Capital Roundup
Jan 1, 2010
| BILL NAME | SUMMARY OF BILL AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU | U.S. CHAMBER'S POSITION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| PERMANENT ESTATE TAX RELIEF H.R. 4154 Permanent Estate Tax Relief For Families, Farmers, and Small Businesses Act of 2009 |
The bill would make permanent the current estate tax exemption of $3.5 million per person and a top rate of 45%. Th e exemption is not indexed for inflation. | The Chamber supports a permanent extension of estate tax law; however, it suggests a top tax rate of 35%, with a $5 million exemption indexed for inflation. Legislation with this exemption and top tax rate would address the uncertainty caused by current estate tax law and provide critical relief for family businesses and farms struggling to grow their businesses and create jobs. | Last Action Voted out of the House December 3, 2009. Next Step Senate Vote |
| SENATE HEALTH CARE REFORM H.R. 3590 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act |
This bill, projected to cost more than $1.2 trillion over 10 years, would greatly increase government involvement in the health sector, create insurance exchanges for individuals and small businesses, and expand Medicaid while subsidizing lower-wage Americans. Beginning in 2014, firms with more than 50 workers would have to offer government-approved coverage or pay a $750 penalty for each full-time employee. The bill would cut Medicare, tax high-value insurance plans, and raise Medicare payroll taxes. | The Chamber is disappointed with this bill because it would greatly expand government control over private enterprises and force businesses to sponsor health benefits or pay steep fines. It would raise taxes and premiums and create a new entitlement to add to the nation’s growing debt. On the positive side, the bill encourages more choice and competition. |
Last Action |
| HOUSE HEALTH CARE REFORM H.R. 3962 Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009 |
This 1,990-page bill would require nearly all Americans to sign up for health coverage by 2013, either through their employers, a government program, or a new exchange. It would create a government-run health insurance plan that would negotiate payment rates with health care providers and require all but the smallest employers to offer health insurance or be assessed a payroll tax. The bill also calls for a surtax on some individuals, small business owners, operators, and investors to help pay for its $894 billion cost over 10 years. | The Chamber opposes this bill because it does not address rising health care costs; fails to lead to more affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care; moves the nation toward government-run health care; and increases taxes. |
Last Action |
| FINANCIAL REGULATORY REFORM H.R. 4173 The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 |
This 1,269 page bill would, among other things, create giant new bureaucracies through the new Consumer Financial Protection Agency and the Financial Services Oversight Council, place heavy burdens on small firms, and limit consumer choice. These new agencies would have sweeping and ill-defined powers to target businesses outside the consumer fi nancial services industry and grant wide-ranging powers to prop up or break up large financial institutions. This bill would also give the SEC the power to issue proxy access rules and mandate advisory say-on-pay votes on executive compensation. | The Chamber agrees that enhanced consumer protection and regulatory reform are needed. However, the passage of H.R. 4173 would have significant and harmful unintended consequences for consumers, businesses, and the overall economy. | Last Action Passed the House December 11, 2009. Next Step Senate Vote |
| TARP DATABASE H.R. 1242 TARP Accountability and Disclosure Act |
Currently, information on TARP funds is spread across multiple federal agencies using incompatible formats, which makes it daunting for government officials or taxpayers to understand how taxpayer funds are being used. This legislation would require the use of existing technologies to create a single publicly available database to track TARP expenditures in near real time. | The Chamber strongly supports accountability and transparency in the TARP program. | Last Action Voted out of the House December 2, 2009. Next Step Senate Vote |
