National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay joined U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue, Business Roundtable President John Engler and National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons for a Leading Authorities’ “Conversations with Power” panel discussion on the 2012 elections, the economy and the looming “fiscal cliff.”
The “Conversations with Power” panelists (left to right)
Business Roundtable President John Engler; Mark French, CEO, Leading Authorities; Katty Kay, BBC America; Tom Donohue, President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Jay Timmons, President, National Association of Manufacturers, Matthew Shay, President and CEO, National Retail Federation
(Photo: David Bohrer, National Association of Manufacturers)
The executive-level conversation centered on the lack of leadership from policymakers and legislators in Washington, D.C, and how federal legislation, regulation and uncertainty are hampering economic growth, job creation, and consumer and business confidence. Shay focused his comments on the need to reform the federal tax code to spur growth, the impact of uncertainty and the looming fiscal cliff on retailers and consumers, and the role of business in politics.
To close the event, BBC’s Katty Kay asked the group of CEOs if they were pessimistic or optimistic that the issues outlined could be addressed in the coming year, Shay ended by quoting Winston Churchill, “The Americans will always do the right thing…After they’ve exhausted all the alternatives.”
To watch the panelist discussion in its entirety, visit the C-SPAN website.