AIADA AUTOMOTIVE CONGRESS: Cabinet, Congressional Leaders Push Election Year Issues

Cabinet, Congressional Leaders Push Election Year Issues

In a hotly contested election year, three Cabinet secretaries and leaders of both the House and Senate headed a powerful lineup of speakers on hand for the 27th annual AIADA Automotive Congress, held last week at the JW Marriott in Washington.

Over 500 import brand franchised dealers from all over the country gathered for the Congress, which focused on AIADAês top priority legislative issues: free trade, elimination of the 25% import truck tax, permanent repeal of the estate tax, class action reform, and reasonable CAFE standards.

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans and Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta championed President Bushês economic and trade policies, while Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) highlighted the presidentês legislative agenda and its progress through Congress.

While the war in Iraq and homeland security command high priority, Evans pointed out, –There is no national security without economic security.” He credited the administrationês policies for economic and job growth, and had particular praise for the role auto dealers have played in creating jobs and supporting the Administrationês economic and tax policies.

In reference to import auto manufacturing in this country, Evans emphasized the importance and impact of foreign investment on economic growth and job creation in America.

Chao discussed the positive impact of the new FairPay Overtime Regulations and the presidentês agenda on job creation and small business growth. She acknowledged, –skilled trades are crucial to Americaês future,” and applauded Automotive Retail Todayês contributions towards providing solutions to the shortage of skilled technicians in the auto industry. She also noted that the Department of Labor provided a $600,000 grant to certify 5,000 young people as automobile technicians under the Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) Initiative, –as a way to attract young people and others to careers in the skilled trades.

Mineta called on the House and Senate to reconcile competing highway funding bills in order to meet the Presidentês budgetary guidelines. The House has approved a $275 billion package; the Senateês is $318 billion. The president has vowed to veto any budget-breaking bill that exceeds his $256 billion price tag. Mineta urged dealers to impress on elected officials to put partisanship aside and resolve their differences on the bill before the July 4 recess. He explained that Congress needs to –support long-term investment and surface infrastructure without raising gas prices and increasing the federal deficit.”

One of AIADAês top legislative priorities is the permanent repeal of the estate tax, and several speakers were proponents and cosponsors of such legislation, including Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA), Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-WA), Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN).

Sen. Kyl, for example, is championing a provision in the 2005 Federal Budget that would accelerate Death Tax repeal for one more year in 2009. He urged AIADA dealer members to continue their push for full repeal of the tax, but advised dealers to –take what we can along the way.”

AIADA Congress participants also heard engaging analyses of current issues and the presidential campaign by some of Washingtonês top pundits, including political columnist George Will; Donna Brazile, a veteran political strategist and former campaign manager for Gore-Lieberman 2000; and political journalist Cliff May who is president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

The featured industry speaker was Honda Executive VP of US Sales Dick Colliver, who spoke on the importance of AIADA members speaking with one voice. –No other organization can do what AIADA does. No other organization focuses on our issues and protects your interests. It takes a consistent and sustained effort, and the staff of AIADA is vigilant in your defense,” he said.