If you’ve been listening to talk radio or the news this morning, you will have already heard House Speaker John Boehner’s talking about the House’s “Plan B” tax bill. The White House has already rejected the Plan B proposal and it is expected to also die in the Senate. Nevertheless, the bill is important because it will outline what is important to House Republicans and will potentially set a baseline for supporting tax extenders in subsequent bills.
I received this action alert just minutes ago from Paul Suplizio, President of the WOTC Coalition. It is published here with permission.
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From: Paul Suplizio
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 12:02 PM
Subject: Action Required on House Republicans’ Plan B
December 18, 2012
After meeting with House Republicans this morning, Speaker Boehner announced that—while continuing to engage in negotiations with the President—the House would take up and pass a “Plan B” tax bill that will extend all Bush tax cuts while increasing the rate on taxable income above $1 million to 39.6 percent.
Speaker Boehner has been under a lot of pressure from members to do something they can carry home to their constituents when they return for the holidays. The main purpose of Plan B is to placate them, it will die in the Senate.
Nevertheless, Plan B will be the foremost, definitive, and final statement of House Republicans of the 112th Congress on tax policy. From our standpoint, the House has gone the entire duration of the 112th Congress leaving tax code provisions expired without any attempt to address this issue in an extension bill. They now have, in the Republican majority’s final declaration on tax policy, an opportunity to set things right.
Accordingly, our advice is to continue pressing House leaders to support WOTC and other tax extenders by communicating with Republicans along the following lines:
“On December 18, Speaker Boehner announced the House would soon vote on Plan B to extend the Bush tax cuts for most Americans. Businesses and workers and families we represent have been pleading with the House for the better part of two years to pass a bill extending expired or about to expire provisions of the tax code, such as the work opportunity tax credit. We have suffered financial loss and those we assist have suffered loss of services as a result. Uncertainty on taxes has spread through the economy. Yet the House has gone the entire period without taking a stand on renewal of the tax extenders in any bill brought to the floor. Plan B will be the last opportunity to take action on renewal of the work opportunity tax credit for the disabled, youth, and veterans, as well as renewal of many other worthwhile tax code provisions that deserve to be included in this final measure. Please contact House leaders and urge them to take this opportunity to assure WOTC and other tax extenders are included in the Plan B legislation to be brought soon before the House.”
Plan B will be voted on in the next two or three days. After that, if there’s a deal that includes WOTC and extenders, Plan B will be history and the 112th will have redeemed itself. We still expect a deal—Republicans have already won a victory by holding down the capital gains and dividends tax increases and holding the top rate to incomes above $400,000. Extenders aren’t assured yet, please stay engaged.
PAUL E. SUPLIZIO
President, WOTC Coalition
"Plan B" Action Alert – Support Inclusion of Tax Extenders in House Tax Bill
