[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR CLAUSE WILL MOVE OUR ECONOMY IN THE WRONG 
                               DIRECTION

  (Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, Federal Government policy has a major 
impact in the way that employers treat their workers. It is important 
that Federal policy encourage workers to take the high-skill, high-wage 
road. For the good of our Nation, employers need to invest in the 
training benefits and long-term productivity of their workers.
  But, Mr. Speaker, the independent contractor provision would move our 
economy in the wrong direction. It would encourage employers to abandon 
their commitment to their workers by moving them off the payroll. It 
would strip them of their health care and pension benefits. Employers 
who abandon their workers would obtain a competitive advantage over 
socially responsible companies. This is very unfair to the companies 
that respect their workers and invest in their skills and benefits.
  That is why business organizations such as the Information Technology 
Association of America oppose the independent contractor clause. With 
its 11,000 member companies the ITAA says the independent contractor 
provision will harm legitimate businesses and result in the growth of 
businesses with no employee benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, that is the wrong direction for America. The independent 
contractor clause needs to be deleted from the final budget bill.

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