It's Dean Vs. Bennett—"The Maine Event" Howard Dean William Bennett, a standard-bearer for the Conservative movement, and Howard Dean, who energized Liberals during the Democratic Presidential primary, will debate each other at "The Maine Event"—ACEC's Fall Conference in Portland, Maine, on September 30. This debate—one month before the Presidential election—will give ACEC members a front-row look at competing political platforms.

William Bennett Bennett served under Presidents George Bush and the late Ronald Reagan. Dean was Governor of Vermont before seeking the 2004 Democratic nomination for President. The Fall Conference will also feature a full complement of business programs, educational seminars, PAC events, and social activities. Breathtaking fall foliage tours, an authentic lobster-bake, and charming New England ambiance complete the picture. Preliminary hotel and Conference information is available at www.acec.org.

A/E Tax Benefit Passes House, Moves To Conference Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA) ACEC achieved a major victory in the House of Representatives this week with the passage of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (H.R. 4520), which reduces the tax rate for A/E firms by three percent for large corporations, with similar reductions for small corporations. Companion legislation—the Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS Act-S. 1637)—has already passed in the Senate and also features ACEC-backed language to ensure that A/E firms qualify for the new tax changes. The legislation repeals the Extraterritorial Income Tax Exclusion (ETI), an existing export-based tax benefit, and replaces it with a new benefit targeted primarily towards manufacturing. The Senate bill is applicable to all businesses, and creates a nine percent deduction for A/E services, while the House bill applies to corporations only. The bill now goes to conference where ACEC will focus on convincing conferees to adopt the Senate's approach to the legislation and include all business entities within the bill's reach. "This bill will promote job growth, enhance the competitiveness of US-based companies and provide an important economic stimulus to our economy," said ACEC President Dave Raymond in a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA). Thomas' committee approved H.R. 4520 on Monday, and the bill passed the full House on Thursday.

ACEC Turns Up Pressure For $318 Billion Transportation Package ACEC members are being asked to keep the pressure on Congress to complete work on a $318 billion surface transportation package in 2004. The Council has launched a targeted grassroots campaign, focusing on the 73-member House/Senate conference committee that is working on the final version of the TEA-21 reauthorization bill. "Our efforts are generating letters to the key House and Senate members on the conference committee, but we need keep pushing," said ACEC President Dave Raymond. "We're at a critical juncture in the TEA-21 reauthorization process, and ACEC members must contact their conferees immediately in support of passing a $318 billion bill this year." ACEC members that have a Senator or Representative on the conference committee are urged to fax a letter in support of a $318 billion six-year bill. Click here for a sample letter and click here for the addresses and fax numbers of conferees. The 73 Conferees On The TEA-21 Bill Alabama—Sen. Richard Shelby, Rep. Spencer Bachus Alaska—Rep. Don Young Arizona—Sen. John McCain California—Sen. Barbara Boxer, Rep. Gary Miller, Rep. Bob Filner, Rep. Bill Thomas, Rep. George Miller, Rep. Henry Waxman, Rep. Richard Pombo, Rep. David Dreier Colorado—Rep. Bob Beauprez Connecticut—Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Rep. Christopher Shays District of Columbia— Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton Florida—Sen. Bob Graham, Rep. John Mica, Rep. Corrine Brown Illinois—Rep. Bill Lipinski, Rep. Jerry Costello, Rep. Judy Biggert Iowa—Sen. Charles Grassley, Rep. Jim Nussle Kentucky—Sen. Mitch McConnell Louisiana—Rep. Jim McCrery Maryland—Sen. Paul Sarbanes, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest Michigan—Rep. Peter Hoekstra, Rep. Vernon Ehlers, Rep. John Dingell, Rep. John Coyners Minnesota—Rep. Jim Oberstar Mississippi—Sen. Trent Lott, Rep. Charles Pickering Missouri—Sen. Kit Bond Montana—Sen. Max Baucus, Rep. Dennis Rehberg   Nevada—Sen. Harry Reid, Rep. James Gibbons New Jersey—Rep. Robert Menendez New York—Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, Rep. Jerry Nadler, Rep. Charles Rangel North Carolina—Rep. Howard Coble, Rep. Cass Ballenger North Dakota—Sen. Kent Conrad Ohio—Sen. George Voinvoich, Rep. Steve LaTourette Oklahoma—Sen. Jim Inhofe, Sen. Don Nickles Oregon—Rep. Peter DeFazio South Carolina—Sen. Ernest Hollings, Rep. John Spratt South Dakota—Sen. Thomas Daschle Tennessee—Rep. John Duncan, Rep. Bart Gordon Texas—Rep. Tom Delay, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Rep.  Joe Barton, Rep. Lamar Smith, Rep. Pete Sessions, Rep. Martin Frost, Rep. Randy Neugebauer Utah—Sen. Orrin Hatch Vermont—Sen. James Jeffords Virginia—Sen. John Warner, Rep. Tom Davis, Rep. Edward Schrock West Virginia—Rep Nick Rahall Wisconsin—Rep. Tom Petri, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, Rep. Ron Kind

Kansas Makes It 49 Toward Name Unification ACEC/Kansas Executive Director Scott Heidner ACEC/Kansas has become the 49th Member Organization to adopt the ACEC name. Scott Heidner, executive director of ACEC/Kansas said, "We're excited to adopt the name of our national organization, along with the majority of the other states. We look forward to the added influence that this will bring us at both the state and national level." "The common name serves to enhance ACEC's advocacy program in the U.S. Congress," says ACEC's Government Affairs Vice President Steve Hall. "By making it easier for House and Senate members to 'connect the dots' between the national and state organizations, the common brand helps key policy makers understand national industry priorities as they relate to firms in their states and districts." ACEC Chairman Bill Howard praised the Kansas name change: "Kansas taking on the ACEC name is another step closer to achieving an increasingly effective, unified and visible nationwide organization."

Copyright © 2004 by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced, stored in any form of retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photographic, or other means without the prior written permission of ACEC.

Click here to review past editions of the Last Word.

Click here to subscribe to the Last Word.