Business Roundtable in the News

• 4/7 The Wall Street Journal – “Indeed, Tuesday's survey of chief executives by the Business Roundtable found two-thirds of expect declines in their sales, capital spending and employment in the next six months. Only about one-fourth of the CEOs surveyed quarterly expect sales to increase. "These are going to be our darkest hours," said Harold McGraw, chairman of the organization of CEOs and chief executive of McGraw-Hill Cos. He added that he expects "some improvement" later in the year.’”
• 4/7 The New York Times – “In another report, chief executives of many corporations are anticipating a decrease in expected sales, capital expenditures and employment figures for the next six months, the Business Roundtable said Tuesday, underscoring the significant pressures that the global economy continues to put on businesses.’”
• 3/20 The New York Times – “There is overwhelming evidence that, on the whole, the American health system is not as efficient as it could be. See, for example, this report released by the Business Roundtable last week.’”
• 3/16 MSNBC.com – “A study published today by the United States Council Foundation confirms that -- contrary to public belief -- U.S. multinationals strengthen the domestic economy by enhancing America's productivity, leading to job creation and increased compensation for our workers. The study, "How U.S. Multinational Companies Strengthen the U.S. Economy," published jointly with the Business Roundtable, challenges recent concerns regarding the balance of these corporations' domestic and international activities.’”
• 3/16 Dow Jones (also WSJ.com) – “The notion that U.S. multinationals have 'abandoned' our country by shipping the majority of their operations overseas is not supported by the facts," said Matthew J. Slaughter, associate dean of Dartmouth's Tuck School Of Business, who authored the study.’”
• 3/10 Bloomberg – “John Castellani, president of the Business Roundtable, attended a meeting with Democrats at the Capitol before the stimulus vote. Democrats "want to hear what our priorities are, and look at the opportunities to work together," said Castellani, whose Washington-based group includes chief executive officers at large U.S. companies, including General Motors Corp., American Express Co., and Exxon Mobil Corp. "It's an opportunity for the Democrats to show thy can responsive to business concerns.’”
• 3/2 Reuters – “Business Roundtable represents some of the larges U.S. corporations and its members provide health coverage to more than 35 million employees. Bringing down costs is a major goal. It seeks market-based changes that promote competition and allow insurance companies to compete in multistate regions, rather than state-by-state. It would require all Americans to obtain health insurance.’”
• 3/2 Financial Times – “Business Roundtable, one of the biggest lobby groups in Washington, last week praised Mr. Obama's 10-year $634bn healthcare reserve fund as fiscally responsible.’”
• 2/27 The Washington Post – “John Castellani, president of the Business Roundtable, an association of executives, praised Obama's commitment to health care and deficit reduction, but said his tax plans could hinder American competitiveness. Calling the president's proposals "aspirational," Castellani said he would "work with Congress" to produce a balanced tax plan that would "help the economy grow and crate jobs.’”
• 2/14 Financial Times – “Harold McGraw, chairman and CEO of McGraw-Hill and chairman of the Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs, said: ‘If we aren't being a good global partner . . . we are going to pay a price.’”
• 2/12 BNA's Daily Report For Executives – "Congress and the administration need to make further modifications to the stringent new funding rules adopted in the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Harold McGraw, chairman of the previous Business Roundtable, said Feb. 11."
• 2/12 Roll Call – "At a National Press Club Newsmaker Event, BRT Chairman Harold McGraw III also announced the formation of the Springboard Project, a program in which "leading thinkers from education, business, government, foundations, labor and the online world" will help prepare workers for 21st-century jobs."
• 2/11 Bloomberg – "You've got a house that's on fire and you have to put the fire out," Harold McGraw III, chief executive of New York-based McGraw-Hill Cos. and chairman of the Business Roundtable, said at the National Press Club in Washington today."
• 2/11 E&E News – "In addition to work force training, middle-class tax relief and housing market reforms, McGraw listed key energy initiatives that include broadening discussions on nuclear power, targeting investments in infrastructure and expanding access to domestic oil supplies."
• 2/11 CongressDaily – "State and local governments and workforce training programs should be top priorities for lawmakers shaping the final version of the economic stimulus package, Business Roundtable Chairman Harold McGraw III said today. McGraw urged that Congress ensure oversight of stimulus payments. "We have to make sure there's a clear process to that, that there's a pitcher and a catcher -- if you throw that someone's catching," he said. "There's got to be accountability to that."
• 2/11 Reuters – "Harold McGraw, the chairman of Business Roundtable and chief executive of McGraw-Hill Companies Inc, told a briefing in Washington on Wednesday that "we need to tone down the rhetoric and act."
• 2/11 Reuters – "He said there are sectors of the economy -- including information technology and energy - that would be ready to invest once the stimulus is passed, and he was optimistic a deal would be struck between Congress and the White House."
• 2/11 Reuters – "As President Obama said this week, the time for partisan politics has passed. We need to tone down the rhetoric and act," Harold McGraw, Chairman of Business Roundtable and chief executive of McGraw-Hill Companies Inc, told a briefing in Washington."
• 2/4 Financial Times - "The U.S. steel industry has strongly backed the provisions, but business associations representing multinational companies have been critical. John Castellani, president of the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executives, said yesterday: "My counterparts in Europe and Canada and around the world have been calling me and saying: this is a really bad idea."
• 2/4 Bloomberg - "The measures would 'send a strong signal to the rest of the world that isolationism and protectionism are now the right paths to follow,' said John Castellani, president of the Business Roundtable, which represents the chief executives of companies including Citigroup Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp. and FedEx Corp."
• 2/4 Reuters - "'The problem we have is the rest of the world is watching us here. If we revert to the kind of economic isolationism that is represented by these kind of provisions, we're afraid the rest of the world will retaliate,"' said John Castellani, president of the Business Roundtable."
• 2/4 Los Angeles Times - "John J. Castellani, who heads the influential Business Roundtable, said over the last month his group has actually been working more closely with members of Congress than with the new administration."
• 1/27 The Politico – “Business Roundtable, made up of chief executive officers of major firms, is appealing for adjustments in pension fund payments that could free up cash for expansion or salaries, said its president, John Castellani. 'We are proposing things we think would help improve the availability of capital and cash for companies,'” Castellani said. “'We are talking to everybody we can reach.'”
• 1/14 Reuters – “The health IT proposal would create an estimated 200,000 direct U.S. jobs for hardware, software and code-writing, according to Business Roundtable.”
• 1/14 Health Data Management – "We must ensure that investments are made in systems and structures that will enhance the nation's productivity…and identify projects that are far along enough in the planning process that they can create new jobs within 24 months. In health information technology, Congress has the opportunity to meet both of these goals while at the same time transform our nation's health care system."
• 1/14 Healthcare IT News – “'Health IT equals new jobs for American workers,”' Castellani said. He said the economic stimulus legislation under discussion calls for about $20 billion for healthcare information technology. He added that the investment would have a guaranteed return on investment.”
• 1/5 The Wall Street Journal – “'The potential is there for conflict,”' said John Castellani, president of the Business Roundtable, a trade group representing the nation's leading chief executives. But Mr. Castellani quickly added that, “'The potential is also there for cooperation...we’re working hard to find common ground.'”
• 12/24 CNBC.com – “'Aggressive action is going to be necessary,”' says John J. Castellani, whose members see the economy contracting through the second quarter.”