Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

Weekly Washington Wrap

• In Washington this week, the battle over which political party gets coal in their stockings played out between the House, Senate, and the White House.  Facing a December 31 deadline, the Senate passed a two-month extension of this year’s temporary payroll tax holiday, unemployment benefits, and a provision stopping pay reductions for doctors who accept Medicare.  House Republicans insisted that a payroll tax rate be set for an entire year and refused to pass the Senate measure.  Instead, House Speaker John Boehner wants to conference the House-passed year-long payroll tax cut with the Senate measure.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is refusing to call the Senate back into session and the result is a standoff where the president is siding with Senate Democrats. 
  
  
• EPA announced new regulations on coal-fired power plants yesterday, placing the first-ever limits on mercury emissions.  Industry has waged a long fight against the “Utility MACT” standard, arguing that the rules will raise energy prices and force some utilities to close, resulting in 1.4 million jobs lost by 2020.  Environmental groups claimed victory and public health advocates claim the cleaner air from new standards will prevent 11,000 premature deaths, 4,700 heart attacks and 130,000 cases of childhood asthma.  EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson highlighted those statistics when she announced the new standards at an event staged in a Washington, D.C. children’s hospital.

Let the Sun Shine

David Wilkins spent the first part of his week in Washington, D.C., for a round of year-end meetings that included a visit with his friend, John Melle, Assistant U.S Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere, as well as with Mary Sullivan, the Director for Canadian Affairs with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and Edward Silverman, Senior Vice President and Head of Government Relations for TD Bank.

Wilkins enjoyed lunch with Christopher Jankowski, the President of the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC).  Wilkins is a board member of the RSLC which bills itself as the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator.

The highlight of his quick trip was a stop at the CNN Washington studios which also serves Canada's Sun News Network.  Wilkins chatted with the new SNN Bureau Chief, Bryn Weese, who very recently moved to the U.S. capital city and is a welcome addition to the Washington-based Canadian press corps. 

Titanic 2012!

Like all of you, Team Wilkins is busy wrapping up end-of-the-year business as well as our last minute gifts.  This is your last Carolina-Canada Connections for this year but we will be back in the New Year and 2012 promises to be a blockbuster with the first GOP presidential primaries less than three weeks.  (South Carolina's pivotal GOP presidential contest will be held January 21.  Faithful readers know this is the "first-in-the-South" contest and for the past three decades the Palmetto State has a perfect record in picking the eventual GOP presidential nominee.)   So keep it here in 2012 for your must-know U.S. election and issues news.

In the meantime, from our family to yours, whether you are celebrating Hanukkah or Christmas, we hope it is filled with joy and precious memories.  We wish you all of God's rich blessings in the New Year and thank you for honoring us with your friendship. 

See y'all in 2012!