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Our team urged support for the Restore the Partnership Act (H.R. 3332), which  seeks to reestablish a permanent, bipartisan National Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, designed to facilitate cooperation and coordination among all levels of government. I am enthusiastic about this Commission, which would provide a forum for counties, cities and other units of government to work with federal representatives to proactively resolve issues before they develop into problems.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a personal priority of mine because it directly impacts non-profits and municipal agencies in the 14th District. This program offers Cook County unique flexibility to help such organizations meet urgent community needs. Our delegation stressed the importance of fully funding the CDBG and related Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant  (EECBG) programs.The President's current proposed budget request does not adequately provide for these programs, and we requested support for full funding in the upcoming budget process.
 
The Local Jobs for America Act (H.R. 4812), introduced last month, proposes funding for local governments to maintain front-line employees and first responders. Layoffs and furlough days have cut county services to residents and this plan aspires to restore first responder employees. $23 billion is slated specifically to support education, law enforcement and firefighting jobs.
 
Support was urged for the Repeal of the 3% Government Contractor Withholding Tax, which will require counties beginning in 2012 to withhold federal taxes on payments to government contractors for goods and services. It is inappropriate for the county to serve as an agent of the IRS, and it will drive up county costs as new accounting mechanisms must be established and will discourage contractors from bidding.
 
Our delegation also discussed the benefits of Livable/Sustainable Communities Initiative, which funds regional planning grants. This initiative helps metropolitan areas integrate housing, transportation, energy and environmental planning in their vision for growth. Funding is included in the President's proposed budget and representatives were asked to support his request.
 
Finally, we asked our representatives to oppose legislative initiatives that give preferential tax treatment to online travel companiesat the expense of local government budgets. Currently online companies purchase rooms at a discount (say $50) and then resell them at a higher price (say $100). The company charges the consumer sales tax on the $100, but only remits tax on the $50, pocketing the difference as their profit. This is both a transparency issue--the agency should not be permitted to misrepresent the amount of the tax actually being assessed--and a funding problem for local governments. The full tax amount should be paid to the appropriate agency.