|
2012 Legislative Priorities
|
Labor Issues
|
|
Project Labor Agreements (PLAs)
PLAs on federal contracts require contractors to agree to collective bargaining and union hiring. PLAs increase costs by limiting competition for federally-funded projects. Executive Order 13502, signed by President Obama in early 2009, encourages federal agencies to use PLAs. IEC opposes the use of union-only PLAs and supports the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act (H.R. 735/S.119) and any effort to ensure open competition on federal construction projects.
|
|
Davis-Bacon Act
The Davis-Bacon Act is a Depression-era law that requires the payment of the locally prevailing wage on all federally-funded construction projects. Due to inefficiencies and inaccuracies with the program, the federal prevailing rates are often the local union rates and not the prevailing market wage rates. Davis-Bacon increases costs on federal construction projects by requiring the use of system that is inefficient and inaccurate, and limits competition due to its significant paperwork and reporting requirements. IEC supports efforts to repeal Davis-Bacon. IEC will also continue to push for updating federal prevailing wage laws.
|
|
Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act
The Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act (H.R. 3094) would combat the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) proposed rule for ambush union elections that would drastically shorten the time employers have to present their case as well as the time for employees to ask questions and make an educated vote.
Introduced by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), H.R. 3094 provides employers at least 14 days to prepare their case and no election will be held in no less than 35 days, allowing workers the ability to make a fully informed decision. IEC supports the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act and the right to fair union elections.
|
|
Secret Ballot Protection Act
The Secret Ballot Protection Act (SBPA) would amend the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to make it an unfair labor practice for an employer to recognize or bargain collectively with a labor organization that has not been elected by a majority of the employees in a secret ballot election. Currently, the NLRA requires a government-supervised secret ballot election to recognize a union as a collective bargaining unit once the union has collected authorization cards signed by 30% of the employees. An employer may also choose to recognize the union based on presentation of a majority of employee-signed union authorization cards. IEC strongly supports the Secret Ballot Protection Act (H.R. 972/S. 217) and any effort to guarantee employees the right to a secret ballot.
|
Energy and Tax Issues
|
|
Death Tax
The federal Estate Tax, commonly referred to as the Death Tax, is a tax on the estate of a deceased person and is a major hurdle in passing down family owned small businesses to future generations. As part of a larger tax package signed into law in December 2010, the death tax was re-instituted for 2011 and 2012 at a top rate of 35% and an exclusion amount of $5 million. IEC opposes this double taxation and will continue to support efforts to permanently repeal the Death Tax (H.R. 123, H.R. 143).
Energy Policy
It is critical over the next decade that investments be made in our energy infrastructure and in delivery of alternative and renewable energy sources to meet the ever growing demand for energy. IEC supports expanding incentives for renewable energy including emphasis on solar and wind technologies, and supports reducing the recovery period for investment in electricity transmission lines and smart grid devices from 20 years to 10years.
Commercial Building Tax Deduction
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 set a precedent by containing a market transformation incentive in the form of a tax deduction for owner investments in commercial building energy efficiency (179D). The deduction is equal to energy-efficient commercial building property expenditures made by the taxpayer, subject to a cap. The deduction is limited to an amount equal to $1.80 per square foot of the property for which such expenditures are made. IEC supports extending the deduction beyond 2013, and increasing the deduction from $1.80 to $3.00 per square foot. IEC also supports extending tax deduction beyond 2013 and including specific lighting technologies and for other technologies that improve building energy performance.
|
Jobs and Workforce Development
|
|
Green Jobs Act
The Green Jobs Act was enacted as part of the Energy Bill signed into law in December 2007. The Green Jobs Act established grants for training programs targeted at creating an efficient energy and renewable energy skilled workforce. However, the Green Jobs Act limits eligibility to entities who are partnered with a labor organization. IEC supports efforts to open up Green Jobs Act funding to all approved training programs.
Pathways Back to Work Act of 2011
The Pathways Back to Work Act, introduced last month aims at providing significant investments in employment and job training for unemployed and low-income adults, as well as youth. This act would authorize $5 billion in federal funding to: States for subsidized employment programs for low-income and unemployed adults; support for summer and year-round employment for low-income youth; and funding for competitive grants to local partnerships to carry out training to low-income and unemployed adults and youth. IEC supports investment in workforce training and development.
|
