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-- April 5, 2000 --
Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have now passed the legislation that would eliminate the earning limits that affected some seniors eligible for Social Security. It is now waiting for signing by the President, and he is expected to approve it. Under the old rules, some seniors between ages 65 and 70 had to forego receiving Social Security if they earned too much income. CA has long supported legislation that raised the allowable earnings levels, and the end of the earnings limit is good news for rural seniors.
CONFEREES NAMED FOR THE MINIMUM WAGE/BANKRUPTCY/TAX RELIEF BILL The omnibus Minimum Wage/Bankruptcy Reform Legislation will soon be in conference committee to iron out differences between bills passed by the Senate and House. The legislation includes: several tax measures of importance to CA members, including: raising the tax deduction for health insurance premiums for self-employed to 100 percent; cuts to the estate tax burden over a 10-year period; an increase in the Section 179 business expensing to $30,000; and a hike in the allowable expense for business meals. CA will track the developments with an eye on keeping these tax provisions in the final bill to the extent possible.
NELSON HAILS RENEWED CONGRESSIONAL RURAL CAUCUS CA President Wayne Nelson was a featured speaker at the national press conference March 14 in Washington announcing the newly re-established Congressional Rural Caucus. With live coverage by CSPAN, the event heard from Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., caucus co-chairs Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo. and Eva Clayton, D-N.C., and nine other bipartisan members of the caucus. At a reception that evening for the caucus, which now numbers 112 members, House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Tex., and Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., and Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I. also spoke. Caucus members are concerned that many rural communities lack the infrastructure to attract the high-tech firms of the new economy and don't have the resources to invest in them, Emerson said. The caucus members said the will work on a wide range of issues common to rural communities and constituencies, including telecommunications, Medicare, Medicaid and other health-care programs, transportation, education, water and sewer systems and economic development. CA is also one of the key organizations who have formed the National Rural Network, which will serve as a coalition supporting the rural caucus. "This was a good send off. I was impressed by the Congressional leadership present, its bipartisan membership, and the recognition it was given by both urban and rural members of Congress," said Nelson.
CA'S ANNUAL MEETING HEARS FROM KANSAS CITY BOARD OF TRADE PRESIDENT, CONGRESSMAN COlLIN PETERSON; FUNDS RAISED FOR CA FOUNDATION Kansas City Board of Trade President Michael Braude was the keynote speaker at CA's 2000 Annual Meeting held in Fergus Falls, Minn. on Friday, March 31. Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson also spoke to the gathering. Braude, who also serves on CA's Scholarship and Education Foundation Advisory Board, told the crowded noon gathering that free trade is vital to American farmers. China's population is growing by the size of one Australia each year. India is surpassing China in growth, he noted, and both have a changing, more westernized diet. Government policy has to eliminate distortions, aggressively reduce trade barriers, get rid of sanctions, and give farmers the tools and opportunity to earn a good income, Braude said. "The globalization of agriculture is complete. Yet we still have not settled on a traditional price and income policy in the U.S.," Braude said. "Commodity exchanges and farmers ought to be talking together in Washington." Change will occur in agriculture and the task is to change along with it, he said, predicting that there will be reduced government support; consumers will expect more specialized, specific foods; and environmental regulations will be in place worldwide. Commodity exchanges will continue to exist and grow; but they too will change as trading becomes all electronic. The trading pits will be a thing of the past in ten years, he forecast. Peterson spoke at the fundraiser that evening for the CA Scholarship and Education Foundation about prospects for changes in federal farm policy, and the House Agriculture Committee's field hearings taking place throughout the country. The foundation raised a record level of contributions, and nine area schools that promote agriculture and FFA programs were awarded a total of $10,000 to support their vocational agriculture programs. The foundation also provides scholarships for young Americans taking part in the CA international agricultural exchange program.
CA BOARD APPROVES HEALTH CARE CAMPAIGN The CA Board of Directors also approved a new CA "Campaign for Choice and Affordability", an educational campaign that aims to convince policy makers to reduce costly, unnecessary mandates, and generate more choice, options and competition in health insurance markets to benefit consumers. The campaign was profiled in the last issue of CA Self-Employed Country magazine.
SHORT TAKES . . . .
FEEDBACK WANTED CA welcomes member comments, ideas and thoughts on these and other legislative issues. Email us back your reply. Or give us a call and ask for Wayne Nelson, President, or Bruce Abbe, Vice President of Public Affairs at 1-800-432-3276. Help CA build our grassroots legislative action program. Email your reply to -- publicaffairs@cainc.org COMMUNICATING FOR AGRICULTURE - Good Ideas for Rural America.
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© 2000 CA FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED |
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