Lobbying in a 'new' Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. — There's hope for regulatory relief, but the national health care system is in shambles.

That's one general, and arguably oversimplified, takeaway from a policy-rich, reform-focused morning of presentations here during the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association's Legislative Conference.

The annual conference, held jointly with the Window and Door Manufacturers Association, took place for the first time under a Trump Administration, and came just days after an alternative to the Affordable Care Act, also referred to as Obamacare, died in Congress.

Legislation affecting health care and regulations affecting business emerged as go-to talking points.

"Health care is a mess, and we've got to come back to it because Obamacare is in a free fall collapse," said Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., a Tuesday morning breakfast speaker.

Griffith, who represents the Virginia district of NLBMDA chairman George Lester, equated the current health care system to a poorly built house that's cheaper to rebuild than repair. And there are political and moral reasons to make things better. "We can't have people who don't know the details say, 'Republicans are in charge, and things are getting worse,'" he said. "We've got to try to fix it."

The NLBMDA's Ben Gann and the NRLA's Jeff Keller spelled out other priorities — and insights on how to present them to lawmakers. Topping their lists were regulatory reform, the repeal of the estate tax, preservation of the mortgage interest deduction and renewal of the U.S.-Canada softwood lumber agreement.

The presenters shared key talking points on all these priorities. For instance:

• MID: It's not a break for the rich. According to the NAHB, more than half of the deductions are claimed by those earning less than $100,000;

• U.S.-Canada softwood agreement: As prices are increasing, reaching a new SLA is needed to help meet domestic demand;

• Regulatory reform: The National Association of Manufacturers estimates that federal regulations cost small companies some $12,000 per employee each year; and

• Estate Tax Repeal: The Tax Foundation estimates that elimination of the tax would lead to 139,000 new jobs.

There was optimism for reform of burdensome regulations. Under President Trump, two executive orders are already in the books. One requires agencies to establish task forces to seek out excessive regulations. Another requires agencies to repeal two regulations before proposing a new one.

Additionally, Griffith celebrated the House passage of the REINS Act, which limits executive orders, and shifts "power back to Congress," he said. "We've got to continue to move forward."

The Virginia lawmaker pointed out that regulators are separated from the lawmakers and the regulating agencies, a separation that leads to unpredictable interpretation and enforcement of a rule's original intent.

Griffith also weighed in on the Border Adjustment Tax proposal: "Retailers are against it, but long term you have more people working, buying houses, building decks and doing all kinds of good things for the economy."

Also participating in the morning session was Rep. Ted Budd, R-N.C., who echoed Griffith's comments about the need to revisit health care legislation.

Budd also advised against "socially motivated underwriting," preferring natural growth to federal stimulants. "We can drive the economy, but we can drive it right over the cliff, too," he said.