PHCC DEVELOPMENTS
What’s New on the Local, State and National level
MAY 2006
HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION
Unfortunately, Congress did not pass the Small Business Health Plan – an issue that has been important to the PHCC lobbyists working in Washington. On May 11, the legislation failed by just five votes to get the needed 60 to secure a vote on the legislation. Our lobbyist in Washington, Lake Coulson said it was clear that opposition to the bill was due to a competing program. Coulson said he was encouraged by the fact that this was the first time the legislation had received consideration on the Senate Floor. On March 15, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved legislation that would allow associations to offer group health insurance benefits to their members. According to the PHCC national office, this is the first movement on this issue in more than a decade. Coulson said the timing was perfect because members of the association were in Washington for the annual Legislative Conference in March and were able to talk to their representatives about this legislation. The legislation requires that the health insurance plans match the benefits offered to state employees of the five most populous states to ensure comprehensive and generous benefits.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATION
California’s Assembly recently passed legislation requiring 1.3 gallon per flush water closet, effective 2008 with a 2010 phase-in. It will soon be considered in the California Senate. This is important because historically some of these mandates have been approved in other states and later adopted as uniform federal standard. The national association wants to know whether this is a concern to PHCC membership. You can contact Coulson at: coulson@naphcc.org
IMMIGRATION REFORM
The policy of the PHCC regarding immigration is as follows:
“The PHCC believes it is critical to ensure an adequate supply of skilled labor and hard-working immigrants helping to address this shortage. PHCC supports a comprehensive immigration policy that would allow hard working law-abiding immigrants the opportunity to remain in the U.S. if those immigrants have a guest worker visa, have a job, pay taxes, pay a fine, enroll in English classes, and pass a background check…”
Using the PHCC website, you can follow instructions to send a letter to your Senator supporting the PHCC position.
INDIANA LICENSING
While the Indiana legislature did not consider any legislation directly affecting our local St. Joe Valley PHCC this session, our state lobbyist is always on the lookout for issues that pertain to plumbing and heating. The licensing law for plumbers was tweaked a year ago and bills have been introduced, but not pass, that would license those in the heating and cooling industry. A group from the St. Joe Valley PHCC went to Indianapolis in February to meet with local legislators to discuss strategy in case our association might need to lobby for or against a particular bill. Our lobbyist once again emphasized the importance of personal letters to legislators (not form letters). The ST. JOE VALLEY PHCC office has a list of all local legislators.
Making sure the public is aware of the licensing law is a goal of your association. Our WSBT commercial with Mike Dvorak is running on the web site to further remind consumers. Matt Buczolich, business manager for Local 172 Plumbers & Pipefitters, recently told our Executive Committee that he tries to investigate when he is told unlicensed workers are on job sites.
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