Message

Failed loading XML... Entity 'raquo' not defined Entity 'raquo' not defined Opening and ending tag mismatch: link line 1 and head Specification mandate value for attribute uk-sticky attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag div line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: img line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: a line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-toggle attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag a line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute uk-navbar-toggle-icon Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: header line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute flip Specification mandate value for attribute uk-close attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag button line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and button Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-search-icon Specification mandate value for attribute required attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag input line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-scroll Specification mandate value for attribute uk-scroll Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 xmlParseEntityRef: no name Opening and ending tag mismatch: body line 1 and header Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-search-icon attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag a line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and a Specification mandate value for attribute uk-height-viewport Specification mandate value for attribute uk-close attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag button line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and button Specification mandate value for attribute required attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag input line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: img line 1 and a Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Opening and ending tag mismatch: a line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: header line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-sticky attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag div line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and li Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and li Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and li Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a expected '>' Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and li Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and ul Specification mandate value for attribute uk-toggle attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag a line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute uk-navbar-toggle-icon Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: li line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and nav Opening and ending tag mismatch: li line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute flip attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag div line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute uk-close attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag button line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and button Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-search-icon Specification mandate value for attribute required attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag input line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 xmlParseEntityRef: no name Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and header Specification mandate value for attribute uk-margin Specification mandate value for attribute uk-search-icon Specification mandate value for attribute required attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag input line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute uk-margin Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute allowfullscreen attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag iframe line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and iframe Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and article Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: a line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and article Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: a line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and article Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: a line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and article Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: a line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and article Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: a line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and article Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: a line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and article Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: a line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and article Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: a line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and article Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-margin Entity 'hellip' not defined Specification mandate value for attribute uk-pagination-next Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and div Opening and ending tag mismatch: article line 1 and main Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: source line 1 and picture Opening and ending tag mismatch: picture line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-scroll Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Specification mandate value for attribute uk-scroll Specification mandate value for attribute alt attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag img line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: hr line 1 and div Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid xmlParseEntityRef: no name Entity 'emsp' not defined Entity 'emsp' not defined Specification mandate value for attribute uk-grid Specification mandate value for attribute uk-totop attributes construct error Couldn't find end of Start Tag a line 1 Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and a Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and footer Opening and ending tag mismatch: footer line 1 and body Opening and ending tag mismatch: div line 1 and html Premature end of data in tag article line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag article line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag article line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag article line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag article line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag main line 1 Premature end of data in tag li line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag li line 1 Premature end of data in tag ul line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag nav line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag div line 1 Premature end of data in tag link line 1 Premature end of data in tag link line 1 Premature end of data in tag meta line 1 Premature end of data in tag meta line 1 Premature end of data in tag head line 1 Premature end of data in tag html line 1

Will This be the Year for Chapter 11 Venue Reform?

More than a decade after Democrats and Republicans first united to introduce bankruptcy venue reform legislation, Congress is still trying to make headway on the issue.

Last month, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Congressman Ken Buck (R-CO) reintroduced H.R. 1017, the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act, legislation aimed at curtailing bankruptcy “venue shopping” by requiring that bankruptcy proceedings take place in the venue in which the entity has its principal place of business or the majority of its assets.

The original bill, introduced on July 14, 2011 by former Members of Congress Lamar Smith (R-TX) and John Conyers Jr. (D-MI), who led the House Judiciary Committee at the time, looked promising. In addition to banking sponsored by the leaders of the Committee it needed to pass, it was also co-sponsored by the leaders of the Subcommittee.

Congressman Smith was personally invested in the issue because of a very publicly notorious corporate bankruptcy—Enron. Based in Houston, Texas, with more than 7,500 employees and $60 billion in assets, Enron took advantage of current bankruptcy venue laws to file for bankruptcy more than 1,500 miles away in New York. To `then-Chair Lamar Smith, this denied thousands of Texans access to the bankruptcy proceedings, harming Texas small businesses and thousands of former Enron employees alike.

For Congressman Conyers, the story was very similar. In 2009, Chrysler and General Motors, both based in Congressman Conyers’ hometown of Detroit, filed bankruptcy in New York. He saw his constituents lose their jobs and their entire retirement, forced to choose between traveling to New York to present their perspective to the court or save money, stay home and hope for the best.

Less than two months after introduction, the bill had its first Committee hearing in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law. At the hearing, the majority of expert witnesses testified in strong support of the legislation, fully debunking the arguments presented by the sole opposition witness that the New York and Delaware courts have greater expertise and are better equipped to handle bankruptcy cases. NACM also submitted a letter for the record strongly in support of the bill.

Unfortunately, that is where all progress halted on the bill. The political reality of this issue is that while there is significant bipartisan support for fixing the broken rules that allow corporations to venue shop, there also is significant and influential opposition. The current Majority Leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, represents the State of New York, a state which benefits significantly from the status quo. Additionally, large corporations with a significant lobbying and political presence have a strong incentive to kill this bill and similar efforts.

Overcoming these hurdles and getting the bill passed this Congress is an uphill battle, but it is one we can win. Ultimately, politics is local, and depriving smaller debtors the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the bankruptcy process has significant local consequences. So, remind your Member of Congress that bankruptcy venue shopping is hurting their district and their constituents, and urge them to support H.R. 1017.

 

-Ash Arnett, PACE Government Affairs, NACM’s Washington Representative