Re: Japan

From:TAD@DaschleGroup.com To: john.podesta@gmail.com Date: 2015-04-11 10:28 Subject: Re: Japan

If you are referring to the State dinner, yes. I got an invitation yesterday. Thanks so much, John. I really appreciate the help. We are working with Japan these days on a number of issues. I could use your advice on something if you can provide any guidance. As you may know, we have been working on an amazing new transportation technology called "Maglev." It already exists in two locations. You may have used it. The first is in China from the Shanghai airport to downtown Shanghai. The second (a newer and even better technology) will be built from Tokyo to Osaka. They have about 50 kilometers built so far. It travels 315 MPH. I have ridden on it twice. We are working on building the first leg between here and Baltimore. It would put Baltimore within 15 minutes of Washington. It is immeasurably more environmentally sound than almost any other mode of mass transportation. The Japanese want to help us build the first leg and are willing to pay for half of it. (Around $7B). This is a huge issue for Abe. For some reason he is consumed by this project. He has raised it three times to both the President and Vice President. In all three instances, they have not responded to his expressions of interest. He is very frustrated. He wants to raise again on this trip but his staff is afraid that if he does and gets no response for the fourth time, it will trigger the end of Japanese interest. They are also hopeful that they could get a memorandum of understanding to share the technology. Once again, we can't get any response from the administration. I have talked to Denis about this. We have tried to engage Foxx and the VP. We have gotten nowhere. I know you are under severe restrictions about any contact with the administration, but if you could offer any advice, I would welcome it. You set on Abe? ________________________________ Under requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that, if any advice concerning one or more U.S. federal tax issues is contained in this communication (including in any attachments and, if this communication is by email, then in any part of the same series of emails), such advice was not intended or written by the sender or by Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or tax-related matter addressed herein. This electronic mail transmission may constitute an attorney-client communication that is privileged at law. It is not intended for transmission to, or receipt by, any unauthorized persons. If you have received this electronic mail transmission in error, please delete it from your system without copying it, and notify the sender by reply e-mail, so that our address record can be corrected.