NAPO Washington Reports

November 2012 Washington Report

November 7, 2012

"Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward." President Barack Obama remarked during last night's acceptance speech at a victory rally in Chicago. NAPO is a proud supporter of President Obama endorsing him and Vice President Biden in the 2008 and 2012 election cycle. An Presidents reelection is a victory for rank-and-file law enforcement.

President Obama and Vice President Biden have been strong supporters of collective bargaining rights for law enforcement and supported defined benefits pensions; both top priorities for NAPO.  As leaders, they have never wavered in their support for funding programs (COPS Hiring, Byrne JAG and BVP) that support law enforcement and have made officer safety a priority for the Department of Justice. They have hosted NAPO's TOP COPS at the White House all four years they have been in office and Vice President Joe Biden has attended the 2008 and 2012 NAPO Conventions.  

Although the 2012 elections didn't change the overall majority control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, this result was still a favorable outcome for NAPO because Democrats were victorious in maintaining control of the Senate. The Democrats have 53 seats with a net gain of 2 seats. Republicans have 45 seats with a net loss of 2 seats. Currently, the Senate has a total of 51 Democrats, 47 Republicans and 2 Independents.

Please review the list of the Senate races and victors listed below. The highlights represent key races that were considered to go either way:

 State

Senator

Party

Incumbent

Arizona

Flake

Republican

 

California

Feinstein

Democrat

Incumbent

Connecticut

Murphy

Democrat

 

Delaware

Carper

Democrat

Incumbent

Florida

Nelson

Democrat

Incumbent

Hawaii

Hirono

Democrat

 

Indiana

Donnelly

Democrat

 

Maine

King

Independent

 

Maryland

Cardin

Democrat

Incumbent

Massachusetts

Warren

Democrat

 

Michigan

Stabenow

Democrat

Incumbent

Minnesota

Klobuchar

Democrat

Incumbent

Mississippi

Wicker

Republican

Incumbent

Missouri

McCaskill

Democrat

Incumbent

Montana

Tester

Democrat

Incumbent

Nebraska

Fischer

Democrat

 

Nevada

Heller

Republican

Incumbent

New Jersey

Menendez

Democrat

Incumbent

New Mexico

Heinrich

Democrat

 

New York

Gillibrand

Democrat

Incumbent

North Dakota

Heitkamp

Democrat

 

Ohio

Brown

Democrat

Incumbent

Pennsylvania

Casey

Democrat

Incumbent

Rhode Island

Whitehouse

Democrat

Incumbent

Tennessee

Corker

Republican

Incumbent

Texas

Cruz

Republican

 

Utah

Hatch

Republican

Incumbent

Vermont

Sanders

Independent

Incumbent

Virginia

Kaine

Democrat

 

Washington

Cantwell

Democrat

Incumbent

West Virginia

Manchin

Democrat

Incumbent

Wisconsin

Baldwin

Democrat

 

Wyoming

Barrasso

Republican

Incumbent

Senate committee assignments will change in the new Congress. One committee of importance to NAPO is the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is likely to remain in the chairmanship of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). NAPO has developed a strong relationship with his office and this will continue to be beneficial to our lobbying efforts. As committee positions become available NAPO will provide updated information.  

In the House of Representatives, there are 435 seats with 218 needed for majority. The Republicans will continue to be the majority party with 232 seats and a net gain of 0 seats.  The Democrats have 191 seats with a net gain of 5 seats. Please note, at the time of publication not all races have been finalized. Currently there are 241 Republicans and 190 Democrats, with a total of 4 vacancies.

Please review the list of the key House races and victors listed below:

State

District

Member

Party

Incumbent

California

7th

Bera

Democrat

 

California

10th

Denham

Republican

Incumbent

California

30th

Scherman

Democrat

Incumbent

California

36th

Ruiz

Democrat

 

California

44th

Hahn

Democrat

Incumbent

California

52nd

Peters

Democrat

 

Colorado

6th

Coffman

Republican

Incumbent

Florida

9th

Grayson

Democrat

 

Florida

18th

Murphy

Democrat

 

Florida

26th

Garcia

Democrat

 

Georgia

12th

Barrow

Democrat

Incumbent

Illinois

8th

Duckworth

Democrat

 

Illinois

10th

Schneider

Democrat

 

Illinois

11th

Foster

Democrat

 

Iowa

3rd

Latham

Republican

Incumbent

Iowa

4th

King

Republican

Incumbent

Massachusetts

6th

Tierney

Democrat

Incumbent

Minnesota

6th

Bachmann

Republican

Incumbent

New Hampshire

2nd

Kuster

Democrat

 

North Carolina

8th

Hudson

Republican

 

Ohio

16th

Renacci

Republican

Incumbent

Pennsylvania

12th

Rothfus

Republican

 

Rhode Island

1st

Cicilline

Democrat

Incumbent

Texas

23rd

Gallego

Democrat

 

Utah

4th

Matheson

Democrat

Incumbent

Committees in the House and the Senate have term limits. Seven House panels will have new chairmen in the 113th Congress, although the control will likely stay with the Republican Party. Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Judiciary, Transportation, Science, Space and Technology and the Rules Chairmanships are all up for grabs. NAPO takes particular interest in the Judiciary and Homeland Security new leadership. The Judiciary Chairman, Lamar Smith of Texas is to be replaced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia and Homeland Security Chairman, Peter King of New York by Rep. Candice Miller of Michigan. 

The lame duck session begins Tuesday, November 13th after seven weeks of recess. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) said that the House Republican's goal for the lame duck will include replacing the sequester and extending all of the tax rates while gearing up for tax and entitlement reform next year.  Members of both chambers have several items on the to-do-list, including unfinished fiscal 2013 appropriations, the farm bill, defense authorization and addressing the sequester.

Last night President Obama perfectly highlighted his agenda for the next 4 years, "I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead." NAPO is proud to support this Administration and continue to work with them to improve the lives of America's finest.

NOMINATE AN OFFICER FOR

THE TOP COPS® AWARDS!

THE 2013 TOP COPS® CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013 AT THE

OMNI SHOREHAM HOTEL,

IN CONJUNCTION WITH NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

It is that time of the year again!  We are trying to generate as many quality TOP COPS® nominations as possible.  Please consider nominating a fellow officer.  We would appreciate you sharing this form with colleagues and friends in law enforcement. Feel free to post the attached nomination form wherever you feel it appropriate.  The nomination form is also available in PDF format on our website (www.napo.org) or click here.  Help us ensure that all states and territories are represented at the 20th Annual TOP COPS Awards® Ceremony.  The deadline for nominations is January 11, 2013. 

We appreciate any help you can provide.  If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Elizabeth Loranger at eloranger@napo.org                      or   (800) 322-6276.

Save the Dates!

Please Make Note of NAPO's 2013 Events

25th Annual Police, Fire, EMS & Municipal

Employee Pension & Benefits Seminar

Sunday, February 17 – Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Encore at Wynn Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nevada

20th Annual TOP COPS Awards Dinner

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Omni Shoreham Hotel – Washington, District of Columbia

 

NAPO Lobbies on Capitol Hill

Monday, May 13 – Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Washington, District of Columbia

 

NAPO's 35th Annual Convention

Saturday, July 20 – Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Millennium Maxwell House Hotel – Nashville, Tennessee

Please visit www.napo.org for detailed event information and

exhibiting/sponsorship opportunities.

Contact us at (800) 322-6276 or via e-mail: info@napo.org with any questions

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NAPO proudly introduces The 25th Annual Police, Fire, EMS, and Municipal Employee Pension & Benefits Seminar scheduled for February 17 -19, 2013 Las Vegas, Nevada at the Encore at Wynn Hotel. The goal of this event is to educate your members of pension and union representatives along with their providers on the latest issues surrounding the pension and benefits industry.

New this year, NAPO is teaming-up with Opal Financial Group to improve the Pension & Benefits Seminar. The seminar is spotlighting key issues you want to know about, including reducing healthcare costs in the midst of new regulations, revising your asset allocation strategy, responding to DB versus DC plan debate, the outlook nationally and internationally on a new presidential administration, realistic projections of earnings and assumption rates, preservation of assets, and much more.

For seminar and hotel registration please click here.