Legislative Agenda: What are the big issues facing the industry in Washington?

[caption id="attachment_6391" align="alignleft" width="118" caption="Jay B. Perron"] [/caption] Jay B. Perron - Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Policy What are the biggest issues that the IFA is tackling in Washington D.C.? Two issues are heating up this year and have been a long time coming, Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Comprehensive Tax Reform.  These issues will be championed by both sides of the political aisle over the next eight months to a year.  Both of these issues could help fuel franchising out of the recent economic downturn. What Reforms are you looking for Congress to enact in the Immigration Process and the tax code? With Immigration Reform, we want a comprehensive bill to take care of many priorities. First, an employment verification system (E-Verify) allowing our franchisees to determine if their employees are of legal status.  IFA supports an E-Verify process that will preempt any state laws and remove any liability a franchisee may have after properly following the e-verify process.   The other priority in comprehensive immigration reform is the future flow of employees.  After Immigration Reform is passed, the border is secured, and you have an E-Verify system, there will have to be a temporary worker program to provide essential low skilled workers to the franchise community.   Currently, there is no system for low-skilled immigrants to come to the United States legally and fill employment needs in the franchise industry. On Comprehensive tax reform, IFA has played a leading role in pushing for tax reform that includes both individual and corporate tax filers. The need for reform stems from the complexity of the code. IFA is trying to simplify the code and lower the overall tax rate individuals and corporations pay to spur growth and job creation in the franchising industry and beyond. How is IFA working to achieve reform in those two areas? We’re meeting with the relevant committees of jurisdiction working on Immigration Reform and Tax Reform.  We are going office to office meeting with congressional staff to discuss how these issues affect our industry. We have been asked to participate in a number of congressional listening sessions to educate members of Congress on how their decisions on these issues will directly impact growth and job creation in our industry. It is extremely important for the franchise industry to have a voice on Capitol Hill to educate members and their staff every day about the economic impact franchising has on the U.S. economy. When do you believe these two issues might reach a point where bills are hammered out and ready to be voted on in the House and Senate? I think we’re likely to see a draft of a CIR bill in mid-April.  How long it takes to become law, I can’t say.  It will certainly be something that should be voted on, at least in the Senate, this year.  It’s going to be harder to bring up CIR in the House. On Comprehensive Tax Reform, I expect a vote, definitely in the House, by the end of the year.  I think the Senate will be pressured by what the House does into probably doing something.  How long that takes, I’m not sure.  But I believe the Senate will be goaded by the House into doing something.