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CBA Issue Resources


          ABA Spring Government Relations Summit & Capitol Hill Visits


                    Pre-Briefing: CBA office and CBA Live, Monday, March 13, 2017, 4:00-5:00pm
                                               (see separate email for access instruction)
                         Summit: Washington, DC, Marriott Marquis Hotel, March 20-22, 2017
           CBA:  Creating a stronger economy and helping Coloradans realize dreams by building better banks.


                              Statement of Priorities – CBA Board of Directors
                                                Adopted February 16, 2017

       Every two years, there is a fresh political landscape in Denver and Washington.  This year's change is
       seismic.  Our 45th President of the United States represents Americans' dislike for the status quo, and
       the reaction to some Executive Orders is strident.  Banking’s drive for regulatory relief will be amid
       chaos.  We will experience many clashes within the Administration, between the White House and
       Congress, between Republicans and Democrats and within both parties.  Governing is harder than
       campaigning when it comes to the ambitious legislative agenda of President Trump and Congressional
       Republicans, which includes overhauling the healthcare system, reforming the tax code, addressing
       immigration, altering trade policy, boosting infrastructure spending, rolling back financial regulation.
       Addressing even one of these complex issues in one year would be tough.  Further complicating
       matters is the lack of a unified vision among Republicans.  If it gets too close to the midterm elections in
       November 2018, reg relief for banks will be extremely difficult.  It is about pushing regulatory relief past
       these huge Tier 1 national issues.  But CBA will press forward aggressively advocating for regulatory
       relief to restore some balance from the excesses of bank regulation since the Dodd/Frank Act.

       President Trump's “dismantling DFA” is not a priority for the first 100 days, but this Tier 2 issue is a task
       for Trump's first year.  It is essential we get this accomplished.  We have been assured numerous times
       that it is "going to happen in the first year," so that it no longer unnecessarily constrains banks' ability to
       lend to customers and be efficient.

       Some of the law can be dismantled through executive action by Trump.  Furthermore, much could be
       undone using reconciliation, a parliamentary procedure that allows for passing legislation with only 51
       votes in the Senate, rather than the 60 typically needed to overcome a filibuster.  Trump and the
       Congress give us an opportunity for regulatory relief; there is no guarantee.  CBA will opportunistically
       pursue all the many issues banks confront.

       Much of the over-regulation constricts the ability to serve customers and denies them the use of credit.
       Among those hurt are low income, small businesses, rural residents, recently retired and recently
       employed.  We need to emphasize that.  Regulatory relief shouldn’t be limited to DFA; we need
       common-sense changes that will benefit banks' customers and communities.

       House Financial Services Committee Chairman Hensarling has introduced the CHOICE Act as outlined
       in endnote   .  While it contains much of the below, it is important that we clearly state priorities so that
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       we can act quickly with the opportunity arises.

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