Legislative Calendar Dwindles as Mid-Term Election Approaches

With possibly only one legislative week left and 40 days before the November 2 election, both parties are positioning themselves to address major outstanding issues during a lame duck session of Congress. However, today the House did pass a Small Business Jobs Bill that provides construction incentives and business relief, and it now goes to President Obama for his signature.  In the Senate, a campaign finance bill, the DISCLOSE Act, was rejected for the second time in three months. AGC opposed the bill and is considering it a Key Vote in its annual scorecard because the legislation will restrict free speech, increase confusion about campaign finance law and would not treat all participants in the political process equally (treats corporations and trade associations differently than labor unions).   This week Senate Democrats failed to deliver on two major Election Day issues: the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and the DREAM Act, which would allow a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants brought into this country as minors by their parents if they are paying taxes, attending college or serving in the U.S. military. The expiring 2001 and 2003 tax cuts remain a controversial issue. Efforts to extend the tax cuts for the middle class only have broken down within the Democratic Party and it appears ever more likely that the issue will have to be resolved after the election, and prior to their expiration on December 31. Another major piece of legislation outstanding is a bill to fund the federal government after September 30. Congress has been unable to pass the annual FY11 appropriations bills and a must-pass stopgap bill will likely be necessary. The bill is expected to be a short-term extension and avoid including controversial policy goals. The short-term extension would require Congress to come back after the election to continue to fund the federal government. AGC continues to urge Congress and the White House to finish work on long-term transportation and water infrastructure spending bills, and keep income tax rates (especially the death tax) from soaring to help construction industry employment recover from millions of lost jobs. This action is expected during the few legislative days before the election or during a lame duck session. AGC believes the stopgap funding for transportation isn't providing the certainty companies need for hiring and growing. In addition, the prospect of a leap in taxes is deterring private investment.