About the Prosperity Project Voting Records...

• About the Issue Agenda
• Why Voting Records Matter
• The Actual Votes Used

The Outline for Prosperity Explained

by Bernadette A. Budde
February  6,  2002

The business community recognizes that its current issue agenda is a complex one, not self-evident to candidates or incumbents. As the scores from the first session of the 107th Congress prove, few members of Congress are perfect allies or constant foes. No political party has a platform that addresses all of these issues in perfect harmony with business. In fact, it is the reality that officeholders from both parties can embrace parts of this agenda that is the underlying strength of the business community as a force in American life.

The scope of the issue agenda is challenging to describe and then to implement, even for senior lobbyists in mainline associations with extensive grassroots networks and abundant substantive in-house talent. Long gone are the days when a simple phrase could capture all that economic growth entails. But, also gone are the days when business rivalries kept us from describing principles against which legislative initiatives could be evaluated.

What employers of all sizes want cannot be ground down to rhetorical sound-bites. The media and much of the political community have often dismissed what business wants to a game of "access" relationships. In a way, "access" is at the heart of what business wants, but it is not access to the legislature. It is rather access to markets, capital, energy, a quality workforce, technology. As the end product, our employees and shareholders, along with their families and communities, want access to continued prosperity. They want access to quality jobs and first-rate employee benefits, with promises kept about retirement security.

What follows are excerpts from the Outline for Prosperity adopted in 2001. Tied to that are the votes used in the voting record attributed to the specific category. BIPAC’s Prosperity Project is designed to assist the American business community in communicating with our employees, retirees, and shareholders about issues, candidates and elections.

Economic Strength

General Principles
The federal government’s role in the regulation of commerce should be true to its historical foundation as referee for the conduct of commerce, while establishing performance standards that safeguard the public health and safety, utilizing science-based risk assessments and cost-benefit analysis. Overly aggressive federal regulations, made in isolation from the very market-based analytical tools required for the sound understanding of regulation’s consequences, serve no one’s best interest.

Issue Categories
Smarter Regulation, Environmental Protection, Civil Justice/Tort Reform, and Energy

Votes Scored
Senate: 15, 64, 229, 231
House: 33, 181, 288, 311, 317, 320, and 464

Quality Workforce

General Principles
American employers provide voluntary health care benefits to the working men and women of America while controlling costs and preserving choice and quality. The federal government can provide critical leadership to stimulate high standards for all children, investments in quality teaching (particularly in math and science), testing to measure learning, help for low-performing students and schools, and accountability for results. The government needs to foster an environment for continued growth in computer technology, biotechnology and Internet-based multimedia products and services.

Issue Categories
Access to Health Care, Excellence in Education, Health and Retirement Security, Immigration Policy, Technology

Votes Scored
Senate: 197
House: 130, 328, 330

Economic Opportunity

General Principles
Restraining the growth of federal spending is essential to maintaining balanced federal budgets, stimulating economic growth, and job creation. Job security for the working men and women of America is increasingly tied to America’s position as a reliable and aggressive competitor in the global economy. The need to raise revenues for the necessary and appropriate operations of the federal government can be met with a simpler federal tax code, more favorable to savings, investments and the preservation of the values of hard working individuals and families.

Issue Categories
Fiscal Responsibility, International Competitiveness, and Fair Tax Policy

Votes Scored
Senate: 98, 115, 158, 165, 253
House: 45, 84, 255, 319, and 481

by Gregory S. Casey
February  6,  2002

This edition of EIS features voting records from the first session of the 107th Congress and with it, the next installment of continued unity within American business as created nearly two years ago via the now-named "Prosperity Project."

Certainly voting records are not perfect and shouldn’t be the sole determinant upon which decisions are made. To the degree they engender dialogue about important issues, they also serve a purpose in the process of education. And we clearly understand even the best voting record cannot account for the many intangibles that are part of the political policymaking process.

But for those of us who operate under the assumption that the bottom line of political involvement is to favorably impact public policy, voting records are the final measurement of outcomes. All else is spin.

It is important to begin with an understanding of what these voting records are and are not.

These voting records are based on the consensus thematic agenda of American business. That agenda, called the "Outline for Prosperity," is the result of an exhaustive and inclusive process. It is a set of themes unanimously agreed to by businesses and business organizations both large and small, from nearly every field of economic endeavor. To qualify for inclusion in the "Outline," the issues are thoroughly vetted. Those upon which we cannot reach a consensus are not included. The "Outline for Prosperity" is not the specific issues manifesto of any single industry or association.

The "Outline for Prosperity" is as close to being unanimously endorsed by American business as is possible and represents what business thinks is required for prosperity to continue.

And why should that matter?

Often—maybe too often—business argues with itself about the relatively small number of legislative specifics over which there is legitimate disagreement. This overshadows the vast majority of matters on which we all agree are essential for continued prosperity. As a result, we sometimes lose the essence of the pro-prosperity message. We sometimes find these disagreements leveraged by candidates seeking to pit what company A may say about a bill as compared to company B, in an attempt to diffuse the meaning of their votes or positions.

Not here. American business agrees on the "Outline for Prosperity" across the board.

The votes themselves are then chosen by an equally inclusive process. Every vote suggested by the Prosperity Project Steering Committee for inclusion in the voting record must relate to the "Outline for Prosperity," and gain a consensus. It is selected without regard to who voted for or against and once included, cannot be removed. It is an "outcome" based and not partisan-based process. Let the chips fall where they may.

This process gives added impact to these voting records because they become the foundation of nearly every other business and pro-prosperity voting record published by American business. For many businesses and business groups across the nation, this IS the basis of the voting records upon which they make their decisions.

It is instructive to note that there are about as many members of the US Senate receiving 0 percent as are receiving 100 percent. Some Democrats finished with higher scores than many Republicans in both houses of the US Congress.

Because BIPAC doesn’t lobby, we are the correct (and maybe only) venue through which this objective effort can be pursued. Many of our friends and supporters simply cannot be as honest and straightforward as we can without suffering the consequences of angering important and influential lawmakers. But it would be a mistake for anyone to discount the impact these records have on decision making, whether admitted or not.

Specific Votes in the Prosperity Project Federal Ratings:

Senate:

107-1 197

S.1052: This amendment would have shielded employers who pay for health care insurance from lawsuits arising from decisions made by health care providers. Competitive compensation packages are less likely to be offered when costs are increased due to lawsuit abuse. The vote was 43 to 57 on June 26, 2001.

House:

107-1 33	S.J.RES.6: This vote repealed the Labor Department’s rules on workplace safety, known as the ergonomics debate. Business disapproved of rules that were enacted without congressional authority that were based on untested scientific principles. Employers are proud of their record in safety training designed to protect workers while on the job. The vote was 223 to 206 on March 7, 2001.
107-1 181	H.R.2217: This amendment banned energy exploration in certain areas in the Gulf of Mexico. With advanced technology and stringent standards, American companies have explored for oil and gas in some of the world’s most sensitive environments. Congress should not let unfounded fear put accessible territory off limits without sound reasons to do so. The vote was 247 to 164 on June 21, 2001.
107-1 288	H.R.2620: This amendment would have banned funding for further studies prior to the enactment of particulate standards for water. Business and many municipal water users felt that federal regulators should not be so swift in adopting standards that lacked respected scientific evidence. The vote was 218 to 189 on July 27,2001.
107-1 311	H.R.4: This amendment proposed an increase in corporate fuel economy standards. Consumer choice and passenger safety would have suffered if Congress had approved this proposal. A wise energy policy need not conflict with individual decisions about the appropriate vehicle for employment or family needs. The vote was 160 to 269 on August 1, 2001.
107-1 317	H.R.4: Passage of this amendment would have banned exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. American companies use best practices all over the world that prove it is possible to manage resources while protecting the regions where our technology and scientific experts tell us there are supplies of oil and gas. The vote was 206 to 223 on August 1, 2001.
107-1 320	H.R.4: Final passage of the energy bill was a significant victory for business. American business cannot get the job done without energy. Prosperity depends on consistent supplies at affordable prices with predictable delivery schedules. The vote was 240 to 198 on August 2, 2001.
107-1 464	H.R.3210: This vote, following the attacks of 9-11, enabled business to find insurance against future terrorism claims, with limits on non-economic damages and attorney fees. The legal system should fairly compensate plaintiffs for damages suffered, but an abusive litigious environment harms economic development. The vote was 227 to 193 on November 29, 2001.

107-1 45	H.R.3: This vote reached a bipartisan agreement on phase one of tax cuts which were intended to boost consumer confidence in the U. S. economy. Business advocated individual tax relief as an important first step in restructuring the tax code. The vote was 230 to 189 on March 8, 2001.
107-1 84	H.R.8: This vote reduced estate tax rates, enabling Americans to pass along family businesses to future generations. The ability to accumulate assets through hard work and savings is the underpinning of future prosperity. The vote was 274 to 154 on April 4, 2001.
107-1 255	H.J.RES.50: This disapproval motion would restrict trade with the world's largest potential trading partner.
107-1 319	H.R.4: This motion would have used the energy bill as a vehicle to overturn the strong bipartisan agreement on tax reduction. Prosperity is directly related to lower tax burdens for all American taxpayers. The vote was 206 to 223 on August 2, 2001.
107-1 481	H.R.3005: This vote permits the President to negotiate with other countries for trade agreements. Job security for the American worker is tied to America’s position as a reliable and aggressive competitor in the global economy. The vote was 215 to 214 on December 6, 2001.

107-1 130	H.R.1: The vote on this amendment kept mandatory math and reading tests as part of the overall education package. Business opposed efforts to eliminate testing for grades 3 to 8. A competitive world economy demands a first-class workforce that comes to the job with basic skills. Productivity suffers when industry has to retrain because of failing schools. The vote was 173 to 255 on May 22, 2001.
107-1 328	H.R.2563: This amendment allowed increases in medical savings accounts along with association health plans that pool risk and lower premium costs. Employer-based health care depends upon controlling costs while expanding access to insurance. The vote was 236 to 194 on August 2, 2001.
107-1 330	H.R.2563: This amendment would have placed limits on lawsuits arising from medical malpractice cases. Business believes that expanded litigation results in higher costs, which leads directly to more uninsured workers and their families. The vote was 207 to 221 on August 2, 2001.