in the first five years, then a deficit in the subsequent five making the legislation budget neutral for the first ten years.  The major pay-for is a surtax on high-income households, with singles making over $500,000 and couples making over $1 million being the new income floor for the tax.  The bill also has a 2.5% tax on medical device manufacturers and cuts Medicare spending.

Also today the White House will host a small business health care event with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), and other associations and small businesses.  The goal is to highlight the need for health care reform in the small business sector, and how the community needs reform to continue providing insurance for its employees.  A paper that summarizes the president’s talking points can be seen here.

The Power of A will have an analysis of the House bill once it becomes available.

Quick Hits

The American League of Lobbyists (ALL) sends a letter (subscription) to the White House defending registered lobbyists serving on federal councils and advisory boards… The Senate reaches a preliminary agreement to extend the homebuyers tax credit… Google Voices argues it does not need the same regulation as telecoms (subscription).

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been moving forward in recent weeks crafting new regulations on net neutrality, scheduling a vote on a proposal this Thursday.  However, CongressDaily (subscription) is reporting this morning that the proposal would exempt online companies Google and Skype from the regulations and instead focus on broadband providers, like Comcast and Verizon.  FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski circulated a draft of his proposed rules last night and an initial count has enough votes for the rule to pass.  Both Democratic commissioners have indicated they will vote for the Chair’s proposal, while neither Republican commissioner has indicated how they will vote.  The FCC expects to post the proposed rules Thursday.

Net neutrality is the debate over how much access should be provided and at what cost by broadband companies.  In the past decades, members of Congress have introduced legislation to prevent broadband companies from pricing internet access and content into different tiers, which proponents of net neutrality claim would restrict access and reduce competition.   FCC Chair Genachowski has made the issue a top priority upon his taking office, and even has publicly ruminated expanding net neutrality laws to include wireless carriers and not just traditional computer-based internet access.

Proponents of excluding website companies such as Google and Skype argue that net neutrality should apply to high speed internet providers.  But opponents claim that Google’s expansion into the mobile phone world and a variety of non-internet ventures like Google Voice should open them to net neutrality considerations.  Opponents also are weary of the working relationship Google has with the Obama administration - Google CEO Eric Schmidt served as an economic advisor to the Obama transition team.

Google recently came under fire when it was revealed that Google Voice, its popular free online calling service, was being restricted in rural areas to prevent incurring access fees.  The FCC opened an investigation into the practice earlier this month at the behest of AT&T but was investigating it under telecommunications law, not net neutrality violations.

What do you think?
Should net neutrality rules apply to websites like Google and Skype?(surveys)

Quick Hits

Senate Democrats debate including a Medicare payment fix to health care bill… House Democrats begin whipping votes on a health care bill with a public option that ties reimbursement to Medicare rates (and already have 200 votes)… Association for industry trade advisory boards sends a letter (subscription) to the White House protesting the new restrictions on lobbyists serving on federal advisory boards… The White House announces an extension of TARP funds to small banks… Congress and the Executive Branch battle over who should set appliance energy standards.