Taking The Hill
by Stephen B. McDonald, ASA Government Affairs Consultant President Signs Minimum Wage Hike
President Clinton has signed legislation that will increase the hourly minimum wage from $4.25 to $4.75 effective Oct. 1, 1996, and to $5.15 on Sept. 1, 1997. Employers will be able to pay new hires under 20 years of age $4.25 an hour for the first 90 calendar days after the employee is hired. The minimum was last increased in 1989, when a 90-cent boost was approved. The new law is expected to affect an estimated 10 million U.S. workers. In addition to the wage increase, the law contains a provision that increases direct expensing for small businesses making equipment purchases from $17,500 to $25,000.I/M Refund Bill Introduced
Legislation has been introduced in the House by Rep. James Longley, Jr. (R-Maine) that would provide for the refunding of expenses incurred by people in the state of Maine who were required to comply with the automobile emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) program. Under the bill, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would provide a $2.3 million grant to Maine to be administered by that state's governor. The grant would be used to compensate Maine's citizens for the cost associated with testing, repairs and other work performed to comply with I/M requirements.Conference Reaches Agreement On Job Training Bill
House and Senate conferees reached agreement on a bill that would overhaul and consolidate job training programs. Still, the legislation appears to have little chance to be enacted into law. Republican negotiators endorsed a version of the bill that does not contain a $1.3 billion fund for dislocated workers that President Clinton has demanded. It would also repeal school-to-work provisions that the administration strongly supported. Republicans claimed that those programs defeated the purpose of the bill by mandating state priorities.House Committee Approves Small-business Programs
The House Small Business Committee endorsed legislation that would authorize a number of Small Business Administration (SBA) programs through fiscal year 1998. The measure would permit institutions that make non-guaranteed SBA loans to sell them to the government and increase fees that small businesses pay to certified development companies that help them secure SBA loans. The bill would require small business development centers that provide consulting services to new small businesses to locate at colleges and universities, and allow companies harmed by government action to receive disaster assistance.TEAM Act Legislation Vetoed
President Clinton vetoed legislation that would permit businesses to create labor-managed teams to deal with workplace issues. Under the TEAM Act, businesses would have been allowed to form worker-employer teams in non-union shops, selecting both the management and labor members of the team. Labor unions opposed the bill, arguing that it would result in the creation of "sham unions." It is unlikely that Congress will be able to override the veto because the majorities for passage in both chambers was far short of the two-thirds that would be needed.ASA Main Page || AutoInc. Main Page
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AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLIV No. 9, September 1996