Below is a short summary of the 15 legislative issues on which House members were scored and the NAM's position on each one. In the chart, a plus means the member voted for the NAM on that issue, a negative sign means a no vote. The numbers in the top line of the chart correspond to the issues below:

1. Product Liability Statute of Repose (H.R. 2005) A bill to set a national, uniform 18-year statue of repose for workplace durable goods covered under federal worker compensation law. Approved 222-194 on Feb. 2. NAM POSITION: Yes.

2 - Small Business Product Liability (H.R. 2366), a bill to establish national standards for punitive damages in product liability suits affecting small businesses. Key provisions would: cap punitive damages for small firms (fewer than 25 workers); raise the standard of proof for awarding punitive damages to “clear and convincing” evidence; discourage trial lawyer forum shopping; and more. Approved 221-193 on Feb. 16 NAM POSITION: Yes.

3 - Small Business Tax Incentives (H.R. 3081), legislation that included key pro-growth tax incentives, including: simplified pension rules; estate tax relief; and a repeal of the 1999 tax increase on those who sell their firms on an installment plan. Approved 257-169 on March 9. NAM POSITION: Yes.

4. Minimum Wage Increase (Traficant Amendment to H.R. 3846) amendment to increase the minimum wage by $1 over two years. Approved 246-179 on March 9. Concerned that a wage increase would reduce the growth of entry-level jobs and impede the transition from welfare to work, the NAM opposed the amendment. NAM POSITION: No.

5. Nuclear Waste Storage (S. 1287), legislation that would provide for the storage of spent nuclear fuel pending completion of the nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, NV. Approved 253-167 on March 22. NAM POSITION: Yes.

6. FY 2001 Budget Resolution (H.Con. Res. 290), the non-binding FY 2001 budget resolution, which sets broad spending and revenue targets for the next five years. Approved 211-207 on March 23. NAM POSITION: Yes.

7. Tax Limitation Constitutional Amendment (H.J. Res. 94), proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require a two-thirds majority in Congress to raise taxes. The vote was 234-192, 50 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass a constitutional amendment, on April 12. NAM POSITION: Yes.

8. China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (H.R. 4444), legislation granting permanent normal trade relations to China, significantly reducing tariffs on U.S. exports and opening key new markets to U.S. companies. Approved 237-197 on May 25. NAM POSITION: Yes.

9. OSHA Ergonomics Regulation (Traficant Amendment to H.R. 4577) amendment to the FY 2001 Labor-HHS spending bill, H.R. 4577. Amendment sought to strike NAM-supported Northup (R-KY)language prohibiting OSHA funding for purposes of advancing or finalizing its ergonomics regulation in FY 2001. Rejected 220-203 on June 8. NAM POSITION: No.

10. Death Tax Repeal (H.R. 8) legislation to phase out estate taxes. Estate tax rates as high as 55 percent force the sale of many family-owned small manufacturing companies upon the owner’s death. Approved 279-136 on June 9. NAM POSITION: Yes.

11. Blocking EPA Non-Attainment Designations (Collins Amendment to H.R. 4635) Vote on a Collins (R-GA) amendment to the VA-HUD appropriations bill that would prevent EPA from forcing states to declare more than 600 U.S. counties in violation of EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standard's (NAAQS) 8-hour ozone rule until the Supreme Court rules on the issue. Approved 226-199 on June 21. The NAM, which challenged the NAAQS in federal court, supported the amendment. NAM POSITION: Yes.

12. Climate Change Regulations (Olver Kyoto Protocol Amendment to C-J-S Appropriations Bill) Vote on an Olver (D-MA) amendment to H.R. 4690, the FY 2001 Commerce-Justice-State Depts. appropriations bill. Amendment would essentially nullify bill's NAM-supported Knollenberg (R-MI) language, which would prevent agencies from implementing via regulations the flawed 1997 Kyoto climate change treaty before it has been ratified by the Senate. Approved 217-181 on June 26. NAM POSITION. No.

13. Doctors' Cartels (H.R. 1304), legislation that would give collective-bargaining rights to physicians who contract with health plans. Approved 276-136 (2 voting present) on June 30. The NAM and the Administration opposed the scheme, which could result in price fixing, group boycotts of health-plan networks and higher health premiums. NAM POSITION: No.

14. Pension Reform (H.R. 1102), a pension reform bill easing top-heavy rules and eliminating user fees that prevent many small companies from offering pension benefits. Approved 401-25 on July 19. NAM POSITION: Yes.

15. Blacklisting (Amendment to Treasury/Postal Spending Bill) amendment to the Treasury/Postal spending bill that would block implementation of the Administration's contractor blacklisting regulations until a GAO study on whether they're justified can be completed. Approved 228-190 on July 20.


How Your Lawmakers Voted in the 106th Congress
2nd Session, U.S. Senate

The National Association of Manufacturers has issued its annual report card on the voting records of members of Congress, including North Carolina's two members of the U.S. Senate. The NAM scored the lawmakers on how they voted on seven big issues that were at the top of national association's legislative agenda. NCCBI is the state affiliate of the NAM.

North Carolina's senior senator, Republican Sen. Jesse Helms, voted for the NAM position on six of the seven issues. The state's junior senator, Democrat John Edwards, who reportedly was highly considered as Al Gore's running mate, voted with the NAM side on two of the seven issues, as shown in the chart below:

Here is a brief description of the issues on which the NAM scored each member of the U.S. Senate. In the chart, a plus means the member voted for the NAM on that issue, a negative sign means a no vote. The numbers in the top line of the chart correspond to the issues below:

1. Nuclear Waste Storage (S. 1287), legislation that would provide for the storage of spent nuclear fuel pending completion of the nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, NV. Approved 64-34 on Feb. 10. NAM POSITION: Yes.

2. FY 2001 Budget Resolution (H.Con. Res. 290), the non-binding FY 2001 budget resolution, which sets broad spending and revenue targets for the next five years. Approved 51-45 on April 7. NAM POSITION: Yes.

3. Nuclear Waste Storage (Effort to Override Veto of S. 1287), legislation to ensure the safe storage of nuclear waste. Vote on May 2 was 64-35, three votes short of the two-thirds majority required to override the veto. NAM POSITION: Yes.

4. Patients' Bill of Rights (Motion to Table Daschle Amendment to S. 2549) Motion to table a Daschle (D-SD) amendment to the FY 2001 defense authorization bill. Amendment would have left employers who offer health benefits to workers exposed to medical malpractice/personal injury lawsuits and increased the government's role in the health care system. Tabling motion was approved, and amendment rejected, 51-48 on June 8. The NAM opposed the amendment and supported the tabling motion. NAM POSITION: Yes.

5. Ban on OSHA Ergonomics Regulation (Enzi Amendment to Labor-HHS spending bill) Vote on an Enzi (R-WY) amendment to the Labor-HHS spending bill that would prohibit OSHA funding in FY 2001 for advancing or finalizing an ergonomics regulation. Approved 57-41 on June 22. NAM POSITION: Yes.

6. Death Tax Repeal (H.R. 8) Vote on H.R. 8, legislation to phase out the death tax. Estate tax rates as high as 55 percent force the sale of many family-owned small manufacturing companies upon the owner's death. Approved 59-39 on July 14. NAM POSITION: Yes.

7. China PNTR (Motion to Proceed to H.R. 4444) Vote on a motion to proceed to H.R. 4444, legislation granting China permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status, significantly reducing tariffs on U.S. exports and opening new markets to U.S. companies. Procedural vote required 60 votes to proceed to debate on the bill. Approved 86-12 on July 27. NAM POSITION: Yes.


NCCBI Committee Meetings

The NCCBI Transportation Committee will meet from 2-4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, in the NCCBI board room. The major focus of the meeting will be discussion of amending, deleting from or adding to the NCCBI position statements in the area of transportation. Sen. Wib Gulley (D-Durham), chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, will provide his insight on transportation top topics for the 2001 legislative session.

The NCCBI Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee will be from 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, in the NCCBI board room. The major focus of the meeting will be discussion of amending, deleting from or adding to the NCCBI position statements in the area of tax and fiscal policy. David Crotts, senior fiscal analyst in the N.C. General Assembly's Fiscal Research Division, will give an overview of the state budget, discuss state revenue projections and the goals of the Tax Policy Commission

The NCCBI Health Care Committee will meet from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, in the NCCBI board room. The major focus of the meeting will be discussion of amending, deleting or adding to the NCCBI position statements in the area of health care. At the meeting there will be brief updates from representatives of the N.C. Medical Society, the N.C. Hospital Association and the N.C. Association of Health Plans. These representatiuves will recap significant legislation from the last legislative session and will discuss anticipated hot topics for next year's session.


Other Important Meetings

The Charlotte Convention & Visitors Bureau will hold its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Marriott City Center.

The N.C. Association of Community College Trustees will hold its annual Leadership Seminar on Sept. 7-8 at the Sheraton Imperial in Research Triangle Park. John Davis, executive director of NC FREE, will speak at the Thursday luncheon and NCCBI President Phil Kirk will be the Thursday dinner speaker. Community Colleges Presdent Martin Lancaster will be the Friday breakfast speaker. The seminar concludes Friday, Sept. 8, with a luncheon address by Carmen Buell Hooker, widow of former UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Michael Hooker. For more information, call Helen Dowdy at 919-467-9754.

NC FREE is conducting several regional meetings. September meetings are: Asheville, Sept. 26, Radisson Hotel; Hickory, Sept. 27, Gateway Center; Charlotte, Sept. 28, Sheraton Airport; Greensboro, Sept. 29, Marriott Airport. All the meetings are from 9-11 a.m.


Names in the News

Gordon W. Clapp, executive director of the N.C. Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, was named State Tourism Director of the Year by the National Council of State Tourism Directors. Under Clapp's stewardship North Carolina's tourism sector has grown to a $12 billion-a-year industry. The award was for Clapp's successful "branding" for the state's new travel theme: "North Carolina, A Better Place to Be." Clapp has led the state travel agency since 1995, and plans to retire later this fall after a 28-year career.

H. Allen Andrew, the long-time president of U.S. Label Corp. in Greensboro, donated $10,000 to the Capital Campaign of the N.C. Community Colleges Foundation. Andrew is a member of the N.C. Community College Foundation Board, which is headed by Steve Zelnak of Martin Marietta Materials in Raleigh. Andrew is a member of the NCCBI Board of Directors and Zelnak is a past chairman.

Bill McCanless, CEO of Food Lion LLC and CEO of parent Delhaize America Inc., has assumed the additional title of president of the grocery store chain, Delhaize America announced. Also, Richard A. Anicetti, a 20-year food retailing veteran, was named executive vice president and COO of the unit. The announcement came after the decision by Food Lion President and COO Jospeh C. Hall to take early retirement from the unit and the Delhaize American board of directors. Anicetti, 42, previously was executive vice president of Hannaford's Southeastern Divsion. Delhaize recently merged its Food Lion unit with Hannaford.

Tim Kent, who has led the N.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for 10 years, leaves to become executive vice president of the N.C. Association of Realtors, effective Oct.1. The Realtors Association has 23,000 members and a staff of 17 at its Greensboro headquarters, and is the third largest corporate or association PAC in the state, according to a 1998 analysis by N.C. FREE. NCAR also has a government relations office in Raleigh, directed by Stephanie Mansur. Before joining NC AIA, Kent was executive assistant to House Speaker Joe Mavretic in 1989-90 and before that spent 13 years as a TV reporter and anchor, including five years at WRAL-TV.

Halifax County Manager Charles Archer was selected chairman of the county managers group of N.C.'s Northeast Partnership. He will serve as a liaison between the managers and the partnership's board and staff. The Northeast Partnership covers Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington counties.

Pender County Republican Al Freimark, a retired Kodak executive, said he will make a third try at unseating Rep. Edd Nye (D-Bladen) in the 96th House District. Freimark was named by Republican Party officials to replace Republican candidate Joy Barbour, who withdrew forfamily and personal reasons.

Carteret County has been selected as one of the best places in the country in which to retire by The Searchers, a St. Louis-based data research and information provider. Quality of life, taxes, crime rate and affordability of housing were among the criteria used in selecting the Beauford-Morehead City area for the recognition.

Buck Lattimore, a native of Cleveland County, was appointed by Gov. Jim Hunt as chairman of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. The Industrial Commission administers the Workers' Compensation Act for all employees and employers in the state and also has jurisdiction over tort claims against the state and claims by families of law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and rescue squad workers. Lattimore has served as the Industrial Commission's Administrator since 1994, where he was the agency's COO. Prior to joining the Industrial Commission, Lattimore served as Deputy Commissioner of Insurance and also served as Assistant Chief for Operations for the Certificate of Need Program in the Department of Human Resources. In addition to Lattimore, whose term will expire June 2006, Hunt also made the following reappointments:
* Bernadine Ballance to a term expiring June 2006;
* Laura Mavretic to a term expiring April 2005;
* Dianne Sellers to a term expiring April 2001.