| Congress is
back in session this week after the Summer District Work Period. Here is a
look at some of the issues Inside Congress this week.
GOLDEN PLOW AWARD:
The American Farm Bureau Federation, the voice of American
agriculture, has announced that I am the only member of the House of
Representatives to receive its highest legislative honor, the "2000 Golden
Plow Award."
This award means a great deal to me because agriculture means so much
to our district and our country. I believe it's vital to the future of our
country to keep American agriculture alive and flourishing. Government
should work with, not work against, American farmers to keep them the best
producers in the world.
"Representative Nethercutt is always there for farmers and this is a
way for farmers to say we appreciate him," says Steve Appel, a farmer from
Dusty, Washington, and President of the Washington State Farm Bureau.
"George is the kind of guy who rolls up his sleeves and does what needs to
be done. When farmers asked for freedom to farm, George was there. When
farmers asked for freedom to market, George was there. This award is going
to the right person."
I was supported by the Washington State Farm Bureau and approved by
the Board of Directors of the American Farm Bureau Federation at its
August meeting. The Golden Plow award will be given to me during a special
ceremony in Spokane on September 23rd (details coming soon).
The Golden Plow Award is given annually to one Member each of the
House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation, whose philosophy or
records demonstrate a commitment to the private enterprise system, sound
agricultural policies, fiscal conservatism and reduced federal regulation
of business and individuals.
DEATH TAX VETO:
On Thursday, 13 Democratic Members of the House switched their votes
on the issue of taxing death, to prevent the House from overriding
President Clinton's veto of the Death Tax Repeal Act. The bill would have
phased-out death taxes over ten years. Unfortunately for farmers, ranchers
and small business owners, a death will continue to trigger a tax rate of
up to 55 percent making it hard to pass the family business on to the next
generation. The vote on the override attempt was 274 to 157, short of the
two-thirds vote necessary to override a Presidential veto. I supported the
bill when it originally passed the House and I supported overriding the
veto.
MARRIAGE PENALTY:
Married couples can now figure out the "price of love" by visiting The
Heritage Foundation's new "Marriage Tax Relief Calculator," an online tool
that allows two-income families to see how much they could save if the
marriage penalty didn't force them to pay more in taxes than single
workers. The calculator shows how a couple's tax burden would change under
legislation recently passed by Congress. The site also allows you to see
how many couples in our congressional district are affected by this unfair
tax. The House will attempt to override President Clinton's veto of this
legislation in the upcoming days.
Click here to access the calculator: http://www.heritage.org/taxrelief/welcome.html
FIRESTONE CONGRESSIONAL HEARING:
Congress opened hearings this week to determine when
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. and its customer Ford Motor Co. knew about tire
problems that have been linked to numerous accidents and deaths. The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received more than
1,400 complaints of tread loss, blowouts and other defects on Firestone
tires, many of which are standard equipment on light trucks and SUVs made
by Ford Motor Co. Lawmakers say they will explore when
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. and Ford knew about the defects, which
reportedly date back at least 10 years. I support this investigation.
PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA:
The Senate, this week, began deliberations on a bill that would grant
permanent normal trade relations status to China. The House previously
approved this measure and I wholeheartedly supported it. The bill would
lower or eliminate the tariffs on American exports to China in nearly
every industry and come closer to completing the communist nation's
entrance into the World Trade Organization.
The tax American companies pay to ship everything from Washington
state apples to airplane parts will be dramatically reduced or dropped
altogether if this bill passes.
This bill is expected to be signed immediately by the President if the
Senate approves it.
SPOKANE VALLEY HALFWAY HOUSE:
Many interested individuals have contacted me in opposition to a
proposed federal community corrections facility (half-way house) to be
operated in Spokane. The proposed site is at 12015 E. Main in Spokane
Valley. County Commissioner Kate McCaslin, State Senator Bob McCaslin and
myself have all written letters to the Bureau of Prisons in opposition to
this site because of its close proximity to a public school and library.
The selection of a federal half-way house has not been completed, and I
will do everything in my power to ensure that the facility is not located
near community facilities. Individuals wishing to find out more
information or to express an opinion, should contact Commissioner
McCaslin, Senator Bob McCaslin or my office.
HERO OF TAXPAYER:
Americans for Tax Reform have named me a "Hero of the Taxpayer" for my
fiscally conservative voting record in the United States Congress.
To be a hero of the taxpayer is to be a hero of the farmer, of the
truck driver, of the restaurant server and the schoolteacher. To be their
hero is a high honor indeed. Only a third of all House Members qualified
as heroes this year.
ATR congressional scorecards are based on 1) defending against tax
increases; 2) protecting against rampant spending; and 3) protecting the
Social Security surplus from being spent. A "Hero of the Taxpayer" is a
member whose Congressional scorecard is 85% or higher on ATR issues. An
award plaque will be presented to me in a special ceremony on Capitol Hill
September 13th.
Incredibly, according to the ATR, the average family pays more in
taxes today than for food, clothing and shelter combined. From farm to
store, there are some 30 taxes on a loaf of bread. About half the cost of
telephone service is taxes. Similarly, about half the cost of gasoline is
taxes.
More information about the Americans for Tax Reform is online at: http://www.house.gov/nethercutt/update/www.atr.org
SPONSORSHIPS:
I have recently signed on as a cosponsor on the following bills:
- HR 534, the Fairness and Voluntary Arbitration Act, which
prohibits the use of binding arbitration clauses in contracts between
automobile manufacturers and dealers.
- HR 4971, the Electric Power Industry Tax Modernization Act,
which addresses tax issues in the electricity market.
- HR 3142, the College Student Credit Card Protection Act,
which places limits on credit card accounts offered to full time,
traditional-aged college students (unless the student's parent or
guardian assumes joint liability).
To read more about these bills, please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/
MY SCHEDULE:
This week I met with Michael Kessler, National Director for the Young
Marines program, Bob Larence of the WA American Indian Higher Education
Consortium, and ate lunch with a group of fifteen Navy League members from
the Spokane area. I also met with the Assistant Secretary of the Office of
Special Education and Rehabilatitive Services within the Department of
Education regarding regulations surronding federal assistance for special
educaiton services provided to infants and toddlers.
This weekend, I shall be the keynote speaker at the Inland Northwest
Diabetes Conference and Health Fair at the Inn at the Park in Spokane. I
am co-chair of the Diabetes Caucus and very excited about progress being
made in a cure for this disease. This conference will bring some of the
latest information on diabetes to several hundred people in our district
who will attend the conference are affected by it.
I have added some issue briefs from the Congressional Research Service
to my website. Please visit. I think you will find this information on
current issues. |
