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LICA Legislative Issue Positions

Capital Gains Tax Reduction

LICA POSITION: LICA supports legislation that lowers capital gain tax rates and provides incentives for long-term investment.

HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS: The capital gains tax is levied on all capital gains, including those attributed to inflation. It subjects income to multiple levels of taxation, deprives individuals and companies of money to invest, and deters property owners from selling assets. Equity investors in the construction industry - often employees, friends and family - are risk takers, building businesses and creating jobs. This activity must be encouraged to produce long-term economic growth. Lower capital gains taxes will provide incentive for construction companies to innovate, grow, create jobs, and increase wages.

OPPOSITION: Opponents of capital gains tax cut say that it is a tax cut for the wealthy.

LICA RESPONSE: Congressional studies have found that more than 60% of taxpayers with capital gains had income under $50,000. Also, half of all US families own assets such as homes, stocks, bonds, business, and real estate that can generate capital gains tax.

Protect Constitutional Rights Of Private Land Owners

LICA POSITION: Private property owners are constantly being deprived of their rights by never ending governmental regulation which effectively takes private property without any compensation. Private property owners are capable of developing land while simultaneously protecting sensitive environmental areas without government interference.

HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS: Governmental regulations slow down any use of private property for development or commercial use, thereby costing jobs, and slowing down the economy, effectively denying an owner the use of their property.

OPPOSITION: People who propose governmental control of private property believe property owners are not capable of protecting the environment from harmful use. PROPERTY OWNERS ARE THE VERY BEST STEWARDS OF THE LAND. And it is in their best interest to protect the land and use it to the best advantage.

LICA RESPONSE: LICA strongly believes in Private Property protection as guaranteed by the constitution. When government takes land through regulation or otherwise, the landowner should be fully compensated in a timely manner.
 

Permanent Elimination Of Death Tax

LICA POSITION: LICA supports federal legislation to eliminate the Death Tax permanently on family-owned business, family-owned farms and their employees. The Death Tax is the most confiscatory of all taxes. The Death Tax is unfair, anti-family, anti-business, and anti-jobs.

HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS: The federal estate tax is one of the biggest obstacles to family business continuity and growth because of the astronomical rate of 55% federal tax, in addition to state estate taxes, as well as income, business, and capital gains already paid over the individual’s lifetime. The thousands of dollars spent on estate planning to minimize their tax burden could be better spent on business growth, job creation, and equipment purchases.

OPPOSITION: Opponents of estate tax relief say that it is a tax cut for the wealthy.

LICA RESPONSE: Because of their significant investment in heavy construction equipment, family-owned construction companies are hit very hard by the Death Tax. Paying the Death Tax often requires a liquidation of company assets, which eliminates jobs and opportunities for business growth, while devastating communities that rely on these businesses. PERMANENT REPEAL OF THE DEATH TAX enjoys broad bipartisan support in Congress and the business community in America.

Reduce The Nation's Dependence On Foreign Energy By Tapping Domestic Sources Of Oil Such As The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

LICA POSITION: LICA supports opening the coastal plain of ANWR for oil exploration and drilling, as well as expanding the use of gasohol.

HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS: America’s increasing dependence on foreign oil, coupled with the increasing cost of oil, weakens our ability to compete globally. Instability in the Middle East further illustrates the need for expanded domestic oil exploration and production. Of ANWR’s 18.3 million acres, less than one-tenth of the northern most 1.5 million acres would be affected by the development of the plain. Protecting valuable natural resources can be equitably balanced with the need to provide America’s economic viability. Expanded use of gasohol would open additional marketing opportunities for farmers.

OPPOSITION: Environmentalists believe that if the coastal plain of ANWR is opened for oil exploration, the habitat and migration of native species will be harmed.

LICA RESPONSE: Oil drilling in ANWR’s arctic plain will have little impact on the remaining 16.8 million acres of land and wildlife under Federal protection. Proof can be seen in other oil drilling areas of Alaska. Animal numbers, habitat and migration are not adversely affected. Increased use of gasohol would further reduce dependence on foreign oil.
 

Health Care Reform

LICA POSITION: LICA supports legislation seeking health care reform which does not include increased Federal mandates, bureaucracy and litigation. LICA believes that competitive, market based forces and not governmental dictates will drive health care costs down and allow greater access to healthcare. The government must seek ways to control litigation in the health care services. HR 660 would provide the vehicle to permit small businesses to obtain affordable health care insurance for their employees.

HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS: In recent years, Congress has considered proposals calling for broad health care consumer protection and quality standards. Unfortunately, the "Patients Bill of Rights" would rely heavily on employer mandates, new Federal bureaucracy and the threat of litigation to achieve these goals. Of particular concern is a provision that would expand malpractice liability to health care plans and employers. Proponents argue that employers are shielded from lawsuits by this legislation, but the language is murky at best, and does not fully exempt employers from lawsuits. A company could be sued simply for selecting a health care plan. The only way an employer might protect himself is to not provide any health care benefits.

OPPOSITION: Proponents claim Federal legislation is needed to protect patients from abuse at the hands of cost-conscious Health Maintenance Organizations.

LICA RESPONSE: Both contractors and employees want a health care system that delivers affordable, quality care This cannot be achieved by increased Federal mandates, more bureaucracy and litigation.

Oppose Expansion Of The Family And Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

LICA POSITION: LICA opposes any attempt to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to cover non-health related absences or to include employers with fewer than 50 employees.

HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS: Expansion of the FMLA could create new and substantial administrative and staffing burdens on small business. The FMLA now requires firms employing 50 or more to grant up to three months off without pay to their employees for the birth or adoption of a child, care of a sick relative or personal health conditions. The regulations cover more than 300 pages, and are very complex. Among the many deficiencies of the FMLA is the definition of "serious health condition" (which is vague and confusing) and the intermittent leave provisions which are complicated and difficult to administer. This places an especially heavy time and expense burden on small companies. Small business cannot afford consultants and attorneys to help them comply with all these rules and regulations.

OPPOSITION: Those who favor FMLA cannot possibly understand the severe burden this places on small business. They also want the act expanded to allow time off for "parent-teacher conferences."

LICA RESPONSE: To attract and retain a competent work force in today’s competitive work environment, business must respond to employee needs for health, family and school- related activities. Employers must deal with crisis on a flexible basis. Theresimply is no need for the Federal government to mandate company leave policy in nearly every workplace in America.

CARA
(Conservation And Reinvestment Act)

We strongly oppose this act. Our nation is founded on the principle of Private Property Ownership and history has shown that in countries where this is not the case, private citizens lose their "stake" in the country. The Federal government already owns over 30% of the land and is doing a poor job of managing that.

The bill has no protection against condemnation of private land. It allows grant money to environmental and animal rights organizations. It allows the government to grab land for nearly any reason if land or water is suitable or capable of being made suitable for feeding, resting or breeding by wildlife. Our taxpayer funds can be used to meet the perceived needs for wildlife and the habitats on which wildlife depend.