Among other recommendations, SEMA is urging lawmakers to exempt small businesses from providing employer-mandated healthcare.

The Senate Finance Committee is considering over 500 amendments to a draft bill unveiled last week to address health care reform. SEMA has urged lawmakers to address deficiencies identified during the August debates, such as a need to pursue incremental reform, tackle the root causes of skyrocketing premiums, preserve the private market, and maintain fiscal responsibility.

The Finance Committee action follows President Obama’s speech to Congress which identified a number of elements that a bill must include to address skyrocketing premiums without adding to the federal deficit.

Many of those elements closely match recommendations put forth in SEMA’s August 4 letter to the President. Examples include an exemption for most small businesses from employer mandates; a reliance on the private sector insurance system; small business access to regional or nationwide purchasing pools (called “exchanges”) and tort reform.

SEMA and others in the small business community are now urging lawmakers to include these elements in the legislation.

House Democrats continue their work to combine legislation passed by three Committees into a single bill to be considered on the House floor. The process could occur before or after there is a vote on a Senate bill. If both chambers pass a bill, the legislation would proceed to a conference committee to be melded into a single version.

A health care advisory group comprised of SEMA members familiar with the reform debate is helping formulate the association’s position on issues confronting Congress. SEMA’s advocacy efforts are also coordinated with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare.

For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Among other recommendations, SEMA is urging lawmakers to exempt small businesses from providing employer-mandated healthcare.

The Senate Finance Committee is considering over 500 amendments to a draft bill unveiled last week to address health care reform. SEMA has urged lawmakers to address deficiencies identified during the August debates, such as a need to pursue incremental reform, tackle the root causes of skyrocketing premiums, preserve the private market, and maintain fiscal responsibility.

The Finance Committee action follows President Obama’s speech to Congress which identified a number of elements that a bill must include to address skyrocketing premiums without adding to the federal deficit.

Many of those elements closely match recommendations put forth in SEMA’s August 4 letter to the President. Examples include an exemption for most small businesses from employer mandates; a reliance on the private sector insurance system; small business access to regional or nationwide purchasing pools (called “exchanges”) and tort reform.

SEMA and others in the small business community are now urging lawmakers to include these elements in the legislation.

House Democrats continue their work to combine legislation passed by three Committees into a single bill to be considered on the House floor. The process could occur before or after there is a vote on a Senate bill. If both chambers pass a bill, the legislation would proceed to a conference committee to be melded into a single version.

A health care advisory group comprised of SEMA members familiar with the reform debate is helping formulate the association’s position on issues confronting Congress. SEMA’s advocacy efforts are also coordinated with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare.

For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Among other recommendations, SEMA is urging lawmakers to exempt small businesses from providing employer-mandated healthcare.

The Senate Finance Committee is considering over 500 amendments to a draft bill unveiled last week to address health care reform. SEMA has urged lawmakers to address deficiencies identified during the August debates, such as a need to pursue incremental reform, tackle the root causes of skyrocketing premiums, preserve the private market, and maintain fiscal responsibility.

The Finance Committee action follows President Obama’s speech to Congress which identified a number of elements that a bill must include to address skyrocketing premiums without adding to the federal deficit.

Many of those elements closely match recommendations put forth in SEMA’s August 4 letter to the President. Examples include an exemption for most small businesses from employer mandates; a reliance on the private sector insurance system; small business access to regional or nationwide purchasing pools (called “exchanges”) and tort reform.

SEMA and others in the small business community are now urging lawmakers to include these elements in the legislation.

House Democrats continue their work to combine legislation passed by three Committees into a single bill to be considered on the House floor. The process could occur before or after there is a vote on a Senate bill. If both chambers pass a bill, the legislation would proceed to a conference committee to be melded into a single version.

A health care advisory group comprised of SEMA members familiar with the reform debate is helping formulate the association’s position on issues confronting Congress. SEMA’s advocacy efforts are also coordinated with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare.

For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Among other recommendations, SEMA is urging lawmakers to exempt small businesses from providing employer-mandated healthcare.

The Senate Finance Committee is considering over 500 amendments to a draft bill unveiled last week to address health care reform. SEMA has urged lawmakers to address deficiencies identified during the August debates, such as a need to pursue incremental reform, tackle the root causes of skyrocketing premiums, preserve the private market, and maintain fiscal responsibility.

The Finance Committee action follows President Obama’s speech to Congress which identified a number of elements that a bill must include to address skyrocketing premiums without adding to the federal deficit.

Many of those elements closely match recommendations put forth in SEMA’s August 4 letter to the President. Examples include an exemption for most small businesses from employer mandates; a reliance on the private sector insurance system; small business access to regional or nationwide purchasing pools (called “exchanges”) and tort reform.

SEMA and others in the small business community are now urging lawmakers to include these elements in the legislation.

House Democrats continue their work to combine legislation passed by three Committees into a single bill to be considered on the House floor. The process could occur before or after there is a vote on a Senate bill. If both chambers pass a bill, the legislation would proceed to a conference committee to be melded into a single version.

A health care advisory group comprised of SEMA members familiar with the reform debate is helping formulate the association’s position on issues confronting Congress. SEMA’s advocacy efforts are also coordinated with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare.

For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

	The NHTSA and EPA drafted regulations to increase fuel economy and reduce CO2 for model year 2012-2016 cars and trucks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued draft regulations to implement new fuel-economy standards for model year 2012-2016 cars/trucks, and simultaneously reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through a national standard.

The Obama Administration announced this approach last spring as a mechanism to end years of debate between California, the federal government and the automakers over who can regulate CO2 emissions.

The federal standards are harmonized with those previously adopted by California and 13 other states. The average CAFE rating will be 35.5 mpg in 2016, based on a combined 39 MPG rating for passenger cars and 30 mpg for light trucks. The EPA will set a CO2 emissions standard of 250 grams per mile for vehicles sold in 2016, roughly equivalent to 35.5 MPG.

The final regulations must be issued by March 31, 2010 so as to apply to MY 2012 vehicles. SEMA is reviewing the draft CO2 rules to see how they would apply to the aftermarket. The automakers view the standards as being achievable and, with SEMA, support a national approach to fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

SEMA is urging lawmakers to make permanent changes that will limit the government's take on estate taxes.

SEMA joined with a number of other associations in forming the “Permanent Estate Tax Relief Now Coalition." The Coalition is urging Congress to pass legislation which makes permanent the current exemption rate of $3.5 million/individual ($7 million/couple). Monies beyond that amount are taxed at 45 percent.

Under President Bush’s tax cut of 2001, the so-called “death tax” is being gradually phased-out by 2010. It will reappear under its previous 55% tax rate on anything above $1 million in 2011, however, unless lawmakers change the law.

Although the topic has been debated for years, lawmakers have yet to find a permanent solution. There is a chance that the taxes could remain at the highest levels after 2011 given the growing federal deficit. The Coalition believes the current rates would allow small-business owners to maintain family-run businesses without being forced to sell the company to pay estate taxes. Additionally, it would provide certainty when making estate tax planning decisions.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

SEMA is urging lawmakers to make permanent changes that will limit the government's take on estate taxes.

SEMA joined with a number of other associations in forming the “Permanent Estate Tax Relief Now Coalition." The Coalition is urging Congress to pass legislation which makes permanent the current exemption rate of $3.5 million/individual ($7 million/couple). Monies beyond that amount are taxed at 45 percent.

Under President Bush’s tax cut of 2001, the so-called “death tax” is being gradually phased-out by 2010. It will reappear under its previous 55% tax rate on anything above $1 million in 2011, however, unless lawmakers change the law.

Although the topic has been debated for years, lawmakers have yet to find a permanent solution. There is a chance that the taxes could remain at the highest levels after 2011 given the growing federal deficit. The Coalition believes the current rates would allow small-business owners to maintain family-run businesses without being forced to sell the company to pay estate taxes. Additionally, it would provide certainty when making estate tax planning decisions.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

SEMA is urging lawmakers to make permanent changes that will limit the government's take on estate taxes.

SEMA joined with a number of other associations in forming the “Permanent Estate Tax Relief Now Coalition." The Coalition is urging Congress to pass legislation which makes permanent the current exemption rate of $3.5 million/individual ($7 million/couple). Monies beyond that amount are taxed at 45 percent.

Under President Bush’s tax cut of 2001, the so-called “death tax” is being gradually phased-out by 2010. It will reappear under its previous 55% tax rate on anything above $1 million in 2011, however, unless lawmakers change the law.

Although the topic has been debated for years, lawmakers have yet to find a permanent solution. There is a chance that the taxes could remain at the highest levels after 2011 given the growing federal deficit. The Coalition believes the current rates would allow small-business owners to maintain family-run businesses without being forced to sell the company to pay estate taxes. Additionally, it would provide certainty when making estate tax planning decisions.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

SEMA is urging lawmakers to make permanent changes that will limit the government's take on estate taxes.

SEMA joined with a number of other associations in forming the “Permanent Estate Tax Relief Now Coalition." The Coalition is urging Congress to pass legislation which makes permanent the current exemption rate of $3.5 million/individual ($7 million/couple). Monies beyond that amount are taxed at 45 percent.

Under President Bush’s tax cut of 2001, the so-called “death tax” is being gradually phased-out by 2010. It will reappear under its previous 55% tax rate on anything above $1 million in 2011, however, unless lawmakers change the law.

Although the topic has been debated for years, lawmakers have yet to find a permanent solution. There is a chance that the taxes could remain at the highest levels after 2011 given the growing federal deficit. The Coalition believes the current rates would allow small-business owners to maintain family-run businesses without being forced to sell the company to pay estate taxes. Additionally, it would provide certainty when making estate tax planning decisions.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

SEMA is urging lawmakers to make permanent changes that will limit the government's take on estate taxes.

SEMA joined with a number of other associations in forming the “Permanent Estate Tax Relief Now Coalition." The Coalition is urging Congress to pass legislation which makes permanent the current exemption rate of $3.5 million/individual ($7 million/couple). Monies beyond that amount are taxed at 45 percent.

Under President Bush’s tax cut of 2001, the so-called “death tax” is being gradually phased-out by 2010. It will reappear under its previous 55% tax rate on anything above $1 million in 2011, however, unless lawmakers change the law.

Although the topic has been debated for years, lawmakers have yet to find a permanent solution. There is a chance that the taxes could remain at the highest levels after 2011 given the growing federal deficit. The Coalition believes the current rates would allow small-business owners to maintain family-run businesses without being forced to sell the company to pay estate taxes. Additionally, it would provide certainty when making estate tax planning decisions.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.