AGC-supported legislation to
eliminate the death tax is expected to be included as
one of the 10 priority bills for the House of
Representatives in the 106th Congress.
Sponsored by Reps. Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) and John Tanner
(D-TN), this bill would reduce the death tax rate by 5%
each year over a ten–year period. The House GOP
leadership is reserving bills H.R. 1 through H.R. 10 for
what they deem to be priority legislation, including the
Dunn/Tanner bill. Please contact your Representative and
ask that they cosponsor the Dunn/Tanner Death Tax Relief
Act.
Vice President Gore proposes
increase in funding for public transit and environmental
programs: Vice President Gore announced that the
Clinton Administration’s fiscal 2000 budget will include
a record $6.1 billion for public transit as well as
other spending for his "Livability Agenda." The
Livability Agenda will promote projects that restore
inner cities, protect farmlands and other undeveloped
areas, and promote programs that reduce urban sprawl.
The proposal also includes increased funding for the
CMAQ program, Transportation Enhancements Program, and
the Transportation and Community and System Preservation
pilot program.
TEA-21 mid-course corrections
bill considered by Shuster: Rep. Bud Shuster (R-PA.)
is considering a bill this year to make corrections and
clarifications to TEA-21. The House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee is planning oversight hearings
to review the implementation of TEA-21. After reviewing
the oversight hearings the Committee may take up a
corrections bill.
Size Standards Legislation on
Agenda: Congressman Bob Riley (R-AL) with four
cosponsors introduced H.R. 243, the Small Business
Common Sense and Fairness Act of 1999. This legislation
requires the Small Business Administration to review the
small business size standard for construction and adjust
the standard appropriately for inflation. Further, SBA
will be required to conduct a review every five years.
Urge your member of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 243 by
calling 202-224-3121 or writing, using Congress at Your
Fingertips on the AGC website (www.agc.org).
Best Practices Study Meets in
Baltimore: The Excavation, Compliance, and Public
Relations Teams of the Best Practices Study met in
continuing discussions about one-call center practices.
One of the more controversial issues for the excavation
team was endorsing a tolerance zone width. AGC
steadfastly maintained that 18 inches from the center
line or less ensures a more accurate locate from the
facility owner’s locator. Compliance team members
continued an attempt to define the various terms of art
in one-call. Responses in the Public Relations Committee
from states regarding the "Dig Safely" program were
mixed. Following a December 30 Federal Register
announcement, the study’s minutes are available for
review and comment through AGC’s website
(http://www.agc.org).
DOT Attacks Technology in Climate
Change Speech: A Department of Transportation (DOT)
official claims that road vehicles contribute 1/3 of the
so-called greenhouse gas emissions that would be
regulated under the Kyoto Protocol. Touting last year’s
budget, giving a $660 million tax credit for users of
fuel efficient vehicles, DOT suggested that similar tax
credits would be proposed this year to drive the change
to technology. America’s car manufacturers, however, are
already increasing fuel efficiency as passed under the
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
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