Package Deal

Developing bipartisan support for legislation on Capitol Hill is like watching an ant move a crumb sometimes the going is smooth, and other times even a breeze is a major obstacle. Proponents of two new Congressional bills dealing with homebased business know there's a lot of consensus building ahead, and they hope for smooth sailing.

The Home-Based Business Fairness Act of 1997 (S.460) was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO), chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME). An identical bill, HR1145, was sponsored in the House by Rep. Jim Talent (R-MO), chairman of the House Small Business Committee, and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO). Both bills tackle three major issues confronting homebased business: They make health insurance premiums 100 percent deductible, restore the home-office deduction, and provide protection against retroactive reclassification of independent contractors. Bundling these three issues makes the bills attractive to supporters, says Kenneth Bricker of the Senate Small Business Committee.