From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Subject: New Survey Shows U.S. Voters Oppose Taxation of Employee Benefits
Organization: NDA
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 23:01:24 GMT

Here is a press release from the Coalition Organized to Stop Taxation of
Employee Benefits (COST).
 New Survey Shows Voters Oppose Taxation of Employee Benefits
 To: National and Business Desks
 Contact: Steve Cook or Elizabeth Kelley, 202-347-8918,
          for the Coalition Organized to Stop Taxation
          of Employee Benefits

   WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- Nearly nine out of 10 Americans 
believe that payments for employee benefits such as health
care insurance and retirement plans should not be taxed, but more
than half expect Congress to increase taxes on benefits next year,
according to a national survey released today by the newly formed
Coalition Organized to Stop Taxation of Employee Benefits (COST).
   The survey also found that Americans don't perceive much
difference between presidential candidates on this issue.  By a
margin of only two percentage points, more Americans believe that
Governor Clinton (38 percent) would more likely increase taxes on
employee benefits than President Bush (36 percent) if he should be
elected in November.  Ten percent expect both candidates to increase
taxes on benefits.
   Taxation of benefits will be a voting issue for nearly three out
of four Americans.  Seventy-three percent will be more likely to vote
against candidates running for Congress who support increased taxes
on employee benefits, according to the survey which was conducted by
Opinion Research Corp. of Princeton, N.J., during the week of
Aug. 26 through Aug. 30, immediately following the Republican
National Convention.  The survey sampled attitudes of 1,000
adults nationwide.
   "Candidates running for federal offices should heed what voters
are saying about protecting the quality of benefits," said Ken
Feltman, executive director of the Employers Council on Flexible
Compensation and a charter member of COST.  "Workers don't want their
benefits taxed because they know that they will end up paying the
price."
   Feltman said the survey found that most people believe that they
will suffer in some way if their employers have to pay more taxes on
employee benefits.  Thirty-eight percent believe that they would end
up paying more for their benefits; 21 percent believe that the value
of their benefits would be reduced; and 13 percent believe that their
benefits would be reduced or canceled altogether.
   "COST will give voters who oppose taxation of benefits a voice,"
said J. Michael Keeling, president of the ESOP Association (Employee
Stock Ownership Association) and also a charter member of COST.  "We
will demonstrate to members of Congress and the administration that
voters care deeply about their benefits.  To win the employee
benefits vote, candidates should take a strong stand now, before the
election, against the pending raid on benefits."
   The Coalition to Stop Taxation of Employee Benefits (COST) has
been formed by concerned employers, workers and benefits providers to
focus public attention to the threat to benefits and to organize
opposition.
 -30-

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