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Tax Reform on the Horizon – Battle for WOTC and Other Incentives Looms

Friday, March 1st, 2013

Speaker of the US House of Representatives, John Boehner (R-Ohio) has recently repeated his vow to make comprehensive tax reform a top priority of the new Congress this year.  Symbolic of that end, Speaker Boehner has reserved the designation of House Resolution 1 (HR 1) for the coming tax reform bill.

“Fixing our tax code is one of my highest legislative priorities for this Congress . It’s time we shift the balance of power from the tax collector to the taxpayer.” Read more at The Hill, “Boehner: Tax reform to be H.R. 1.”

Paul Suplizio, President of the WOTC Coalition, made the observation today that given this priority, supporters of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and other jobs-related incentives will soon face a political challenge that could easily turn against them.

“Integral to tax reform will be decisions on retaining many tax provisions that expire at year-end, including WOTC and VOW Act veterans job incentives.”

“We’ve stressed in the past that our Coalition will have to work harder than ever to keep WOTC alive when the House takes up tax reform, as the odds right now are against our winning a favorable verdict in the Ways and Means Committee.”

The remainder of Mr. Suplizio’s observations today are published here with permission.

********

Subject: President And Leaders Agree To Avoid Shutdown, Boehner Sets Course For Tax Reform

From: Paul Suplizio
Date: Fri, March 01, 2013 6:10 pm
March 1, 2013

The President and Congressional leaders didn’t resolve the sequester in their meeting today, but they did reach agreement to pass a bill funding the government for the rest of 2013, averting a government shutdown.

Both sides agreed to a measure adhering to the $1.043 trillion cap set for FY 2013 discretionary spending by the Budget Control Act of 2011, and not dealing with sequester or taxes.

The bill will more likely be a Continuing Resolution along the lines of Appropriations Chairman Rogers’ proposal in the House, which includes assured funding levels for Defense and Veterans Administration.

The President acknowledged across-the-board sequester cuts would be taken from the $1.043 trillion Continuing Resolution, so long as the sequester remains in effect.

Funding the government in an orderly manner and avoiding a shutdown means the question of mitigating the sequester remains on the table. The parties are deadlocked but channels are open—whether they’ll be used depends on who feels the most heat.

The heat’s already rising. At a press conference today, Chairman “Buck” McKeon of the House Armed Services Committee, surrounded by his subcommittee chairman, attacked the President for not forestalling the sequester, punishing service men and women. He admitted though, he had voted for sequester in 2011—not expecting the Super Committee would fail and it would come to pass.

The President’s budget for 2014 will be released in a few days, followed by House and Senate budgets next month. If the sequester is still in effect then, it will be absorbed in the struggle of dueling budgets, from which will emerge this year’s major tax and spending bills.

Two days ago Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp won a decision from Speaker Boehner to report a tax reform bill, whose broad outlines will be set by the coming Ryan budget. The Speaker’s courageous decision was taken despite fears of many Republicans that taking votes to eliminate or cap popular deductions and credits could hurt them.

Integral to tax reform will be decisions on retaining many tax provisions that expire at year-end, including WOTC and VOW Act veterans job incentives. You can read the long list of expiring provisions at the Joint Committee on Taxation’s web site, www.jct.gov, in JCX-3-13, “List of Expiring Federal Tax Provisions, 2013-2023.”

We’ve stressed in the past that our Coalition will have to work harder than ever to keep WOTC alive when the House takes up tax reform, as the odds right now are against our winning a favorable verdict in the Ways and Means Committee. Thanks to allies like Senators Baucus and Finance Committee Democrats, we may prevail in the Senate, but once the Senate goes to conference with the House to resolve their differing bills, the game can turn on a whim. We once lost the entire target group of disadvantaged youth in conference because a tobacco-state senator insisted on an excise tax cut—those jobs paid for his cut!

PAUL E. SUPLIZIO
President, WOTC Coalition

Posted in Work Opportunity Tax Credit | No Responses »
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More on the US Senate’s Fiscal Cliff Bill and Tax Extenders

Tuesday, January 1st, 2013

This update from Paul Suplizio, President of the WOTC Coalition, offers some additional details about the fiscal cliff bill passed by the Senate late tonight.

Contrary to my earlier observations, Paul states that the bill DOES include VOW to Hire Hero provisions in its extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Hopefully, I was wrong.  I like Paul’s version better.

Paul also makes some important observations about recent Hurricane Sandy relief efforts —  including a proposal to expand the WOTC Program with a new Hurricane Sandy target group.

The following is published here with permission (emphasis is from the original).

*********

From: Paul Suplizio
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 1:18 AM
Subject: Senate Passes Fiscal Cliff Bill With WOTC And Other Extenders

January 1, 2013  3:00 AM EDT

The Senate passed the fiscal cliff bill, H.R. 8, a little after 2:00 AM this morning, by a vote of 89-8.

Republicans swarmed Senator McConnell to congratulate him, and Senator Reid added his appreciation as well. McConnell notably made the point that 99% of citizens of Kentucky won’t see their taxes go up this year (he didn’t mention payroll tax relief was allowed to expire, so every worker will get less in his or her pay check.)

Democrats claimed victory for winning tax hikes and renewal of several of the President’s signature programs (American Opportunity Act, Child Tax Credit, EITC expansion), apparently enough in the deal to satisfy most everyone—the mark of a good compromise.

The bill contains a retroactive WOTC extension through December 31st, 2013. The bill also extends retroactively through 2013 all other extenders of the bi-partisan Baucus/Hatch bill, S. 3521, that all of us worked so hard for last July and August.

Tax code provisions expiring yesterday were also continued for the coming year.

Importantly related to WOTC and extended through 2013 are empowerment zones, Indian employment tax credit, employer child care tax credit, and WOTC veterans provisions enacted in the VOW Act.

The House will take up the bill tomorrow, along with Hurricane Sandy relief, and senators are remaining in town to vote on any House amendments.

Republicans voting against the fiscal cliff deal were Lee, Paul, Shelby, Rubio, and Grassley. Democrats against were Bennett of Colorado, Harkin, and Carper.

There are many reasons for this success, but basically, thanks to your efforts, our friends including the White House held firm for the tax extenders and never flinched. This wasn’t easy, for the $70 billion cost had to be offset, and this could only be achieved by reducing the nearly one trillion in new revenue resulting from the higher tax rates in the bill.

Unemployment compensation, Medicare doctors’ payments, and a farm bill extension (to avert a leap in milk price) were also included in the bill.

For the first time in more than three decades, AMT relief was made permanent and will not have to undergo annual extension in the future.

Happy New Year and many thanks to all, however it’s still too early to break out the champagne!

Note: We’ve been trying to put into the Hurricane Sandy relief bill a WOTC credit like Katrina. However, Leader Reid’s decision was to keep the Senate bill “clean,” that is, dealing only with appropriations for relief, not tax cuts. The Sandy bill passed by the Senate is unacceptable to the House, which is scheduled to pass an amendment with far less money, but possibly with tax relief, tomorrow. If that occurs, the bill is expected to come back to the Senate where we may have a chance of pressing for Katrina-like tax relief.

 

PAUL E. SUPLIZIO
President, WOTC Coalition

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Democrats Favorable to Including Bi-Partisan Extenders Bill in Next Tax Bill

Thursday, November 15th, 2012

Some rough politics are on the horizon as Congress tries to divert the U.S. economy’s path away from the 2013 fiscal cliff.  A small but not unimportant element in this effort is the passage of a tax extenders bill covering WOTC, empowerment zones and renewal communities, the research and development credit, and others similar tax incentives.

This morning, our friend, Paul Suplizio (President of the WOTC Coalition) offered some constructive feedback and advice to businesses and lobbyists who favor passage of  tax extenders.   His comments come in the wake of President Obama’s recent press conference.

The following correspondence is published here with permission.

*****

From: Paul Suplizio
Thursday, November 15, 2012 4:13 AM
Subject: Obama Demands Passage Of Tax Bill First

November 15, 2012

President Obama argued forcefully at his press conference yesterday to pass the tax bill first, as part of a “fiscal cliff” deal, and deal with spending issues later.

Claiming the election yielded a mandate for middle class tax relief and higher rates for the wealthy, the President insisted on ending the Bush tax rates “for people who don’t need them.”

Clearly, your Coalition wants any tax bill that emerges to carry an extension of WOTC and other tax extenders along lines of S.3521, the bi-partisan Baucus/Hatch “Family and Business Tax Cut Certainty Act.” We are getting a favorable reception from Senator Reid, Senator Baucus, and other Senate and House Democrats for adding S.3521 to whatever tax bill or bills start moving.

Treasury is pushing hard for settling the question of tax rates and benefits before December 31st so IRS and taxpayers won’t be in the dark when filing their 2012 returns. The IRS Commissioner has written Congress again urging prompt action, saying more than 60 million taxpayers—about half of all filers—will be affected if Congress fails to act.

We should be pressing Republican senators and congressmen to make sure WOTC extension is included in any bill to extend the Bush tax cuts. Our approach should be sensitive to the fact that both Republican leaders—Speaker Boehner and Senate Minority Leader McConnell—are opposed to raising tax rates on the wealthy and will be making that case when they meet with the President tomorrow. This issue takes precedence for Republicans, WOTC and the tax extenders aren’t on their front burner right now.

Still, we have to use the lobbying time available, and it’s precious little. To Republicans in the Senate and House, we can still be pressing our message, “A million jobs are at stake in WOTC extension, we need your help to make sure WOTC won’t be forgotten in any deal on the Bush tax cuts, or in any bill brought by the Ways and Means Committee.”

A transcript of the President’s press conference is available at www.whitehouse.gov, click on “Briefing Room” and then “Speeches & Remarks.”

Here’s the nub of his message:

“And so the most important step we can take right now is if we right away say 98 percent of Americans are not going to see their taxes go up; 97 percent of small businesses are not going to see their taxes go up. If we get that in place, we are actually removing half of the fiscal cliff. Half of the danger to our economy is removed by that single step. And what we can then do is shape a process by which we look at tax reform—which I’m very eager to do. I think we can simplify our tax system. I think we can make it more efficient. We can eliminate loopholes and deductions which have a distorting effect on our economy. . . .

“Can we all step back and say, here’s something we can agree on—we don’t want middle class taxes to go up? Let’s go ahead and lock that in. That will be good for the economy. It will be good for consumers. It will be good for business. It takes the edge off the fiscal cliff. And lets also then commit ourselves to the broader package of deficit reduction that includes entitlement changes and it includes potentially tax reform . . .”

PAUL E. SUPLIZIO
President, WOTC Coalition

Posted in Work Opportunity Tax Credit | No Responses »
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Family And Business Tax Cut Certainty Act Of 2012 Will Extend WOTC and Empowerment Zones

Friday, August 3rd, 2012

Good news came smiling out of Washington, D.C. this week for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program and a number of other tax extenders. Some of you have contacted me with leads and insights, for which I thank you all.

On Wednesday, Senator Max Baucus, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee (a Democrat) and Senator Orin Hatch, the Committee’s top ranking Republican announced that a bipartisan agreement had been reached for the nervously-awaited tax extenders bill.

The next day, the Senate Finance Committee completed its markup of the Baucus-Hatch tax extenders bill, known as the Family and Business Tax Cut Certainty Act of 2012.

Of the 73 programs considered in the bill, 21 programs were cut from the final markup (a 25% reduction). According to Senator Hatch’s announcement of the agreement, this reduction marks a trend in the direction of Congress. Referring to Senator Baucus, Hatch states,

“My friend the Chairman has often said we need to get away from being an extenders Congress or a maintenance Congress. And I agree. We should not continue extending provisions in a stop-and-go fashion.”

“You cannot find many people who believe Congress should continue dealing with tax extenders in a business as usual manner. And this markup is not business as usual. The Chairman’s mark reverses the trend on extenders. The tide is turning. For the first time in my 21 years on this committee, we are deliberately moving in the opposite direction.”

Chairman Baucus had similarly cordial remarks.

“The bipartisan bill we’re considering today will extend tax cuts that have expired or will expire at the end of this year for American families and businesses. This bill supports jobs across the country. “

“It took a lot of hard work on the part of every member of this committee. Everyone had to compromise because we all know how important these tax cuts are, and how important it is to provide Americans with certainty about their tax liabilities next year.”

Of most immediate interest to readers of the WOTC Planet: The bill extends both the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and the Empowerment Zone program retroactively through December 31, 2013. That’s a 2-year extension.

We’ll continue following the progress of this bill for you.

Document Links:

Description Of The “Family And Business Tax Cut Certainty Act Of 2012”

Markup Statement of Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.)

Hatch Statement at Finance Committee Markup On Tax Extenders Legislation

 

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Chairman Camp Discusses WOTC; Keeping Tax Credits Alive Until Comprehensive Tax Reform

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Sometimes, the best I can do is to simply pass good news directly on to you, readers of The WOTC Planet.

Following is a correspondence from Paul Suplizio, President of The WOTC Coalition. It is published here with his permission.

Please note, the bold headings are added by me as your editor. I added them to help parse a fairly long correspondence with much important information for you to consider.

*******

June 26, 2012

[Influential WOTC Meeting with House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp and Other House and Senate Leaders]

Arnie Honkamp, Mike Welbes and others from tax consultant Honkamp-Kreuger, located in Iowa, came to Washington recently to get the WOTC message across with the help of their congressman, Tom Latham, who ranks 40th in seniority in the House and was singled out by the Coalition’s 50-state lobbying plan as a key Republican target.

Here is the advantage of seniority: Mr. Latham arranged a meeting with Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, personally escorted the group to Chairman Camp’s office, and sat in on the 30-minute meeting with the chairman and three staff aides, covering all aspects of WOTC and answering many of the Chairman’s questions.

The Honkamp team also saw Speaker Boehner’s staff and met with Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a close colleague of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus who’s been trying to clear a tax extenders bill with Senate Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell (recall the Leaders have already agreed in principle to pass the extenders, or at least those that aren’t earmarked for termination.)

We’ve been urging Senator Grassley to support Senator Baucus’ efforts, so the Honkamp meeting was timely reinforcement and assures Senator Grassley will remember these Iowa constituents.

We have people like Honkamp Kreuger working in all 50 states. You know who you are, and your efforts have begun to pay off. Every breakthrough to a Republican congressman or senator strengthens the cause.

 

[Statement on Tax Reform by Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp]

We are attaching a statement issued today by Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp on what he expects to accomplish on taxes before the August recess. Here we see the Chairman covering two lines of attack: first, the prospect of bringing a bill in July to extend the Bush tax cuts—an issue on which no final decision has been made by House leaders; and second, clarifying principles that will guide his approach to tax reform next year.

A tax bill of any kind from the House will be welcome—Camp’s statement shows House leaders are inching toward the idea that passing a bill extending the Bush cuts for another two years will be good politics. If so, such a bill would be a natural vehicle for WOTC and the other tax extenders.

Principles governing tax reform have been addressed by Chairman Camp before, for example, see his May 17 speech to the Federal Policy Group posted under “Press Releases” at www.waysandmeans.house.gov. There will be two individual tax brackets, 10 percent and 25 percent, the maximum corporate rate will be 25 percent, the alternative minimum tax will be eliminated, international taxation will be on a territorial rather than worldwide system, and “fast track” procedures for enacting tax reform should be provided by law.

 

[Chairman Camp's Strategy to Keep All Tax Credits & Deductions Alive until Comprehensive Tax Reform can be Considered]

Clearly, there will be no tax reform until 2013. Because of this, the Chairman recently adopted an interesting tactic to make the point that he doesn’t want any “tax loopholes” ended this year since he intends to use them to pay for tax reform next year: he invited Grover Norquist, the author of the famous “No Tax Pledge,” to speak to Ways and Means members and staff to underscore the importance of not closing tax loopholes this year because they will provide the savings needed to pay for major tax reform.

By “tax loopholes” is meant ALL corporate tax credits and deductions, not just tax extenders. Chairman Camp understands he cannot allow tax loopholes, including expired tax provisions, to terminate this year because he needs their revenue to pay for tax reform next year! Do we see a favorable omen for a WOTC extension for 2012 and 2013?

There will be many convulsions in the legislative swirl between now and the August recess. I am in touch with many of you already, but everyone is urged to contact me if you have any question about how you can be most effective, 703-587-4566. Many thanks for your efforts.

 

PAUL E. SUPLIZIO
President, WOTC Coalition

Posted in Work Opportunity Tax Credit | No Responses »
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US House Signals: “No Tax Extenders Until After Election”

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

According to Paul Suplizio, President of the WOTC Coalition, the US House of Representatives’ recently announced summer legislative schedule sends a clear message about the intentions of the House Republican Leadership – no tax extenders until after the election.

Tax Reform is officially dead for the year, as it’s not included in the summer legislative schedule announced today by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.  Instead, the only tax bill the House will take up this summer is extension of the Bush tax cuts.

WOTC and other tax extenders aren’t mentioned, which means House leaders are signaling they have no intention to consider them until after the election.

The ongoing delay in dealing with the tax extenders does not signal their death.  Remember that in 2006, tax extenders including WOTC were not passed until December, more than 11 months after their expiration.  Read more.

The following is published with permision.

******
From: Paul Suplizio wotc@cox.net
To: ‘Paul Suplizio’ wotc@cox.net
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 11:20 PM
Subject: House Schedules Vote on Bush Tax Cuts in July

May 25, 2012

Tax Reform is officially dead for the year, as it’s not included in the summer legislative schedule announced today by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

Instead, the only tax bill the House will take up this summer is extension of the Bush tax cuts.

WOTC and other tax extenders aren’t mentioned, which means House leaders are signaling they have no intention to consider them until after the election.

(Post-election, several must-do tax measures must be acted on by year-end—Bush tax cuts, estate and payroll tax extension, alternative minimum tax relief, and others—WOTC and other tax extenders could be part of these bills.)

The economy isn’t percolating these days so pressure may build for a summer deal to extend the Bush tax cuts, as the unemployment situation favors another one-year extension. A Bush extension bill would provide an opportunity to attach WOTC and we are committed to making the attempt.

If the White House signals an interest in negotiations on Bush this summer, there’s a good chance Senate negotiators could bring WOTC and other extenders into the talks because Senators Reid and Baucus are committed to passing the extenders. We are told the White House is preparing an answer to Speaker Boehner on possible talks to help the economy.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has already characterized Leader Cantor’s proposal to extend the Bush cuts as “holding tax relief for middle class Americans hostage to tax cuts for the wealthy.” White House willingness to enter negotiations would be a sea-change.

Should negotiations to extend the Bush tax cuts occur during the next two months, we must be ready to overcome Republican resistance to including WOTC in any deal, so our current lobbying plan to engage House and Senate Republicans to support WOTC remains vital.

Should the Parties decline to negotiate, the House may pass an extension of Bush but the Senate won’t act on it. There are still the Highway and miscellaneous tariff bills, and perhaps others, that could serve as a vehicle for enacting WOTC and other extenders if we can get Senator McConnell and Senator Reid to agree to add an extenders amendment to one of those bills. (The only way bills pass in the Senate is when Reid and McConnell agree, as either Party can block the other.)

Both Reid and McConnell have made statements on the Senate floor supporting passage of the extenders, but the foot-dragging is on the Republican side where some senators want to prune the extenders list. To get action on WOTC, the best way to persuade Senator McConnell to move is to get a majority of Republican members of the Senate to urge him to delay no longer on passage of an extenders bill including WOTC.

PAUL E. SUPLIZIO
President, WOTC Coalition

*****

Note:  Bold emphasis is in original.

 

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50-State Lobbying Priorities for WOTC Coalition and Interested Parties

Saturday, April 14th, 2012

The following advisement was provided by Paul Suplizio, President of the WOTC Coalition on Monday of this week.  It is published here with permission.

Renewed lobbying efforts will begin on April 16th.

This post is full of good information and insider advice to help you with your lobbying efforts. Paul also outlines lobbying priorities for each state.  Find out what is going on in your state.

As a WOTC Planet reader, you should feel welcome to contact the WOTC Coalition with your questions.  Reach Mr. Suplizio by email at wotc@cox.net   Even better, consider joining the WOTC Coalition and making a financial contribution if you can.

************

From: Paul Suplizio
Sent: Monday, April 9, 2012 12:32 AM
Subject: WOTC 50-State Lobbying Priorities

April 9, 2012

Here we recap priority lobbying targets for the House and Senate in each state, noting in some cases senators or congressmen running for election.  By energizing WOTC supporters in every state to contact these targets, we will have a nationwide full-court press on precisely the right members of Congress.
When Congress returns April 16th we will have another chance to get WOTC renewed.  The Small Busines Tax Cut Bill reported by Ways and Means on March 29th will most likely go to the floor because it’s a priority of the House leadership.  Recently, it was boosted by an interview Majority Leader Eric Cantor gave to the media.  If that bill gets to the Senate, our goal will be to get a retroactive WOTC renewal attached to it.
 Now is the time to start making contacts in the states where you operate.  The entire House will be home campaigning this week, as will contestants for 33 Senate seats.  They will be anxious to hear your message.  Don’t forget to be ready to answer the congressman’s question, “What do you want me to do?”  The answer for House members is “Co-sponsor H.R. 2082 and urge Ways and Means Chairman Camp to make WOTC a permanent part of the tax code.”  In the Senate, it’s “Join with Senator Baucus to pass a bi-partisan WOTC extender bill.

Use the fact sheet and model letter at our web site to educate those in your organization whom you recruit to help.  Remember the Coalition’s phone number if they have questions, 703-587-4566.

It takes only one intelligent, motivated, outgoing person in each local branch, field office, or client to quickly get acquainted with his congressman or senator and their legislative assistants by calling their local office or Washington office, 202-224-3121, to start the ball rolling.   The aim is to deliver the WOTC message directly in a meeting with the congressman or aides, followed up in writing and by phone at critical points in the campaign.
The Coalition can help your organization, we’ll make field calls and mobilize your members or branches for you.  We can also write your talking points and letters.  We just need your go-ahead.  The next three months will be crucial.
 A point worth repeating because it’s an election year: it’s out of bounds to cast your message suggesting an offer of electoral support in return for support of WOTC.  Advocacy isn’t a horse trade, and suggesting it isn’t proper.  You are a constituent asking your congressman’s help in a legislative matter of concern to your business, or state or district, so stick to the merits of your case without mentioning the election unless the congressman or senator brings it up.  In that case you may speak frankly, but often the prudent response is you can’t speak to the election at present.  Someone in the congressman’s campaign, which is separate from his legislative office, may contact you for electoral support or you may contact the campaign if you are eager to help, but keep your advocacy and political roles separate.

Below are priority targets for House and Senate targets in all 50 states, emphasizing lobbying Republicans in the House to co-sponsor H.R. 2082, and Republicans in the Senate to join with Senator Baucus in a bi-partisan WOTC extender bill.

Alabama

Senator Richard Shelby (R)

Senator Jeff Sessions (R)

Congressman Jo Bonner (R)

Congressman Robert B. Aderholt (R)

Congressman Spencer Bachus (R)

Alaska

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R)

Senator Mark Begich  (D)—Senator Begich is new and needs to be fully informed about WOTC.  Bottom line: please work with Senator Baucus for WOTC renewal.

Congressman Don Young (R)—Congressman Young is the at-large congressman for the entire state of Alaska and ranks second in seniority among House Republicans.

Arizona

Senator John McCain (R)

Congressman Jeff Flake (R)—Senator Jon Kyl is retiring and Congressman Flake is running for Senate.  His principal Democratic opponent is former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona.  The race is expected to be a toss-up between Flake and Carmona.

Congressman Trent Franks (R)

Arkansas

Senator John Boozman (R)

Congressman Rick Crawford (R)

California

Congressman Wally Herger (R)—high-ranking on Ways and Means

Congressman Devin Nunes (R)—Ways and Means member

Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R)—House Majority Whip, member of the leadership

Congressman Elton Gallegly (R)—Chairs Immigration Policy Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

Congressman Howard P. McKeon (R)—Armed Services Committee Chairman

Congressman Ed Royce (R)

Congressman Jerry Lewis (R)—third-ranking in seniority among House Republicans

Congressman Gary G. Miller (R)

Congressman Ken Calvert (R)

Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (R)

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R)

Congressman Brian P. Bilbray (R)

Congressman Darrel Issa (R)

Colorado

Congressman Cory Gardner (R)

Congressman Scott Tipton (R)

Connecticut

Congressman Christopher S. Murphy (D)—Senator Joseph Lieberman is retiring and Democratic Congressman Murphy is running for this open seat; he will first have to win the primary on August 14th.  His Republican opponent will be either former Senate candidate Linda P. McMahon (R) or former congressman Christopher Shays (R) who will compete in the primary on August 14.  Let’s urge Murphy to co-sponsor H.R. 2082, entering the Senate a committed WOTC supporter if he wins.  Christopher Shays is a past WOTC supporter but must first win the August primary to be in a position to help.

Delaware

Congressman John Carney (D)—Congressman Carney is new and needs to be informed about WOTC and urged to co-sponsor H.R. 2082.  As with many Delaware congressmen, he may enter the Senate someday.

Florida

Senator Marco Rubio (R)

Congressman Jeff Miller (R)

Congressman Ander Crenshaw (R)

Congressman John L. Mica (R)

Congressman Vern Buchanan (R)—Ways and Means member

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R)

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R)

Georgia

Senator Saxby Chambliss (R)

Senator Johnny Isakson (R)

Congressman Jack Kingston (R)

Congressman Tom Price (R)—Chairman, Republican Policy Committee and Ways and Means member

Congressman Phil Gingrey

Hawaii

Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D)—Senator Daniel Akaka is retiring and Congresswoman Hirono is running to replace him if she wins the August 11 primary against former Congressman Ed Case.  She can help us now by co-sponsoring H.R. 2082.   Former governor Linda Lingle (R) is the Republican candidate for this seat in what could be a close race with the Democratic nominee.

Idaho

Senator Michael D. Crapo (R)—Finance Committee member

Senator Jim Risch (R)

Congressman Mike Simpson (R)

Illinois

Congressman Peter Roskam (R) Ways and Means member and Deputy Whip.

Congressman John Shimkus (R)

Congressman Donald Manzullo (R)—he is in a primary fight with freshman Congressman Adam Kinzinger, and would be willing to hear our case for co-sponsoring H.R. 2082.

Adam Kinzinger (R)—he is in primary fight with Congressman Donald Manzullo due to re-districting, and as a “young gun” needs to hear the case for WOTC and co-sponsoring H.R. 2082.

Timothy V. Johnson (R)

Indiana

Senator Richard Lugar (R)—has primary fight with State Treasurer Richard Mourdock on May 8.

Senator Dan Coats (R)

Congressman Joe Donnelly (D)—will run against Lugar or Mourdock in general election.

Iowa

Senator Charles E. Grassley (R)—Finance Committee member

Congressman Tom Latham (R)

Congressman Steve King (R)

Kansas

Senator Pat Roberts (R)—Finance Committee member, tried to pass WOTC extension on amendment to Highway bill on March 14 but could not muster 60 votes.

Senator Jerry Moran (R)

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R)—Ways and Means member

Congressman Kevin Yoder (R)—Kansas City

Kentucky

Senator Mitch McConnell (R)—Minority Leader

Senator Rand Paul (R)

Congressman Edward Whitfield (R)

Congressman Harold Rogers (R)

Congressman Geoff Davis (R)

Louisiana

Senator David Vitter (R

Congressman Charles Boustany, Jr. (R)—high ranking on Ways and Means

Congressman Rodney Alexander (R)

Congressman Steve Scalise (R)

Congressman John Fleming (R)

Maine

Senator Susan Collins (R)—Task is to urge her support for WOTC in the Republican Conference and with Minority Leader McConnell.

Senator Olympia Snowe (R)—Senator Snowe is retiring and neither of the congressmen from Maine, both Democrats, are running for her seat.  Former governor Angus King (I) has declared his candidacy as an independent.  Maine Treasurer Bruce Poliquin has announced for the Democrats. Governor King is the leading contender and should be briefed on WOTC at the earliest opportunity.  The primary is June 12th.

Maryland

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D)—House Minority Whip, needs to hear importance of WOTC for Maryland and asked to co-sponsor H.R. 2082.

Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D)—A de facto member of the House Democratic leadership, getting him to co-sponsor H.R. 2082 would be influential with many Democrats.

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D)—Urge him to co-sponsor H.R. 2082 and ask his colleagues Hoyer and Van Hollen to do likewise.

Massachusetts

Senator Scott P. Brown (R)—running for re-election as a moderate, he should be contacted and asked to work with Senator Baucus to enact a bi-partisan extenders bill including WOTC.  His Democratic opponent is former Consumer Finance Protection Bureau chief, Elizabeth Warren.

Michigan

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D)—member of the Finance Committee running for re-election, she recently introduced an extenders amendment to the Highway bill covering only renewable energy extenders.  She fell 11 votes short and can be expected to try again on another bill.  Urge her to join with Senator Baucus in a bi-partisan WOTC extender bill.

Congressman Fred Upton (R)—Commerce Committee chair and close to the Leadership, make sure he’s thoroughly familiar with the case for WOTC.

Congressman Mike Rogers (R)

Congressman Dave Camp (R)—Ways and Means chairman, does not co-sponsor so it’s important for him to hear from House colleagues about importance of WOTC to their constituents and need to move a WOTC extender bill and make WOTC permanent in the tax reform bill.

Minnesota

Amy Klobuchar (D)—running for re-election, urge her to work with Senator Baucus for WOTC renewal at earliest possible date.

John Kline (R)—chairman of Education and the Workforce Committee

Eric Paulsen (R)—Ways and Means member

Michele Bachmann (R)—sensitive to life issues of people with disabilities

Mississippi

Senator Thad Cochran (R)—Chairman of Appropriations Committee, stress importance of WOTC target groups to Mississippi economy, ask that he work with his colleagues in the Republican Conference for renewal.

Senator Roger Wicker (R)—Wicker is running for re-election and his race is called safe.  Brief him on importance of WOTC and urge support in the Republican Conference and with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Congressman Bennie Thompson (D)—high-ranking Democrat on Homeland Security, important to visit (has six local offices, including Jackson), brief and urge him to co-sponsor H.R. 2082.

Missouri

Senator Claire McCaskill (D)—running for re-election against Congressman Todd Akin (R) and others.  Urge her to commit to work with Senator Baucus for WOTC renewal at earliest possible date.

Congressman Todd Akin (R)—running against Senator McCaskill for U.S. Senate.  Urge him to co-sponsor H.R. 2082 and commit to speak to or write Chairman Camp about its importance to Missouri.

Senator Roy Blunt (R)—member of Minority Leadership in Senate, he chairs the Republican Conference and as an experienced legislator he’s willing to listen.  Brief him about importance of WOTC to Missouri targeted workers and their families, and urge his support for WOTC when the subject comes up in the Republican Conference and Leadership meetings.

Congressman Sam Graves (R)

Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (R)

Montana

Congressman Denny Rehberg (R)—running against incumbent Senator John Tester (D) for U.S. Senate.  Congressman Rehberg, chairman of the Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee, knows WOTC from in-person briefings by Coalition member MARS/Stout in Missoula during last year’s appropriations battle.  Current objective: co-sponsor H.R. 2082 and talk to Chairman Camp about importance of renewing WOTC and making it permanent.

Nebraska

Senator Ben Nelson (D)—is retiring and leading contenders for his seat are former Senator John Kerry (D) and State Attorney General John Bruning (R), State Treasurer Don Stenberg (R), and State Senator Deb Fischer (R).  Primary is May 15.

Senator Mike Johanns (R)—former Secretary of Agriculture, we need to win his support and urge him to speak up in the Senate Republican Conference for WOTC.

Congressman Adrian Smith (R)—Ways and Means member

Nevada

Senator Dean Heller (R)—running for re-election in close race with Democratic Congresswoman Shelly Berkley, a Ways and Means member.  Heller should be urged to speak up in the Senate Republican Conference for WOTC.

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D)—Ways and Means member, running for U.S. Senate against incumbent Senator Dean Heller (R).  Urge her to co-sponsor H.R. 2082.

New Hampshire

Senator Kelly Ayotte (R)–brief her and urge support for WOTC in the Republican Conference and with Minority Leader McConnell.

Congressman Charles Bass (R)

New Jersey

Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (R)

Congressman Christopher H. Smith (R)

Congressman Scott Garrett (R)

Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R)

New Mexico

Congressman Martin Heinrich (D)—running for seat of Senator Jeff Bingaman (D) who is retiring.  Leading Republican contender is former Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R).  Heinrich and Wilson are tied in a close race and both must win primaries on June 5th.  Task is to urge Heinrich to co-sponsor H.R. 2082.

Congressman Steve Pearce (R)

New York

Congressman Robert Turner (R)—running for seat of incumbent Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D) who is up for re-election.  Urge him to co-sponsor H.R. 2082

Congressman Peter T. King (R)

Congressman Tom Reed (R)—Ways and Means member

North Carolina

Senator Richard M. Burr—Senate Finance Committee member.  Urge him to work with Senator Baucus to co-sponsor a bi-partisan extenders bill including WOTC.

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R)

Congressman Howard Coble (R)

Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R)

Congressman Patrick T. McHenry (R)

North Dakota

Senator John Hoeven (R)—former governor of North Dakota, let’s urge him to support WOTC in the Republican Conference.

Congressman Rick Berg (R)—running for seat held by Senator Kent Conrad who is retiring, Berg is a member of Ways and Means and is in a close race with Heidi Heitcamp (D).  Continue working to gain his co-sponsorship of H.R. 2082.

Ohio

Senator Rob Portman (R)

Senator Sherrod Brown (D)—running for re-election against State Treasurer Josh Mandel

Congressman Steve Chabot (R)

Congressman Steve Austria (R)

Congressman Pat Tiberi—Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairman

Congressman Steven C. LaTourette (R)

Congressman Michael R. Turner (R)

Oklahoma

Senator James Inhofe (R)

Senator Tom Coburn (R)—Finance Committee member

Congressman Frank D. Lucas (R)

Congressman Tom Cole (R)

Oregon

Senator Ron Wyden (D)

Senator Jeff Merkley (D)

Congressman Greg Walden (R)

Pennsylvania

Senator Patrick J. Toomey (R)

Senator Bob Casey (D) is running for reelection.  Republican opponents are mining businessman Tom Smith and biotech businessman Steven Welch, primary April 24th.

Congressman Glenn Thompson (R)

Congressman Jim Gerlach (R)—Ways and Means member

Congressman Bill Shuster (R)

Congressman Tom Marino (R)

Congressman Lou Barletta (R)

Congressman Charlie Dent (R)

Congressman Joe Pitts (R)

Congressman Tim Murphy (R)

Congressman Todd R. Platts (R)

Rhode Island

Senator Jack Reed (D)

Congressman David Cicilline (D)

Congressman Jim Langevin (D)

South Carolina

Senator Lindsey Grahan (R)

Senator Jim DeMint (R)

Congressman Joe Wilson (R)

South Dakota

Senator John Thune (R)

Congresswoman Christi Noem (R)

Tennessee

Senator Lamar Alexander (R)

Senator Bob Corker (R)

Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R)

Congressman Phil Roe (R)

Texas

Senator John Cornyn (R)

Senator Kaye Bailey Hutchison (R) is retiring and Republican contenders are Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, and former Solicitor General Ted Cruz.  Democratic contender is retired General Ric Sanchez.  Primary is May 29th.

Congressman Louie Gohmert (R)

Congressman Ted Poe (R)

Congressman Sam Johnson (R)—Ways and Means member

Congressman Ralph M. Hall (R)

Congressman Joe L. Barton (R)

Congressman John Culberson (R)

Congressman Kevin Brady (R)—Ways and Means member

Congressman Michael McCaul (R)

Congressman K. Michaie Conaway (R)

Congresswoman Kay Ganger (R)

Congressman William Thornberry (R)

Congressman Bill Flores (R)

Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R)

Congressman Lamar Smith (R)

Congressman Pete Olson (R)

Congressman Francisco Canseco (R)

Congressman Kenny Marchant (R)—Ways and Means member

Congressman Michael C. Burgess (R)

Congressman John Carter (R)

Congressman Pete Sessions (R)

Utah

Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R), Ranking Member of Senate Finance Committee, is running for re-election and won the Republican caucus on March 15.

Senator Mike Lee (R)

Congressman Rob Bishop (R)

Vermont

Congressman Peter Welch (D)

Virginia

Senator Jim Webb (D) is retiring and former Senator George Allen (R), and former Governor Tim Kaine (D) are the principal contenders in a race too close to call.

Congressman Rob Wittman (R)

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R)

Congressman Robert W. Goodlatte (R)

Congressman Frank R. Wolf (R)

Washington

Senator Maria Cantwell (D) is running for re-election.  There are two Republican contenders—State Senator Michael Baumgartner and TV anchor Phillip Yin.  Primary is August 7.

Congressman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R)

Congressman Doc Hastings (R)

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R)

Congressman Dave Reichert (R)—Ways and Means member

West Virginia

Senator Joe Manchin (D) is running for re-election against Republican challenger John Raese.  Primary is May 8th.

Congressman David B. McKinley (R)

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R)

Wisconsin

Senator Ron Johnson (R)

Senator Herb Kohl (D) is retiring.  Leading Democratic contender is Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin; leading Republican contender is former Governor Tommy Thompson.

Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R)

Congressman Tom Petri (R)

Congressman Sean P. Duffy (R)

Congressman Reid Ribble (R)

Wyoming

Senator Michael B. Enzi (R)

Senator John Barrasso (R)

Congresswoman Cynthia M. Lummis (R)

Please do your best to get your members or clients in the field to make these important contacts.  In our view, contacts from constituents are the most effective form of advocacy.  This is essential work for the next three months.  Please contact the Coalition by e-mail or 703-587-4566 for assistance at any time.

PAUL E. SUPLIZIO

President, WOTC Coalition

 

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U.S. Senator Pat Roberts Attempts to Renew WOTC

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Yesterday, the U. S. Senate voted down an amendment to the Surface Transportation bill that would have renewed many of the now expired tax extenders.

Although I haven’t seen this important detail in other news coverage, Paul Suplizio informs us today that the amendment would have renewed the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) retroactively through the end of 2012. Paul Suplizio is the President of the WOTC Coalition.

The amendment was proposed by Senator Pat Roberts, Republican from Kansas, who is also a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Sixty votes were required to approve Senator Roberts’ amendment. It failed 41-57, drawing the opposition of most Democrats because it was coupled with provisions to approve the Keystone pipeline and expanded oil drilling off the shore of Alaska.

“[WOTC] Coalition members in Kansas are urging Senator Roberts to join with Senator [Max] Baucus to try again to pass the extenders alone. However, that will have to be done on another vehicle as S.1813 passed the Senate today and now goes to the House for action and a conference.”

Another amendment offered by Senator Debbie Stabenow, Democrat from Michigan, would have added renewable energy tax extenders to the Surface Transportation bill.  This proposal did not include WOTC. It also failed 48 to 60.

“We feel sure Senator Stabenow will try again on another bill as solar and wind manufacturing has become vital to the Michigan economy, and we are urging her to include WOTC and other extenders the next time.”

If you support renewal of WOTC and other tax extenders, consider expressing your support now for these two Senators.  Remember, Senator Stabenow did not include WOTC in her amendment but may be encouraged to include WOTC with the other tax extenders she is already supporting.

Senator Pat Roberts
109 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1605
Phone: 202-224-4774
Fax: 202-224-3514

Senator Debbie Stabenow
133 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4822
Fax: (202) 228-0325

 

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Senate Committee on Finance Holds Hearing on Tax Extenders (Including WOTC)

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Parallel to the House-Senate conference on extending the payroll tax cut, the Senate Committee on Finance is holding a special hearing on Tuesday to examine the 50 or more tax extenders that expired in December.  The hearing is titled: Extenders and Tax Reform: Seeking Long-Term Solutions.

According to a Monday article in Accounting Today,

At Tuesday’s hearing, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., ranking Republican member Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and the witnesses will discuss how best to approach tax extenders in order to create certainty and allow businesses to invest confidently and create jobs.

Witnesses scheduled to testify include Rutgers University economics department chair Rosanne Altshuler, George Mason University senior research fellow Jason J. Fichtner, University of Texas law professor Calvin H. Johnson, and U.S Chamber of Commerce chief tax counsel Caroline L. Harris.

Many of these details can be had on the hearing’s page on Senate Committee on Finance’s website.  Click here.

Submit a Statement for the Record (We all should do this now)

You and your organization or business can submit a statement to the committee to get your views into the record.  It’s a simple process but there are a few details of protocol that must be observed.  The following is copied directly from the Senate website (emphasis added by underlining).

Any individual or organization wanting to present their views for inclusion in the hearing record should submit a typewritten, single-spaced statement, not exceeding 10 pages in length. Title and date of the hearing, and the full name and address of the individual or organization must appear on the first page of the statement. Statements must be received no later than two weeks following the conclusion of the hearing.

Statements should be mailed (not faxed) to:

Senate Committee on Finance
Attn. Editorial and Document Section
Rm. SD-219
Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510-6200b

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WOTC Call to Action – New Developments for WOTC and Tax Extenders

Friday, January 27th, 2012

There are new developments in the effort to include WOTC and other tax-extenders in the upcoming payroll tax cut bill. A Senate-House conference is currently negotiating to extend the payroll tax cut, which expires in February.

Paul Suplizio, President of the WOTC Coalition, reports that Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp is “waving off in advance an expected offer from Senator Baucus” to include tax extenders in the bill. Max Baucus is Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Mr. Suplizio goes on to explain, however, that while Chairman Camp’s statements should be taken seriously they do not halt the current tax-extenders discussion.

The Senate and President Obama both want the tax extenders in the bill. As a result, WOTC and other tax extenders have become a negotiating chip for Chairman Camp and the House Republicans who want to include other important but controversial provision in the bill.

For WOTC supporters, our job now is at least two-fold. (1) We must persuade Senate conferees to INSIST on including WOTC and the other extenders in the bill. And (2) we must persuade House Speaker Boehner that it will be in the House Republicans’ interest to agree on their inclusion.

Paul Suplizio said it well in a recent correspondence to members of the WOTC Coalition.

“We need to drive home to Speaker Boehner that not including the extenders is putting House Republicans on record as favoring a tax increase on businesses, farmers, communities, and workers—a tax increase they don’t need at this stage of the recovery.”

Is your fax machine and telephone working? Time is short. Time to roll.

Posted in Federal Legislation, Work Opportunity Tax Credit | No Responses »
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