CONTACT: |
Lori Weaver-Barnes, APR, Director of Public Relations |
|
(703) 519-7800 / PR@aiada.org |
DEALERS TO TARGET TAX, TRADE ISSUES AT
22ND ANNUAL AUTOMOTIVE CONGRESS
MAY 17-18
WASHINGTON, April 29, 1999 -- Automobile dealers from
across the U.S. will descend on Capitol Hill May 17-18 for the 22nd annual
Automotive Congress, sponsored by the American International Automobile Dealers
Association (AIADA). The largest grassroots lobbying event in the automotive
industry, the Automotive Congress brings together dealers from more than 40
states for two days of issues briefings, workshops and speeches by political and
industry leaders, culminating with meetings with Members of Congress.
Congressional visits will target three key issues:
- Estate (Death) Tax. Estate or death taxes can be a death sentence
for family-owned automobile dealerships. The tax requires heirs to pay up to
55 percent of the estate's total value in cash to the federal government.
AIADA is working to eliminate this burden on automobile dealers and their
families. To date, 158 Members of Congress have co-sponsored legislation to
phase out the death tax.
- Luxury Tax. The auto luxury tax is on schedule to be phased out by
2003. However, as long as this tax is on the books that could change. Dealers
must continually remind Congress of the harmful impact of the tax and the need
for its elimination on schedule if not sooner.
- Chicken Tax. The Chicken Tax is a 25% duty that has been levied
against imported pickup trucks since 1963 as a results of a dispute between
the U.S. and Germany over the importation of frozen chickens. AIADA is
launching a long-term effort to eliminate this tariff, which unfairly
restricts trade. Pickup trucks represent a lucrative and significant portion
of the United States vehicle market, and the 25% tariff limits the ability of
importers to compete.
"Congress has the power to make decisions that can mean the success or
failure of our businesses. At the Automotive Congress, we have the opportunity
to speak with one voice on the legislative issues that impact our day-to-day
dealership operations," said 1999 AIADA Chairman Joseph D. O'Brien, Jr., a
multi-franchise dealer with businesses in Illinois and Florida.
The JW Marriott Hotel in Washington will serve as the headquarters for the
Automotive Congress. For a full schedule of events, call 1-800-GO-AIADA.
AIADA is the trade association representing America's 10,000 franchised
international nameplate automobile retailers and their 350,000 employees who
sell and service world-class vehicles manufactured in the U.S. and abroad.
The association works to preserve a free market for international automobiles
in the U.S. by advocating this mission before the federal government and is
dedicated to increasing public awareness of the international automobile
industry's value to the American economy.
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