Zach Koutsky

Zach Koutsky is President and Founder of Berteau Consulting, a Chicago-based boutique government relations and political advocacy firm.  He applies his deep experience in progressive politics and organizing to deliver creative and specialized client solutions for policy and political challenges in the City of Chicago, throughout Illinois, and across the United States.

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Jon Deuser

Juanita Duggan

The SAFE Banking Act is needed by banks, banking regulators, state cannabis regulators, and thousands of cannabis businesses to have access to banking without funning afoul of federal law.  Schumer knows that allowing the SAFE Banking Act to become law as part of the China bill can stop momentum for passing comprehensive legalization reform, which he has vowed to introduce and attempt to pass in the Spring.  His draft, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity act, would de-schedule cannabis as a schedule I controlled substance, regulate and tax cannabis, address local option, expunge criminal records, and address social equity issues such as licensing.  What’s the catch?  There are not enough votes in the Senate to pass comprehensive reform, but there is bipartisan support for the SAFE banking bill.  Stay tuned. US House Passes Measure That Includes Cannabis Banking

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Julie Dunne

The General Services Administration (GSA) is moving forward on a major government-wide acquisition vehicle (GWAC) to buy emerging IT services (such as AI, DLT, Quantum and Edge computing) from small businesses. This acquisition vehicle is called POLARIS and the final RFP should be coming soon — as evidenced by the January 27, 2022 posting of a preliminary document called the Pre-Solicitation Notice in the System for Award Management. GSA to Issue Solicitations for Polaris IT GWAC Small Business, WOSB Pools

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Keith Walmsley

Soaring tax revenue and billions in pandemic aid from the federal government have left many states with an unusual problem — too much money. The result is one of the most broad-based movements in recent memory toward giving consumers and taxpayers a break. In red states and blue, lawmakers and governors are proposing to cut taxes and fees, create tax credits, or delay tax and fee hikes that had been planned before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Income and sales taxes are on the chopping block as are vehicle license fees, gas taxes and more. In Maryland, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has long pushed for a gradual elimination of income taxes for retirees, something he says will reduce the migration of people leaving the state to lower-tax places such as Florida when they’re finished working. He may finally have a window for striking a deal with the Democrat-controlled legislature. Revenue Windfall Pushes States to Consider Range of Tax Cuts

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Bob Walker

Soon, weather scientists will have an even stronger pair of eyes in the sky once a new advanced weather satellite launches this March. The GOES-T, short for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, is aiming for liftoff March 1 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket thanks to a collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA along with several other partners. GOES-T should be able to help meteorologists determine potential areas of disaster before they occur, said John Gagosian, Director, NASA’s Joint Agency Satellite Division. The satellite will allow scientists to monitor and predict environmental conditions like hurricanes, thunderstorms, floods, dense fog and fire. NASA, NOAA to Get New Weather Eyes in the Sky With March Launch from Cape Canaveral

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Patrick Kennedy

Who are the prospective leaders and how do their profiles fit in with the needs of today’s national conservative movement?  From the federal stage, we will likely hear talk of Peter MacKay, Michael Chong, James Moore and perhaps even Chris Alexander (among others such as Ambrose and Lisa Raitt, who have already publicly declined). From the provincial or municipal scene, we should expect speculation about Ontario ministers Caroline Mulroney and Peter Bethlenfalvy, and Brampton mayor Patrick Brown. To greater or lesser degrees, each of these figures represents the required trans-factional persona, suggesting the party is likely well poised for a positive and productive race, rather than a divisive and disintegrating one. The Tories Need a Uniter, Not a Headwaiter

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Lee Slusher

The Important Role of Government Affairs in the Corporate Structure

In a piece recently published in Corporate Counsel on law.com, it’s next to impossible for the Government Affairs team to know everything it needs to know internally, especially given the growth of what the function is now expected to cover.  Executives must identify where there are any knowledge or relationship gaps and figure out the best ways to fill them, whether through staffing or hiring expert consultants.  The best Government Affairs teams will seek to understand issues through proactive consultations or other efforts before those issues are “on fire,” and they will seek to get a second or even third opinion to address any blind spots they may not have identified in their strategies.

Brai Odion-Esene

The supply chain challenges identified last year will continue to be an area of focus for policymakers in 2022. Soaring costs and consumer prices, the debate over domestic manufacturing vs imports, and the broadening antitrust push are examples of other impactful conversations companies need to be a part of this year. The key is to continue to engage with key stakeholders to establish your business as an important voice within your industry. Becoming a go-to resource for policymakers and your target audience will support your business’ goals by 1) influencing public policy that impacts its bottom line, while also 2) demonstrating your value as an important partner to key clients or customers.

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***Poligage Weekly Trivia Answer:***

Harry McAlpin (1906-1985) was the first African American reporter to cover a White House press conference, which featured President Franklin Roosevelt.  McAlpin went on to serve as Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Kentucky and head of the Louisville chapter of the NAACP.