Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club on Monday, Business Roundtable President John Engler laid out the best outcome he could expect from a lame-duck session of Congress, and then moved on to the long-term fiscal challenges facing America.

From his prepared remarks:

So what would be a success? I’d hope three things could be done:

• A short-term fix on the expiring tax rates I’ve talked about.
• Backing away from sequestration, which even Defense Secretary Panetta has said would be devastating to the national security.
• And, ideally, action on the debt ceiling.

If we can finish just these items, the real challenges will still be waiting.

They are the long-term threats to our nation’s fiscal and economic health: uncontrollable entitlement spending, an uncompetitive tax system, and unsustainable levels of debt fueled by trillion-dollar annual deficits.

Engler's key message (BRT news release): "BRT President Calls on Washington to Take Immediate Action on Pressing Tax, Fiscal Policies."

News coverage...

• Detroit News, "Engler in Detroit: 'Washington has failed to deliver'"
• Reuters, "Head of CEO group urges compromise on fiscal cliff "
• Paul W. Smith, WJR Radio, podcast with Engler previewing remarks
• Crain's Detroit Business, "Former Gov. Engler: Fast fixes needed for corporate taxes, federal budget "

(Photo courtesy Detroit Economic Club: From left, Joe Welch, CEO of ITC Holdings, and BRT President John Engler)