Mark Weinberger, Global Chairman & CEO of EY, chairs Business Roundtable's Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, and on Thursday, he briefed about 15 reporters on BRT's advocacy for business tax reform, its prospects for passage, and how reform would improve U.S. economic growth. Tax reform ranks high among BRT's policy priorities for 2015, as described in our agenda, Achieving America’s Full Potential: More Work, Greater Investment, Unlimited Opportunity.

Weinberger also discussed BRT's efforts on behalf of Trade Promotion Authority, legislation needed to advance important trade negotiations.

Highlights of the news coverage:

The  Business Journals, "Talking tax reform with Ernst & Young's CEO":

As if he didn't have enough on his plate running one of the world's largest accounting firms, Mark Weinberger also is spending a lot of time on Capitol Hill lobbying for tax reform. Weinberger, global chairman and CEO of EY (i.e. Ernst & Young), also chairs the Business Roundtable's tax and fiscal policy committee. He sat down with a dozen reporters Thursday at the Business Roundtable's headquarters in Washington, D.C., to talk about the prospects for tax reform.

Here are five takeaways [summarized]:

• Tax reform does have a shot, but the window for action is short
• Trade will be the "canary in a coalmine" for tax reform
• Tax reform could be for businesses only
• Revenue for infrastructure could be part of the deal
• Public needs to be convinced that business tax reform is good for them

McClatchy, "Corporate tax revamp faces short window":

WASHINGTON — The time-frame for advancing a revamp of the corporate tax code through Congress is a short-one and may ultimately depend on whether President Barack Obama can win authority to negotiate new trade deals, leaders of a top business lobby said Thursday.

A revamp of the corporate tax code has to be advancing through Congress by August or it will get lost in the hoopla surrounding the coming presidential election, according to the Business Roundtable.

“The window is only open for six or seven months,” said Mark Weinberger, tax policy chairman for the group, which acts as the lobby for many major global corporations.

MarketWatch, "Business group sees narrow window for tax deal":

Weinberger said the Obama administration’s “dialogue and engagement” on tax reform has increased and that the Treasury and White House are actively thinking about how to make the U.S. tax system more competitive.

He called Obama’s proposals for a one-time 14% tax on overseas earnings and a 19% minimum tax on future foreign profits “progress,” since they are lower than what the administration previously sought.

Elsewhere, on Feb. 5, a news release, "The Tax Council Policy Institute to Honor Mark A. Weinberger at Annual Symposium."

With an eminent career and track record of leadership in global tax policy on all platforms both inside EY and out, Mark is the perfect business leader for this year's Pillar [of Excellence] Award," said Doug Bates, Chair of TCPI's Board of Directors and Vice President of Federal Relations at Northwestern Mutual. "His forward-thinking approach will continue to create positive change in the business and tax community."

The award was made at the Institute's Feb. 12 annual symposium. Congratulations!