| ELECTION DAY LINKS |
Make sure your "I Voted" sticker comes from the right polling place tomorrow. Use the resources on Congress.org to find contact information for Board of Elections offices in your area. Employees and volunteers in those offices will be able to tell you the location of your polling place, which which you can also find on your voter registration card. Also, check out the official Web sites for both President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry to compare and contrast the issues that are most important to you and your family. Make your voice heard on Election Day! Get out the Vote! |
This election year, global security is a primary issue on Americans' minds, but Lawn & Landscape knows that, as business owners, your concerns are many and varied.
While most people have already read between the party lines and decided which boxes they'll check on their ballots Tuesday, taking one last look at where each candidate stands on specific business and industry issues can help clear up any confusion and solidify those choices.
Below, read through the issues and party stances compiled by Lawn & Landscape intern Leslie Stroope. Additionally, use the resources provided by Congress.com to look up your voter information by state to ensure that you visit the proper polling place tomorrow.
Remember what many people have noted this election season: For every person who believes his or her vote doesn't count, someone on the other side of the aisle knows theirs does. Regardless of your party affiliation, tomorrow Nov. 2, ensure that your opinions on industry and national matters are heard and enjoy exercising your right to vote!
ISSUE NO. 1 - H-2B. With the cap on H-2B labor being strictly enforced this year, many in the industry found themselves short of the amount of workers they needed.
Sen. John Kerry has said that, if elected, he will sign the Agricultural Job, Opportunity, Benefits and Security Act (AgJobs), which, among other things, intends to overhaul the H-2A legal guest worker program. This may open the door for overhauling other guest worker programs, such as H-2B. Kerry has also said that within 100 days of office he would enact a plan that would give "good people who are undocumented but living here, working here, paying taxes [and] staying out of trouble … a path to equal citizenship."
However, Kerry has also said that drivers' licenses should not be granted to undocumented immigrants.
In January, President George W. Bush announced his "temporary worker" initiative, which would allow illegal immigrants to legally hold jobs for six to eight years, as long as they keep those jobs.
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However, John Kerry has said that, if elected, he will reverse the changes President Bush made to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
ISSUE NO. 3 - EMISSIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS. Bush recently enacted the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule, which according to a fact sheet on www.georgewbush.com, "will regulate emissions from construction and other nonroad equipment powered by diesel engines. The rule will cut emission levels from construction, agricultural and industrial diesel-powered equipment by more than 90 percent, and will also cut sulfur levels in diesel fuel by more than 99 percent over current levels."
John Kerry says if he's elected he will create a "Toxics Task Force" at the Environmental Protection Agency to identify, evaluate and prevent exposures to toxics.
ISSUE NO. 4 - BUSINESSES & TAXES. John Kerry has said he will create a new jobs tax credit for small businesses. This credit will cover the extra payroll costs businesses with up to 99 employees incur by hiring new workers. And small businesses that provide employee health insurance will receive even more credit.
More details about John Kerry's plan to boost small business opportunities are available on the candidate's official Web site. In addition to the small business tax credit, the Kerry-Edwards plan intends to "help micro-enterprises" or businesses with five or fewer employees and revenue of $500,000 or less, and expanding loan programs to small businesses.
President Bush has also been a friend to small businesses. According to www.georgewbush.com, between 2001 and 2003, the Bush Administration has more than doubled the number of loans to small businesses.
ISSUE NO. 5 - HEALTH CARE. Both candidates have addressed the rising health care costs issue.
George W. Bush has proposed that by allowing small businesses to join forces in Association Health Plans, they would be able to provide affordable health insurance for their employees.
John Kerry said he will reimburse businesses for 75 percent of catastrophic cares costs. Small businesses will also receive a tax credit that will cover up to 50 percent of the cost of the employers' share of health insurance premiums for low- and moderate-income employees, providing that the employer pays for at least 50 percent of the premium.
ISSUE NO. 6 - MINIMUM WAGE. John Kerry plans to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.00 by 2007. According to www.johnkerry.com, the increase will impact nearly 15 million workers, with 7.4 million of them receiving a raise.