In ‘Achieving America’s Full Potential’, Business Roundtable Outlines Policy Recommendations for Congress and Administration

Washington – Business Roundtable today responded to President Obama’s State of the Union address and called for action on policies that will encourage private sector investment, accelerate economic growth and increase job creation.

“The President’s State of the Union address rightly focused on the need for our nation to reach its full potential,” said Business Roundtable Chairman Randall L. Stephenson, Chairman and CEO of AT&T. “Specifically, we were encouraged by President Obama’s commitment to work with Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). TPA is critical to expanding trade, and Business Roundtable will continue to work with Congress and the President to get TPA passed early this year.”

“We continue to believe that there is a chance to accelerate business investment, boost job creation and provide greater opportunity for America’s working families if the President leads the way to common ground for business tax reform,” said Stephenson. “Working together, the President and Congress have an opportunity to achieve pro-growth reform. However, we are concerned that some of the President’s tax proposals could actually slow the prospects for permanent reform. Business tax reform that results in a modern tax system with competitive rates and competitive international tax rules may be the single most effective means of accelerating business investment, boosting job creation and providing greater opportunity for America’s working families.”

Business Roundtable today issued Achieving America’s Full Potential: More Work, Greater Investment, Unlimited Opportunity, developed with extensive input from the more than 200 CEOs of America’s leading companies. The proposal offers specific policy recommendations in six key areas:

• Fiscal Stability
• Pro-Growth Business Tax Reform
• Expanded Trade
• Immigration Reform
• Investment in Physical and Digital Infrastructure
• Smart Regulation

“Business leaders call on the President and Congress to act on business tax reform, trade expansion and immigration reform to ensure that the United States is the best place in the world for private sector investment, expansion and hiring,” said Stephenson. “We cannot miss an opportunity to work together this year to enact pro-growth policies and reforms that will have a meaningful impact for our country.”