Page 21 - MetalForming January/February 2022

Here’s Who’s Leading the Charge
• Helped to secure $386 billion for the Veterans Affairs rapid-retraining program.
“During the past 10 years, I have gotten to know John and Omar at Franklin Partnership, and Paul and Caitlin at Bracewell, and we have devel- oped a great personal as well business relationship,” says current PMA chair Troy Turnbull, president of Industrial Innovations. “They have introduced me to a whole different level of politics, and I realized very quickly that there never is a simple solution to our gov- ernment-related challenges. We rely on the One Voice Team to get our mes- sages across to our elected officials, and without their knowledge, connec- tions and persistence, our messages as business owners would never be heard. Advocacy is such an important part of PMA’s mission, on behalf of its members and of the industry.”
Taxes, Regulations Remain Priorities
Taxes and regulations always remain top of mind for the One Voice team,
and even though COVID relief has been job one for some time, the team has continued to advocate for tax reform while reducing ineffective regulations. Among its recent work in this area:
• Protected Section 179 equipment expensing
• Started a coalition to protect the deduction for passthrough companies • Included 4-yr. extension of the
R&D Tax Credit in the House bill
• Succeeded in preventing elimina-
tion of step-up basis for capital gains • Opposed an increase in the busi-
ness tax rates
• Filed comments with OSHA on
updating its mechanical power-press standard
• Lobbied to prevent PRO Act union language from becoming law
• Worked with OSHA on an indoor heat-illness prevention rule
• Filed comments opposing changes to EPA’s Benefit Cost Rule.
“Working with the One Voice team has been an education in itself,” shares Gretchen Zierick, president of metal former Zierick Manufacturing, Mt.
Kisco, NY, and a former PMA chair. “I've learned how things work in Wash- ington and have no doubt that PMA would have been ineffective at swaying the thoughts and actions of our elected representatives without the team’s help and support.
“Everyone on the team is impres- sively smart,” Zierick continues. “They reel off facts about pending legislation, as well as every Senator’s or Congress- man’s voting record and stand on var- ious issues. In addition, the weekly updates throughout COVID have been invaluable. They’ve kept us up to date on our state’s restrictions, OSHA rules, tariffs and supply-chain issues—so many factors that affect our ability to run our businesses successfully.”
Looking ahead to 2022, the group will work to permanently lift steel and aluminum tariffs on all U.S. allies; pre- vent tax increases on privately held businesses; lobby to increase funding for apprenticeships and job training; and petition OSHA on rules related to mechanical power presses, lockout/ tagout and the heat index. MF
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The One Voice team comprises The Franklin Partnership, a bipartisan Washington, D.C.-based government-relations firm, and the Policy Resolution Group at Bracewell. John Guzik, a founding partner of The Franklin Partnership, has more than 30 years of Capitol Hill and campaign experience. Prior to The Franklin Partnership, John served as the chief of staff for Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp; the deputy executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee, where he was the liaison with the House Republican Leadership; and a top political strategist and fundraiser for the former House Policy Committee chairman.
Leading the charge on behalf of PMA, NTMA and their member companies, and representing their interests before Congress and the Administration is The Franklin Partnership and the Policy Resolution Group (PRG) at Bracewell. Shown here (l to r): PRG senior principal Paul Nathanson, Franklin Partnership founding partners John Guzik and Omar Nashashibi; and PRG principal Caitlin Sickles.
Another founding partner, Omar Nashashibi, has more than 20 years of experience working with policymakers, politicians and the media. Prior to The Franklin Partnership, Omar worked for the Office of Management and Budget. Earlier in his career, he served as a research assistant at the Institute for Public Accuracy, promoting policy to the media. In 1995, he began his career in Washington, D.C., covering congressional and agency hearings for a nationwide nonprofit publication.
Bracewell partner Paul Nathanson has more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications, with a focus on repu- tation management, message development and implementation, public policy analysis, media relations, and strategic counseling services.
And working alongside Paul is Caitlin Sickles, a principal with the firm. With more than a decade of experience in strategic communications, Caitlin’s expertise includes branding and positioning, message development and delivery, reputation manage- ment, and crisis communications. She also leads PRG’s digital-communications program.