Report Card 2014 Legislative Session HOUSE
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www.bipec.org www.bipec.org Jackson, MS 39225 MS Jackson, P.O. Box 23021 Box P.O. Jackson, MS 39202 MS Jackson, Economic Growth Issues Growth Economic 825 N. President Street President N. 825 Vote on Business, Jobs and Jobs Business, on Vote How Mississippi Legislators Mississippi How Legislative Session Legislative 2014 Report Card Report Legislator “Business & Jobs” Jobs” & “Business Legislator Economic Growth Issues Growth Economic Vote on Business, Jobs and Jobs Business, on Vote How Mississippi Legislators Mississippi How why it’s important — BIPEC 2014 Legislator details about the evaluation process “Business & JOBS” Score Card How to use the BIPEC Legislative Jobs Report Card? bills and action card In 1980, the Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) was founded by Vote House Business/Jobs Senate Mississippi’s business and professional leaders to supply needed political research information. Bill Description Key Votes Vote Votes Founders wanted credible information to identify legislative candidates who understood HB 641 Commercial driver’s license; enhances the efficiency of regulatory A 121-0 yes 51-0 needs and concerns of employers…these employers are the people who take risks to create personnel management practices and productivity for trucking industry by jobs, stimulate our economy and give back to communities! Use this guide to determine and providing/allowing the electronic exchange of driver medical cards assess your legislator’s support of the employers who provide the jobs our state needs to thrive. HB 680 Product liability; amends product liability law to include the “designers” B 111-7 yes 52-0 Our objective is to assist with the constituent/voters quest for legislative accountability and of a product; strengthens “tort reform” measures by protecting designers transparency. Please visit www.bipec.org for additional information and for links to various from frivolous litigation other resources that will help you to seek accountability from your elected officials. HB 785 Income tax; authorizes/incentivizes a tax credit for costs paid by a company C 109-8 yes 51-1 What are the five performance levels? in relocating their national or regional headquarters to Mississippi Lawmakers are given one of five performance grades. Each grade indicates to business leaders HB 799 Taxation; The “MS Taxpayer Fairness Act” strengthens MS’s pro-business D 120-1 yes 40-9 how, in general, legislators support economic growth, jobs and other broad job-related issues. tax climate by providing definitive standards for using/determining Business Champion A alternative tax liability methods, allows for contesting/appeal of adverse Strong Business Support B tax rulings without the burden of bond expenses, and clarifies the tax appeals process Average Business Support C Below Average Business Support D SB 2065 Corp. franchise tax law; this bill excludes deferred gains and income from E 121-0 yes 51-0 Failing Business Support F the computation of capital, paid-in capital, surplus, and retained earnings while removing the requirement that treasury stock must be purchased What does a performance evaluation mean? with corporate earnings in order for the cost of the stock to be utilized to BIPEC’s performance evaluation is a measuring stick used to determine each legislator’s reduce capital - this state tax change is comparable with federal tax treatment business philosophy, attitude and effectiveness in supporting the growth/enhancement of SB 2378 MS Uniform Construction Code; adopts recognized building codes/ F 102-17 yes 51-0 jobs in Mississippi. The BIPEC “Business & Jobs” grade is composed of two parts, the objective standards in accordance with the International Building Code and portion, which is reflective of the selected votes legislators cast and detailed with the enclosed strengthens the MS Building Code Council “vote key”, and the subjective portion, which is used to measure the non-voting actions of the SB 2473 The “Prohibition Against Employer Intimidation Act”; prohibits a person, G 69-52 yes 38-14 legislator. organization, union, or other entity from damaging, harming, or threatening to harm/coerce/intimidate a business or their employees from exercising Over 35 business and professional leaders participate in the rating process. Key factors of the their legal rights, in an attempt to obtain something of value (i.e. neutrality assessment are: agreement, card check agreement, collective bargaining recognition) for • Legislator’s votes on clearly identified economic principles and employer issues a union, corporation, or other organization • Leadership in committee and floor debates on job-related issues SB 2653 Labor unions; prohibits an organized effort to use picketing and the use of H 68 - 53 yes 37 -15 • Encouragement of other legislators to support economic growth and build coalitions obstacles to block a business’ ingress/egress, and from targeting private to promote job development residences as a part of a labor dispute SB 2689 Local government; prohibits local governments from creating regulations I 73-46 yes 36-15 What types of votes are used in the ratings? that limit an employer’s ability to perform background checks of potential/ It is important to note that no single issue dominated BIPEC’s ratings. A great deal of effort current employees in order to maintain a fair, secure workplace is made to ensure that the votes chosen represent a broad cross-section of employer-related SB 2733 Uninsured motorist coverage; requires insurers, during the sale/issuance of J 63-56 yes 51-0 issues. Votes impacting operating costs and restriction of management choices are viewed as an auto liability policy, to list the benefits of uninsured motorist coverage, very important. Key subject areas include: and if rejected, creates a legal presumption of a knowing, voluntary • Government growth • Labor/management issues rejection of coverage • Government regulation • Incentives for job growth SB 2797 MS Employment Fairness Act; prevents local governments from using K 78 - 41 yes 31 - 15 • Privatization of government services • Workers Compensation ordinances, zoning, licensure, or conditional procurement to force • Lawsuit reduction • Business taxation employers to use organized labor • Environmental protection • Government spending controls SB 2934 Exempt from sales taxation sales of certain truck-tractors; provides a sales L 119-2 yes 49-2 tax exemption for the purchase of truck-tractors and semitrailers to be used The 2014 Bills and Action Card and Bills Vote Key by trucking companies for interstate commerce The “Bills and Action Card” gives brief descriptions of the legislation, the vote totals, and the SB 2958 Unemployment compensation, create the Workforce Investment Fund; M 119-0 yes 51-0 “business” vote position (yes or no). The Bills Vote Key provides the voting tally sheet for each of Provides $4m in addt’l Workforce Enhancement Training funds, generates the legislators and their votes used for the scoring process. $1m for State Workforce Investment Board to use for program For additional information including direct links to the MS Legislature website, Bills and Action development/maintenance, and reduces the ‘14 employer paid Cards and Voting Keys, please visit www.bipec.org . Unemployment General Experience rate www.bipec.org www.bipec.org Jackson, MS 39225 MS Jackson, P.O. Box 23021 Box P.O. Jackson, MS 39202 MS Jackson, Economic Growth Issues Growth Economic 825 N. President Street President N. 825 Vote on Business, Jobs and Jobs Business, on Vote How Mississippi Legislators Mississippi How Legislative Session Legislative 2014 Report Card Report Legislator “Business & Jobs” Jobs” & “Business Legislator Economic Growth Issues Growth Economic Vote on Business, Jobs and Jobs Business, on Vote How Mississippi Legislators Mississippi How why it’s important — BIPEC 2014 Legislator details about the evaluation process “Business & JOBS” Score Card How to use the BIPEC Legislative Jobs Report Card? bills and action card In 1980, the Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) was founded by Vote House Business/Jobs Senate Mississippi’s business and professional leaders to supply needed political research information. Bill Description Key Votes Vote Votes Founders wanted credible information to identify legislative candidates who understood HB 641 Commercial driver’s license; enhances the efficiency of regulatory A 121-0 yes 51-0 needs and concerns of employers…these employers are the people who take risks to create personnel management practices and productivity for trucking industry by jobs, stimulate our economy and give back to communities! Use this guide to determine and providing/allowing the electronic exchange of driver medical cards assess your legislator’s support of the employers who provide the jobs our state needs to thrive. HB 680 Product liability; amends product liability law to include the “designers” B 111-7 yes 52-0 Our objective is to assist with the constituent/voters quest for legislative accountability and of a product; strengthens “tort reform” measures by protecting designers transparency. Please visit www.bipec.org for additional information and for links to various from frivolous litigation other resources that will help you to seek accountability from your elected officials. HB 785 Income tax; authorizes/incentivizes a tax credit for costs paid by a company C 109-8 yes 51-1 What are the five performance levels? in relocating their national or regional headquarters