1. Health Care & Retirement Policy 2015 Review & 2016 Forward
Chris Stephen
VP Legislative Affairs (Interim)

2. Co-ops one of very few sounding the alarm!
Where We Started
First question at 2015 CEO Close Up (Jan 2015):
“What is NRECA doing about the “Cadillac Tax?”
Co-ops one of very few sounding the alarm!

3. So What Did We Do About It? “We’re putting the Band back together.”
Where We Started
So What Did We Do About It?
“We’re putting the Band back together.”
-- Jake Blues

4. So What Did We Do About It?
Where We Started
So What Did We Do About It?

5. Results of Efforts So Far…
Where We Are
Results of Efforts So Far…
4 bills in Congress - 2 in House, 2 in Senate
OVER 2/3 of House; 1/3 of Senate
HOUSE: 139 GOP (57%); 154 D’s (82%)
SENATE: 21 GOP (39%); 17 D’s (37%)
40+ Times
Twice, with more to come

6. Results of Efforts So Far…
Where We Are
Results of Efforts So Far…
Dec Govt. Spending Law
2-year delay until 2020
Provides 2 more years to pursue full repeal

7. What Does 2 Year Delay Mean Full Repeal?
Where We Are
What Does 2 Year Delay Mean Full Repeal?
“The odds are high that that will ultimately happen.”
Peter Orszag, Former OMB Director to
President Obama ( )
(Politico, 12/17/2015)

8. Where Are We Going?
Continue to Take the Hill (literally)
Keep our team united
Remember the 3 D’s
Less Expensive now thanks to 2 year delay
But likely not until at least January 20, 2017 at 12:01 pm

9. 2016 Benefits Agenda Repeal the 2020 “Cadillac Tax”
Rebranded it as a “Chevy Tax”
Preserve Current Tax Treatment for RS, 401(k) Plan and Group Benefits Trust
Monitor legislative activity to identify opportunities for NRECA co-ops and oppose contrary legislation

10. Tax Expenditures, Fiscal Years 2015-2019 Projected dollars in billons
Source: Joint Committee on Taxation, “Estimates of Federal Tax Expenditures for FY ” (December 7, 2015)

11. “I’m here from the Government and I am here to help . . . ”

12. 2016 Elections

13. The incredible shrinking middle
Most Liberal
GOP
Most Conservative
Democrat
More Liberal
More
Conservative
We talk about this idea of the shrinking middle- when you poll voters, most ultimately fall into the middle, but that’s not what we’re seeing in the current congressional make-up
“Moderates”
Based on legislative voting records and analysis by National Journal

15. House
2014- most liberal GOP is now to the right of most conservative Dem; very little ideological overlap in either chamber; no room for moderates. Most prescient example- fall of Blue Dog Coalition; conservative Dems continue to be replaced by GOP; moderate GOP continue to face challenges to their right (Club for Growth and other right-wing groups spending lots of $$)

16. And then, there were 6 . .

18. Final Questions?