Tax Reform

    On May 9, 2003, I voted for H.R. 2, the Jobs and Growth Tax Act and it was signed into law by President Bush on May 28.  This economic stimulus plan is aimed at encouraging consumer spending and promoting investment by individuals and corporations.

    Specifically, H.R. 2 provided additional relief to middle-income families by moving up planned income rate tax cuts from 2004 to 2003, significantly reducing taxes on dividend income, and expanding small businesses, which create the majority of new jobs, by significantly increasing their deductions for equipment purchases.  For additonal information please visit my tax relief webpage.

    I also support efforts to spur business activity and keep more jobs here at home by reducing the corporate income tax.  The United States has one of the highest corporate income tax rates, especially when compared to many of our primary economic competitors, such as Britain, France and Germany.  Higher taxes on the returns to corporate capital inhibit the competitiveness of U.S.-based companies in foreign markets.  With such a high tax burden to bear, many corporations are unfortunately attempting to cut costs by relocating abroad and taking good-paying jobs with them.  Instead of punishing businesses for attempting to make a profit, I believe we need to reduce their incentive to sacrifice American jobs by lowering corporate income taxes.

Lawsuit Reform

     The number of frivolous lawsuits has escalated dramatically in the last few years.  Unfortunately, trial lawyers have largely succeeded in driving up the costs of various goods and services - and at the same time lining their own pockets - by forcing companies to defend themselves against any and all bogus claims.  Unfortunately, this disturbing trend has extended towards many facets of businesses, including the fast-food industry.  To send a message to the trial lawyers that the American public will not be held hostage, I cosponsored H.R. 339, the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives on March 26, 2004.  This legislation aims to block a new wave of frivolous lawsuits aimed at the restaurant industry.  Government regulations should never supplant personal responsibility.     

     On March 13, 2003, I voted to prevent the skyrocketing costs associated with health care and due to a mass of lawsuits led by trial lawyers and aimed at doctors, nurses and medical providers.  H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act of 2003 would lower costs by limiting the availability of punitive non-economic damages to $250,000 and setting a statute of limitations of three years from the date of injury or one year after the claimant discovers or should have discovered the injury.  While I am pleased that a similar measure was passed by the Florida legislature, I will continue to press for national legislation to address this growing crisis.

     Additionally, I have supported efforts to curb abuses of our legal system by voting for the Class Action Fairness Act.  This measure, which is now under consideration in the Senate, would remove many of these cases from local county courts, where this type of abuse is most pervasive, and place them in the federal court system.

Health Care Reform

     One of the greatest challenges to America businesses and employees is to keep up with the rising cost of health care.  In addition to working to limit the threat of frivolous lawsuits, I have championed efforts to lower health costs and ensure that the millions of Americans currently lacking health care are covered.  On June 19,2003, I voted to provide easier and more affordable access to health care through Associated Health Plans (AHPs).  Over 60 percent of uninsured individuals are employed by small businesses which lack the ability to provide their employees adequate health care coverage.  Additionally, recent increases in premiums have forced those small businesses which did provide health benefits to their employees to drop their coverage.  H.R. 660, the Small Business Health Fairness Act, would allow small businesses to form AHPs, or to band together in order to purchase health insurance at these same group rates.  This measure would give small businesses the same bargaining power of larger businesses, increasing competition and lowering overall health coverage rates by an average of 20 percent.

     I have also strongly supported the implementation of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and am pleased that it was included in the Medicare reform bill that Congress recently passed.  HSAs will work much like individual retirement accounts (IRAs), allowing Americans to put pre-tax dollars into an account which could then be drawn upon in order to pay unforeseen medical expenses, greatly improving access to vital health care for seniors and 44 million uninsured Americans.  For more on this subject, visit my Health Care Issues page.