Masonry Magazine February 2007 Page. 10
Government Affairs
New Congress, New Ideas
Jessica Johnson Bennett, Director of Government Affairs, Mason Contractors Association of America
The 110th Congress convened last month, creating several historical precedents at the same time.
For the first time in the 218-year history of the U.S. Congress, and ending the long line of 51 male predecessors, a woman was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was selected by her peers to serve as the Speaker of the House for the 110th Congress, a position third in line to the president of the United States. When the tally was announced, all 233 Democratic members unanimously cast their votes in favor of Pelosi.
Furthermore, an additional precedent was set this year with the most number of women ever elected to the U.S. Senate.
In addition to these events, for the first time in the history of our government, a Muslim was elected to serve in Congress. Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) chose to put his hand on a Quran that belonged to Thomas Jefferson, while taking the oath of office.
Not only will this Congress have more diverse members, but the agenda for the 110th will look unlike anything the American public has seen for the past 12 years under Republican leadership. The 2006 elections not only dramatically changed the power structure in Washington, but they paved the way for a vastly different way of thinking. This will prove extremely important to mason contractors and small business owners across the country.
In the first 100 hours in power, the Democrats' first order of business was to push through a sweeping ethics and lobbying package, and strict new rules on the budget process and disclosure of earmarks. Under the new leadership, House members can no longer allow a lobbyist to buy them lunch, and politicians will not be able to take privately funded trips without prior approval of the ethics committee. Congressional leaders will not be allowed to hold open roll call votes until the results fall their way, which was a customary practice under Republican leadership.
Also, lawmakers will have to decide how to apply pay-as-you-go rules to proposals for new entitlements or tax cuts. ("Paygo" is a term used by Washington insiders when referring to a budget practice in which: If the government spends more on program A, it has to spend less money on program B, and thus budget deficits will be restrained.) This particular ideal has many in the Republican party and the business community concerned. Under "paygo" rules, the number of tax cuts possible will be restrained. First on the chopping block would be the investment tax cuts of 2003 that are set to expire in 2010.
BUSINESS-RELATED PROVISIONS TO BE CONSIDERED
There are several other issues and provisions important to businesses that are expected to be considered during the 110th Congress, including the following:
Business
* Increase employer penalties for violations of worker safety and benefit laws
* Boost funding for OSHA, and increase the number of inspectors
* Extend the research development tax credit
* Increase the minimum wage
* Repeal tax breaks that encourage companies to move jobs overseas
Health Care
* Reform the Part D prescription drug plan
* Allow federally negotiated prices for prescription drugs
* Reauthorize and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
* Expand federally funded embryonic stem cell research
* Increase usage of health information technologies
Energy
* Reform energy-related incentive programs, including tax credits
* Examine corporate subsidies for the oil and gas industries
Immigration
* Address the 12-18 million undocumented workers in the United States
* Establish a new guest worker program
* Increase green card allotments for workers
* Revamp work site enforcement mechanisms
* Reform verification of employment eligibility
* Mandate electronic, and possibly biometric systems
Taxes
* Focus tax policy on "middle class" issues
* Address the Alternative Minimum Tax
* Increase child education-related tax incentive programs
* Examine windfall profit taxes on oil companies
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