REPORT
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| WASHINGTON REPORT Food Marketing Institute · 800 Connecticut Avenue, NW · Washington, DC 20005 · 202/452-8444 |
|
Senate Considers Agriculture Appropriations Measure Country-of-Origin
Labeling Amendments Imminent
The health care debate virtually stopped
appropriations activity in the Senate last week when Democrats tried to offer
their Patient's Bill of Rights as an amendment to the FY 2000 Agriculture
Appropriations bill (S. 1233). Democrats have vowed to tie up the Senate by
introducing amendments until they get agreement for an extended debate on the
issue.
If the Senate does come to an agreement to end the filibuster this evening (cloture vote June 28), the Senate will resume consideration of the Agriculture Appropriations bill. Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) will offer an amendment that will require country-of-origin labeling at retail for meat, and Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) will offer an amendment requiring country-of-origin labeling at retail for produce. FMI continues to work with lawmakers to oppose these onerous provisions, but the issue also needs grassroots attention. Please call your members of Congress and urge them not to vote for Sen. Johnson's or Sen. Graham's country-of-origin labeling amendments. See the June 24 Action Call for talking points or contact Nancy Yanish at 202-429-8242.
| S. 1128 Cosponsors Sen. Don Nickles (R-OK) Sen. Robert Kerrey (D-NE) Sen. John Breaux (D-LA) Sen. Connie Mack (R-FL) Sen. Chuck Robb (D-VA) Sen. Phil Gramm (R-TX) Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) |
Estate Tax Activity Continues Sen. Kyl Offers Bipartisan Repeal
Legislation
Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), who has championed elimination of the
estate and gift tax in the Senate for several years, has introduced, with Sen.
Robert Kerrey (D-NE), the Estate Tax Elimination Act (S. 1128). The bill would:
1) repeal the federal estate and gift tax law currently on the books; 2)
eliminate the step-up in basis of property for inherited assets;. And, 3)
provide for "carryover basis" so the property gets a new foundation when it is
transferred. Family members who inherit a business under this approach could
step into the shoes of the deceased owner without incurring any tax liability
until they sold the business. At the time of sale, they would have to pay
capital gains taxes. The significance of this legislation is that it is
supported by key members of the Senate Finance Committee, who have not supported
other estate tax elimination approaches.
CAT Unveils Tax Cut Proposal, Estate Tax Repeal Included
At a press
conference last week, the House Conservative Action Team (CAT), led by Rep.
David McIntosh (R-IN), unveiled its tax cut proposal, including a provision to
repeal the estate tax. Americans Against Unfair Family Taxation, led by FMI,
submitted a press statement endorsing estate tax repeal as one of the
fundamental concepts in the tax package. The CAT proposal was in sync with what
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer has said would be included
in his chairman's mark next month.
ISSUEGRAM
| Include Your Lawmakers in Your Fourth of July Plans |
| Key Ergonomics Lawmakers
S. 1070 H.R. 987 |
Lawmakers will be heading home to their districts this weekend for their annual Fourth of July celebrations. Your representatives want to hear from you. The district work periods provide you with the perfect opportunity to discuss issues that matter most to your business. Listed below are two of FMI's priority issues that are likely to see floor activity later this summer. Please take advantage of the time you have with your representatives this weekend and ask them to support the industry on these legislative initiatives.
Estate Taxes
FMI's ongoing campaign to repeal the estate tax has moved beyond Capitol Hill and into neighborhoods across America. Grassroots activity is the key to success on the issue. At a June 15 press conference in Washington, DC, FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds announced the creation of Americans Against Unfair Family Taxation (AAUFT), a bipartisan coalition of businesses, individuals and associations. AAUFT, which Hammonds chairs, will begin running print and television ads in the districts of key members of Congress. In order to be truly effective, these ads need your support. Please talk to your representatives and urge them to support AAUFT's primary legislative vehicle, H.R. 8, to repeal the estate tax. H.R. 8, sponsored by Reps. Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) and John Tanner (D-TN), would reduce estate taxes by 5 percent each year until they are eliminated.
Ergonomics
Congress has authorized a thorough and comprehensive study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of the scientific evidence surrounding musculoskeletal disorders and so-called repetitive stress injuries. Despite the study, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is quickly moving forward with its plans to propose an ergonomics regulation this year. On February 19, OSHA released a working draft and is expected to formally propose a regulation in September.
On June 23, the House Education and the Workforce Committee approved legislation (H.R. 987), sponsored by Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), that would prohibit OSHA from promulgating a regulation until completion of the NAS study. The vote (23 to 18) was along party lines with the exception of Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), who voted against the measure. Please contact your members, especially the key lawmakers listed, and urge them to support this common-sense legislation. In the Senate, Christopher (Kit) Bond (R-MO) has introduced a companion bill that has 40 cosponsors - H.R. 987 has 149 cosponsors.
June 28, 1999
Copyright © 1999 by Food Marketing Institute