[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 106 (Thursday, July 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR PROVISION IS BAD FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY

  (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, the independent contractor provision is a 
potential disaster for the working people of our country. What would it 
do if adopted?
  It would take away health care and pension benefits from millions of 
employees.
  It would punish socially responsible employers and reward companies 
which refuse to invest in their workers.
  It would mean an instant tax increase for workers who would pay twice 
as much in Medicare and Social Security taxes.
  It would deny workers their legal protections against sex, race, age, 
and disability discrimination.
  It would lead to the misclassification of millions of employees, and 
this would cost the U.S. Treasury billions of dollars.
  Mr. Speaker, the independent contractor clause is bad for employees, 
bad for legitimate businesses, and bad for the future of our economy. 
Twelve Republicans wrote to the Speaker of the House citing their 
serious reservations about this clause. Seventy-nine Democrats wrote to 
the President asking him to delete this provision.
  Let us reaffirm our commitment to America's workers and eliminate 
this provision from the final budget bill.

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