Managing Business in an Increasingly Regulated Environment
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Transcript of Managing Business in an Increasingly Regulated Environment
Managing Business in an Increasingly Regulated Environment
Karen Wanamaker, V.P.Industry and Government Affairs
NWPCA
Priority Issues
• Health Care Costs
• Estate (Death) Taxes
• US Postal Service
• Debarking vs. Bark-Free
• Wood Quarantine
• Immigration Reform/Access to Labor
Health Care: Affordability and Access
• Americans happy with quality
• Concerns over affordability and access
• Costs doubled between 1993 and 2004
• 18% of non-elderly people lack health insurance
Small Business Health Plans
• Purchase through trade associations.
• Same benefits as Fortune 500 and Unions – economies of scale – lower premiums – administrative efficiencies – superior medical coverage
Estate Tax Exemption/Tax Rates
1998 $625,000 55%
1999 650,000 55%
2000 675,000 55%
2001 675,000 55%
2002 1,000,000 50%
2003 1,000,000 49%
2004 1,500,000 48%
2005 1,500,000 47%
2006 2,000,000 46%
2007 2,000,000 45%
2008 2,000,000 45%
2009 3,500,000 35%
2010 Estate Tax Repealed 0
2011 $1,000,000 55%
Compromise Legislation
• New majority does not support permanent repeal• 109th Congress – Compromise Support
– Democrats expressed support for using 2009 rates under current law – tax estates over $3.5 million at 45%
– Republicans supported exempting estates under $10 million in assets and taxing those over that threshold at 15%.
U.S. Postal Pallets
TOTAL PALLETS
PRICE PER PALLET
TOTAL COST
2004 2,244,672 $11.36 $25,506,006
2005 670,000 14.23 10,000,000
2006 (Jan-Mar) 299,700 22.75 6,818,175
USPS Strategies
• Media
• Congressional Committee with Oversight
ISPM 15
• Bark-Free vs. Debarked
• Penn State Study
• Congressional Resolution
• Department of Commerce
• U.S. Trade Rep.
• Definition– Clear– Practical– Train Port Inspectors
USDA Ash Wood Quarantine
• Dec 2006: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio joined lower Michigan• Maryland (State Quarantine – Federal Pending)• Other States Involved• Not yet a Paperless System• NWPCA
– Member Alert
– Customer Alert
– Magazine Article
• Alternative Materials Using Issue
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
• Border security• State financial assistance for criminal aliens• A new H-5A essential worker visa program• Employer verification mandates and penalties for hiring
undocumented workers• A partnership with Mexico to promote economic
opportunities, improved health care access, and encourage re-integration of citizens to their home country
• Family unity• Path to citizenship for H-5 visa holders and their families• Federal reimbursement for hospitals providing emergency
care to undocumented immigrants.
Comprehensive Reform
• Many Targets
• Separate Bill Passed
• Those Here Stay – From Now On KEEP OUT!
• Employers as Immigration Police– Intense Enforcement– Reap Benefits/Pay Costs
Legal Worker Access
• Existing H2B Visa – Unskilled Workers
• Cap of 66,000 (1990)
• Industry Marketing & Government Affairs Committee
• Market-based approach to setting cap
• NWPCA – Lobbying Staff & Members
NWPCA Coalitions & AlliancesSmall Business Health Plans
– U.S. Chamber of Commerce– National Federation of Independent Businesses– National Association of Manufacturers – National Association of Realtors
Permanent Death Tax Repeal – See SBHPU.S. Postal Pallets: NWPCA ISPM 15
– NWPCA Wood Coalition– American Lumber Standards Committee– Hardwood Federation
U.S. Wood Quarantine: NWPCA Worker Access
– Essential Worker Immigration Coalition– U.S. Chamber of Commerce– NWPCA
What Does it Mean to Members?
• Quarantine– Member alert: step-by-step compliance guide– End user alert: member to customer handout– USDA discussions
• US postal service– E-mail confirmation system to USPS and NWPCA– PDS for comparable wood pallets– Ongoing negotiations
• Worker access– Member alert about industry raid– PalletCentral article– Audio PalletCentral interview with I-9 attorney– Seminar in Richmond with I-9 attorney– Seminar in Atlanta at R&R with ICE agents and I-9 attorney– Chief of the Employment Verification System– Seminar with former INS general counsel and former DHS attorney
NWPCA Participation
• Annual Leadership ConferenceFebruary 17-20, 2007
Orlando, Florida
(Committees Feb 16; Board Feb 17)
• Federal Legislative DayApril 17-18, 2007
Washington, D.C.