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Capital Letter, June 1999
Health care vote possible in June ... The Senate may be voting on health care reform legislation by the end of June. The GOP Senate bill would impose many new rules and regulations on self-insured health plans, such as mandating direct access to pediatricians and emergency medical care without pre-authorization. There are other provisions that would affect all group health plans. Once the Senate debate begins on the issue, the legislation is open to any amendment by any Senator. Several amendments are expected to be offered that would add more costly federal mandates to the legislation. Also, there is an effort to make employers legally liable under state malpractice laws for decisions made by health insurance companies. PIA opposes any legislation that will hinder the ability of printers to provide health benefits to their employees. Your help is critical on this politically charged issue. Your Senators need to hear how this will affect your ability to provide health benefits to your employees. Please contact your Senators immediately and ask them to oppose any attempt to make employers liable for decisions made by health plan administrators. For immediate access to your Senators, use PIA's web site at http://congress.NW.dc.us/printing/ or call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected with your Senators.
Computer depreciation legislation introduced ... Reps. Mac Collins (R-GA) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) reintroduced legislation in Congress to change the depreciation schedule for computers used in manufacturing from five years to two years. They were joined by six other original cosponsors. While we do not expect a tax bill to be completed this year, we need to start early to make sure this item is on Ways and Means Committee members' "wish lists" for the next tax bill. For more information about this issue, look at the Position Papers on the Government Affairs page of the PIA web site.
New OSHA effort targets several printers ... On April 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. struck down OSHA's controversial Cooperative Compliance Program (CCP), stating that the initiative should have gone through a formal rulemaking process. Under the program, OSHA had planned to use employer surveys to determine high-hazard companies. These targeted employers could choose either to participate in the compliance program or be placed on a primary inspection list. Not much of an option for the employer! In light of the court decision, OSHA developed an alternative plan that includes taking the most recent illness and injury data from a company and creating a target list of the most hazardous workplaces. There is not expected to be a "cooperative" element to the new plan. OSHA has notified companies, a number of printers included, that are targets of this new effort.
PrintPAC Making a Federal Case for Integrity ... PrintPAC is the mechanism through which the industry collectively supports candidates for the U.S. House and Senate. PrintPAC was formed in the 1970s and continues to grow each year. An ambitious fundraising goal of $500,000 has been set for the 1999-2000 cycle. Upon examination, it became clear that it was time to broaden the focus of PrintPAC and convince a new generation of printers of the value of political participation. With all the negative news coming from Washington these days, many have been left apprehensive of politics and politicians. Well, PrintPAC has a new message: Political Integrity. PrintPAC reminds you that the legislators we support promote a pro-growth legal framework for their constituents back home. Political involvement is an exciting opportunity you should take advantage of. In addition, it could be critical to your business. When a printer becomes involved in the political process by writing a letter to their legislator on an issue that affects them, he or she has a positive impact on the process. This printer should take the next step in positively impacting Congress for the long-term by supporting candidates who vote for pro-business initiatives. Do this by contributing to PrintPAC to help business-friendly legislators get elected or re-elected to office. When you think of PrintPAC, think of advocates for the printing industry. PrintPAC is making a case for integrity. For further information, contact April Kroon at (703) 519-8158 or akroon@printing.org.
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