WASHINGTON (Nov. 8) — With Democrats winning their first majority in the House of Representatives in 12 years — and waiting to hear how the Senate shapes up — representatives of the tire industry predicted a tough time for industry-specific legislation in the 110th Congress.
"A lot of the business agenda that didn't get passed in the last two years will now have to wait at least another two years," said Roy Littlefield, executive vice president of the Tire Industry Association. Among the items Littlefield feared would suffer in the new Congress were a permanent repeal of the estate tax and the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, both major legislative priorities for TIA.
The Rubber Manufacturers Association took a more watchful view of the election results. "We will certainly be reaching out to new members and new leaders in Congress in the coming months to ensure that they understand and appreciate the tire industry's economic contributions, as well as the safety and reliability of its products," an RMA spokesman said.