The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures has scheduled a hearing on Tax Extenders for 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 26th.   That is in six days.
This is an Urgent Matter for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and other tax extenders because the policy of the Ways and Means Committee and the Republican House leadership will largely be set by the decisions flowing from this discussion.
I am publishing, with permission, a communication received this afternoon from Paul Suplizio, President of the WOTC Coalition.  Paul offers  some specific suggestions to make the  impact we need before that hearing takes place. Again, this is urgent.
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From: Paul Suplizio wotc@cox.net
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2012 2:24 PM
Subject: Hearing on Future of WOTC Set for Thursday, April 26
April 20, 2012
Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Ways and Means Committee, has announced a hearing on Tax Extenders to be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 26th in Room 1100 Longworth House Office Building.
Testimony will be received solely from House members who have sponsored or co-sponsored legislation extending, modifying, or improving a tax extender, of which WOTC is one.
Congressman Aaron Schock, sponsor of H.R. 2082, WOTC Improvements Act, will testify on behalf of WOTC. Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman Emeritus of Ways and Means and the lead Democratic co-sponsor, has been invalided by a bad back for the past two months and may not be able to appear. We are asking Ranking Minority Member Sander Levin to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 2082, and that he and other co-sponsors consider submitting a statement for the record.
Your Coalition will submit a statement for the record, and Coalition members may do so as well. Details as to form and deadline for submission are attached to the hearing announcement, which may be accessed at www.waysandmeans.house.gov, click on “Hearings.”
It should be clear that decisions flowing from this hearing will eventually become the policy of the Ways and Means majority and of the House leadership and will thus decide the future of WOTC insofar as the House is concerned.
Since last summer, many of us have been lobbying Ways and Means Republicans to support a WOTC extension. Many of them have been advised to be wary of the tax extenders because the plan is to use them to finance tax reform—thus few Ways and Means Republicans have responded favorably to our efforts on behalf of WOTC. Nevertheless, there are several who are friendly to our cause but have been undecided as to the course of action to take.
Now is the time to get back to these Ways and Means Republicans and advise them the future of WOTC is on the line in this hearing and they could be most helpful by co-sponsoring H.R. 2082 or, if unable to do so, submit a statement for the record supporting a retroactive extension of WOTC through 2012 until a decision can be made in tax reform on the merits of further extension. Coalition members in the field who have been lobbying their congressman for WOTC should deliver this same message, whether or not your congressman is a member of Ways and Means.
Let’s use our collective strength for a big push before the Hearing. The matter is urgent! Please give it your priority attention. Many thanks!
For questions or comments, contact me at 703-587-4566.
PAUL E. SUPLIZIO
President, WOTC Coalition
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