The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City has developed its issues agenda for 2011. Adopted unanimously by the LMC Board of Directors, which is comprised equally of representatives from management and from labor, the positions reflect input from the Issues and Construction Industry Committees as well as the LMC membership.
Many of the positions have been held for several years, but two emerging issues will gain the focus of the LMC and our business, labor and government members: supporting the Kansas City, Mo., earnings tax renewal vote April 5, and opposing legislation in Missouri to impose "right-to-work." We will also be closely watching consideration of needed changes to unemployment compensation and workers' compensation and will weigh in as specific proposals develop and we find consensus among our members.
Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Thanks for your time and look for information soon on our annual Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner April 14.
The positions:
Federal
•Support construction of a downtown Kansas City, Mo. federal office building
Watch List:
•Oppose a benefits tax in federal health care reform did include a benefits tax.
•Any future stimulus funds include significant vertical construction projects
Missouri
•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives. While the LMC supports ensuring that tax credits and other incentives are cost effective, we want to preserve those tax credits crucial to economic development such as the historic tax credit, tax increment financing, the tax credit for the Three Trails project and similar programs. The LMC also supports enhancing the Quality Jobs program. The LMC also supports enhanced education and training tax credits, as long as those programs include existing construction apprenticeship and journeyman training programs. Evaluation of projects supported by the Quality Jobs Act and other tax credit programs should include the impact of construction jobs created by the programs.
•The LMC opposes Missouri Senate Bill 1, “right-to-work.”
•The LMC supports Gov. Nixon’s task for on the automotive industry in Missouri, and encourages the Task Force also consider the General Motors Fairfax plant in its plans as Missouri workers and businesses are involved with that plant as well.
•The LMC supports restoration of Medicaid funding (Missouri) to its level before the cuts of 2005.
•The LMC supports restoration of Missouri programs that foster economic development and provide critical services such as Medicaid, education, the arts, childcare subsidies for working parents and others.
•The LMC supports state funding for a comprehensive transportation plan.
•The LMC supports Prevailing Wage in its present form.
•The LMC opposes TABOR (taxpayer bill of rights).
•The LMC endorses retention of the Missouri Plan for judicial selection and the similar policy that exists in Kansas.
•The LMC opposes the “Missouri Civil Rights Initiative” that would ban affirmative action programs and is attempting to gather signatures to get on the ballot.
•The LMC supports development of a statutory framework for public employee collective bargaining in Missouri to reduce uncertainty for workers and for public employers.
Watch: Unemployment Insurance, Workers Compensation
Kansas
•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives.
•The LMC supports funding for a comprehensive transportation plan.
•The LMC opposes immigration reform proposals that would put the burden of I-9 verification on contractors for subcontractors. Verification responsibility should fall only on the direct employer of those workers.
Watch: Kansas “driveway” tax (proposed requirement for impact study if increasing user fees)
Local
•The LMC opposes elimination of the Kansas City, Mo. city earnings tax until an alternative is in place.
Watch: Bidding practices in local governments, particularly regarding design build in KCMO and Johnson County (KS), KCMO Development Code, Jackson County implementation of PACE.
Federal
•Support construction of a downtown Kansas City, Mo. federal office building
Watch List:
•Oppose a benefits tax in federal health care reform did include a benefits tax.
•Any future stimulus funds include significant vertical construction projects
Missouri
•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives. While the LMC supports ensuring that tax credits and other incentives are cost effective, we want to preserve those tax credits crucial to economic development such as the historic tax credit, tax increment financing, the tax credit for the Three Trails project and similar programs. The LMC also supports enhancing the Quality Jobs program. The LMC also supports enhanced education and training tax credits, as long as those programs include existing construction apprenticeship and journeyman training programs. Evaluation of projects supported by the Quality Jobs Act and other tax credit programs should include the impact of construction jobs created by the programs.
•The LMC opposes Missouri Senate Bill 1, “right-to-work.”
•The LMC supports Gov.. Nixon’s task for on the automotive industry in Missouri, and encourages the Task Force also consider the General Motors Fairfax plant in its plans as Missouri workers and businesses are involved with that plant as well.
•The LMC supports restoration of Medicaid funding (Missouri) to its level before the cuts of 2005.
•The LMC supports restoration of Missouri programs that foster economic development and provide critical services such as Medicaid, education, the arts, childcare subsidies for working parents and others.
•The LMC supports state funding for a comprehensive transportation plan.
•The LMC supports Prevailing Wage in its present form.
•The LMC opposes TABOR (taxpayer bill of rights).
•The LMC endorses retention of the Missouri Plan for judicial selection and the similar policy that exists in Kansas.
•The LMC opposes the “Missouri Civil Rights Initiative” that would ban affirmative action programs and is attempting to gather signatures to get on the ballot.
•The LMC supports development of a statutory framework for public employee collective bargaining in Missouri to reduce uncertainty for workers and for public employers.
Watch: Unemployment Insurance, Workers Compensation
Kansas
•The LMC supports reasonable and effective economic development incentives.
•The LMC supports funding for a comprehensive transportation plan.
•The LMC opposes immigration reform proposals that would put the burden of I-9 verification on contractors for subcontractors. Verification responsibility should fall only on the direct employer of those workers.
Watch: Kansas “driveway” tax (proposed requirement for impact study if increasing user fees)
Bob Jacobi
Executive Director
Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City
(816) 501-4565; fax 501-3198
[email protected]
http://labormanagementkc.typepad.com
Note: We understand that a hearing on Missouri SB 1 will be held Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 3 p.m. in the Senate General Laws Committee.
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