On Monday, the EXPIRE Act of 2014 was introduced to the Senate and placed on the Senate Calendar. Find detailed information at Congress.gov here.
The EXPIRE Act proposes to extend WOTC through 2015 and support for the bill in the Senate is strong; HOWEVER, proponents of the Work Opportunity Credit face a serious challenge in the House where the Ways and Means Committee is now taking up individual tax extender programs for evaluation. Among committee members, Republican support for extending WOTC is weak.
Paul Suplizio, President of the WOTC Coalition, issued an urgent call to action this week. The following is published here with permission.
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From: “Paul Suplizio” <wotc@cox.net>
Date: Mon, April 28, 2014 9:22 am
Subject: Winning Ways And Means Republicans Imperative While Senate Debates Extenders Bill
April 28, 2014
Congress returns today and at 2:00 PM Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may say when the Senate Finance Committee’s bill, “Expiring Provisions Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency Act (EXPIRE Act)” will come to the floor. The bill includes a two-year retroactive extension of WOTC and empowerment zones, and adds the long-term unemployed as a new WOTC target group. The extension covers workers hired between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015.
The Senate bill will likely be brought up as an amendment to a House bill, since revenue measures must originate in the House; H.R. 2575 has been cleared for this purpose. H.R. 2575, “Save American Workers Act,” changes the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) to make 40 hours per week the requirement for a full-time worker. It’s likely this provision will not be part of the amended bill Senator Reid brings to the floor.
Tomorrow, Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp continues his plan for a hearing on tax extender, followed by markup and vote on a separate bill for each extender. Go to www.waysandmeans.house.gov and, under “Committee Schedule” click on April 29. You will note the following seven bills to be voted on:
- H.R. 4058, To prevent and address sex trafficking of youth In foster care;
- H.R. 4429, To permanently extend the Subpart F exemption for active financing income;
- H.R. 4438, To simplify and make permanent the research credit;
- H.R. 4453, To make permanent the reduced recognition period for built-in gains of S corporations;
- H.R. 4454, To make permanent certain rules regarding basis adjustments to stock of S corporations making charitable contributions of property;
- H.R. 4457, To permanently extend increased expensing limitations, and for other purposes;
- H.R. 4464, To make permanent the look-through treatment of payments between related controlled foreign corporations.
If these bills clear Ways and Means with Republicans voting in favor, smooth sailing to a House vote making them a permanent part of the tax code will follow. If they pass Ways and Means mainly with Democratic votes plus a few Republicans, the odds are against their even getting a vote in the House.
We’ve underscored the need to get Republican congressmen on Ways and Means into WOTC’s corner for this decisive vote. So much at stake means having to go the extra mile–the President or CEO of every organization or business committed to WOTC must call and meet with Republican congressmen on Ways and Means in states where you have operations. This cannot be left to Washington alone.
So far, the hearing and markup for WOTC hasn’t been scheduled so we still have time to get this done—all that’s required is for everyone to do their part and reach out to these key Republican congressmen who will decide WOTC’s future.
We’re already in touch with WOTC supporters targeting Ways and Means Republicans from California, Ohio, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Washington, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Kansas. We still need supporters in Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee to come forward. Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, and other states are being covered by our colleague, National Employment Opportunities Network (NEON).
If you’re ready to help and uncertain of what to do, contact us by return e-mail or phone 703-587-4566.
Here again are Ways and Means Republicans we are targeting:
Sam Johnson (TX)
Kevin Brady (TX)
Kenny Marchant (TX)
Pat Tiberi (OH)
James B. Renacci (OH)
Jim Gerlach (PA)
Mike Kelly (PA)
Paul Ryan (WI)
Devin Nunes (CA)
Dave Reichert (WA)
Charles Boustany, Jr (LA)
Peter Roskam (IL)
Tom Price (GA)
Vern Buchanan (FL)
Adrian Smith (NE)
Erik Paulsen (MN)
Diane Black (TN)
Tom Reed (NY)
Todd Young (IN)
Tim Griffin (AR)
Note: Aaron Schock of IL and Lynn Jenkins of KS are already WOTC supporters and are not to be lobbied. Chairman Dave Camp of MI is opposed to permanent WOTC but might vote for a short-term extension.
PAUL E. SUPLIZIO
President, WOTC Coalition
