It appears the opportunity for a general tax extenders bill has expired for 2013. With a contentious election year approaching, the nation will likely wait until 2015 before Congress takes up the issue — after the 2014 elections. This is truly unfortunate given that almost 60 tax provisions expire on December 31, 2013. Here’s the entire list, published by the Joint Committee on Taxation. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is one of the expiring provisions.
Given the entire nation’s current hypersensitivity to all things health-care, however, Congress retained doc-fix legislation as an end-of-year priority. While there was some hope for a real doc-fix solution, it looks like another temporary fix is scheduled for markup on December 12th.
The WOTC Coalition is pressing for a temporary extension of the Work Opportunity Credit to be included with the doc-fix bill.
We still have a good opportunity if every Coalition member will act. The last “must-do” bill the Senate will complete will be a temporary Medicare doc fix measure to prevent a 24% cut in doctor’s payments. We are working to get the Senate to put a one-year WOTC extension into this bill because veterans, people with disabilities, and food stamp recipients, at-risk youth, and low-income seniors are as deserving as doctors and should have top priority for inclusion in this bill.
Time is very short! Paul Suplizio, President of the WOTC Coaltion offers two specific action steps designed to get WOTC into the upcoming bill. The following is published here with permision.
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From: “Paul Suplizio” <wotc@cox.net>
Date: Thu, December 05, 2013 8:15 am
December 5, 2013
Subject: Prompt Action With Senators Can Win Temporary WOTC Extension
Action on a package of extenders before Congress adjourns has been ruled out, but we don’t accept that for WOTC, which represents the nation’s promise of jobs for veterans, people with disabilities, food stamp recipients and others with the highest unemployment rates in the labor market.
We cannot let these million jobs disappear for 18 months—that’s what will happen if WOTC isn’t renewed before Congress leaves town, because odds of a tax bill passing in an election year are slim and it will be up to the new Congress to deal with extension in 2015.
We still have a good opportunity if every Coalition member will act. The last “must-do” bill the Senate will complete will be a temporary Medicare doc fix measure to prevent a 24% cut in doctor’s payments. We are working to get the Senate to put a one-year WOTC extension into this bill because veterans, people with disabilities, and food stamp recipients, at-risk youth, and low-income seniors are as deserving as doctors and should have top priority for inclusion in this bill.
There are two Senate meetings coming up where senators who support WOTC must speak out: at the Democratic and Republican party meetings on Monday and Tuesday when the Senate returns from recess, and at the Finance Committee markup of the doc fix bill on December 12th.
Here are the two actions you should take:
Action Number 1:
Immediately contact your Democratic and Republican senators by e-mail, fax, and telephone with this message:
“WOTC will expire on December 31st with the loss of a million jobs for veterans, people with disabilities, food stamp recipients and others, and there’s little chance it will be renewed before the next Congress. Please ensure the nation’s commitment to these jobs for those with the highest unemployment rates is upheld by speaking out at your Party meeting when the Senate returns, and insist that a one-year extension of WOTC should have the highest priority for inclusion in the “doc fix” bill the Senate will pass before adjournment. Ask your Leader to work to include a WOTC extension in an amendment when the doc fix bill comes to the Senate floor. A WOTC extension will not increase the Federal deficit—it will have the same impact on revenues next year as this year.”
Action Number 2:
If your senator is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, fax him or her a letter on your company’s letterhead, and then follow up a phone call to their tax legislative assistant, with this message:
“When the Senate Finance Committee meets to mark up the Medicare doctors payments bill on December 12th, please support an amendment to include a one-year extension of WOTC in the bill; otherwise, one million jobs for veterans, people with disabilities, food stamp recipients and others will expire with the likelihood they will not be renewed till the next Congress. Please uphold the nation’s commitment to those experiencing the highest unemployment rates in the jobs market by ensuring the Finance Committee acts to include a WOTC extension in the “doc fix” bill the Senate will pass before adjournment. A WOTC extension will not increase the Federal deficit—it will have the same impact on revenues next year as this year.”
Please be aware your Coalition has been working for an amendment in the Finance Committee for a one-year WOTC extension since last week. We are in touch with Senator Baucus’ people and other members of the Finance Committee who might offer our amendment. Our veterans organizations, and organizations serving people with disabilities have been mobilized to weigh in. We will keep you informed and will be calling on you again—this is our last best opportunity before 2015 and we know you’ll pitch in to get the job done.
Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions or need our assistance in your efforts, 703-587-4566.
PAUL E. SUPLIZIO
President, WOTC Coalition
