Recently in Washington

Last week the House passed H.R. 4154, legislation to make the existing estate tax rates permanent.

Simpson Votes Against Permanent 45% Death Tax
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson voted against H.R. 4154, legislation to make the existing estate tax permanent.  The estate tax is scheduled for complete repeal next year.  H.R. 4154 creates an unacceptable permanent tax rate of 45 percent. 

“The bottom line is that H.R. 4154 would impose higher taxes on Idaho’s farmers, ranchers, and small businesses.  In the best of times I can’t support increasing taxes on Idaho families, but at a time when unemployment is in the double digits, imposing a greater tax burden on our nation’s job creators is utterly irresponsible,” said Simpson.  “Instead of allowing the death tax to expire next year, they have decided to lock in this year’s higher tax rate and lower exemption level without indexing the tax for inflation, ensuring that farmers, ranchers, and small business owners will continue to be penalized when they try to pass on the family business.”

The estate tax, commonly referred to as the “death tax,” places a huge burden on families who want to pass on the family farm or small business.  The death tax accounts for less than one percent of the federal budget, but almost one-third of business owners are forced to sell their businesses or liquidate a portion of their assets to pay death taxes. 

The tax relief package passed by Congress in 2001 phased out the death tax over ten years, with a one-year complete repeal coming in 2010.  Simpson has cosponsored H.R. 3905, the Estate Tax Relief Act, to provide permanent estate tax relief by permanently increasing the estate tax exemption to $5 million per person and reducing the top tax rate to 35%.  This legislation is widely supported by agriculture and business groups, who oppose efforts like H.R. 4154 to lock in existing rates.

“Even though the 2010 repeal isn’t permanent, it allows for the opportunity to make long-term, necessary changes to our tax structure to make it fairer for American families,” said Simpson "Unfortunately, rather than taking up broadly supported, significant reforms, H.R. 4154 simply retains the status quo.”

Simpson’s Response to President’s Request for Additional Troops in Afghanistan
Last week the President announced his desire to send 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson released the following statement concerning this announcement:

“First and foremost, we must support our troops,” said Simpson. “I am grateful that President Obama has finally made a decision about the Afghanistan troop surge. It appears remarkably similar to former President Bush’s decision to implement the troop surge in Iraq; a strategy that has ultimately brought us closer to victory and allowing our troops to return home.”

“I remain concerned that President Obama has established an artificial timeline for Afghanistan which may embolden our enemies, thus making victory in Afghanistan more difficult.”

House Legislative Business This Week 

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009
On Monday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. for Morning Hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. No votes are expected in the House.

Suspensions (13 Bills):

1. H.Con.Res. 199 - Recognizing the 10th Anniversary of the activation of Echo Company of the 100th Battalion of the 442d Infantry (Sponsored by Del. Sablan / Armed Services Committee)
2. H.Con.Res. 206 - Commending the soldiers and civilian personnel stationed at Fort Gordon and their families for their service and dedication to the United States (Sponsored by Rep. Broun / Armed Services Committee)
3. H.Res. 940 - Recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 373rd anniversary (Sponsored by Rep. Latta / Armed Services Committee) 
4. H.Res. 845 - Recognizing the United States Air Force and Dyess Air Force Base (Sponsored by Rep. Neugebauer / Armed Services Committee)
5. H.R. 1672 - Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Larsen (WA) / Natural Resources Committee)
6. H.R. 2062 - Migratory Bird Treaty Act Penalty and Enforcement Act (Sponsored by Rep. DeFazio / Natural Resources Committee) 
7. H.R. 3940 - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend grants and other assistance to facilitate a political status public education program for the people of Guam (Sponsored by Del. Bordallo / Natural Resources Committee)
8. H.R. 3603 - To rename the Ocmulgee National Monument (Sponsored by Rep. Marshall / Natural Resources Committee)
9. H.R. 86 - To eliminate an unused lighthouse reservation along the coast of Orange County, California (Sponsored by Rep. Campbell / Natural Resources Committee)
10. H.R. 118 - To authorize the addition of 100 acres to Morristown National Historical Park (Sponsored by Rep. Frelinghuysen / Natural Resources Committee)
11. H.R. 3388 - Petersburg National Battlefield Boundary Modification Act (Sponsored by Rep. Forbes / Natural Resources Committee)
12. H.R. 3804 - National Park Service Authorities and Corrections Act (Sponsored by Rep. Tonko / Natural Resources Committee)
13. H.R. 1454 - Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act (Sponsored by Rep. Brown (SC) / Natural Resources Committee)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for Morning Hour and 10:00 a.m. for legislative business. Members are advised votes could occur as early as 10:00 a.m.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.

Suspensions (16 Bills):

1. H.R. 2278 - To direct the President to transmit to Congress a report on anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East (Sponsored by Rep. Bilirakis / Foreign Affairs Committee)
2. H.R. 2134 - Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Act (Sponsored by Rep. Engel / Foreign Affairs Committee)
3. H.Res. 915 - Encouraging the Republic of Hungary to respect the rule of law, treat foreign investors fairly, and promote a free and independent press (Sponsored by Rep. Donnelly / Foreign Affairs Committee)
4. H.Con.Res. 213 - Expressing the sense of Congress for and solidarity with the people of El Salvador (Sponsored by Rep. Mack / Foreign Affairs Committee) 
5. H.R. 3951 - The "Roy Rondeno, Sr. Post Office Building" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Cao / Oversight and Government Reform Committee) 
6. H.R. 4017 - The "Ann Marie Blute Post Office" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. McGovern / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
7. H.R. 2711 - FBI Families of Fallen Heroes Act (Sponsored by Rep. Rogers (MI) / Oversight and Government Reform Committee) 
8. H.Res. 907 - Recognizing the Grand Concourse on its 100th anniversary  (Sponsored by Rep. Serrano / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
9. H.R. 4165 - To extend through December 31, 2010, the authority of the Secretary of the Army to accept and expend funds contributed by non-Federal public entities to expedite the processing of permits (Sponsored by Rep. Larsen (WA) / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
10. H.R. 1854 - To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to modify an environmental infrastructure project for Big Bear Lake, California (Sponsored by Rep. Lewis (CA) / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
11. H.Res. 35 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should provide increased Federal funding for continued type 1 diabetes research (Sponsored by Rep. Gene Green / Energy and Commerce Committee)
12. H.Res. 55 - Expressing support for the designation of a National Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month (Sponsored by Rep. Royce / Energy and Commerce Committee)
13. H.R. 1319 - Informed P2P User Act (Sponsored by Rep. Bono Mack / Energy and Commerce Committee)
14. H.R. 2221 - Data Accountability and Trust Act (Sponsored by Rep. Rush / Energy and Commerce Committee)
15. H.R. __ - To extend the Andean Trade Preference Act and the Generalized System of Preferences (Sponsored by Rep. Rangel / Ways and Means Committee) 
16. H.R. __ - Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act (Sponsored by Rep. Rangel / Ways and Means Committee)

H.R. __ - Tax Extenders of 2009 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Rangel / Ways and Means Committee)

H.R. 4173 - Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Subject to a Rule)(Sponsored by Rep. Frank / Financial Services Committee)

In the News

Smaller practices may be exempt from "red flags"
By Morgan Lewis Jr., Published Dec 4, 2009, www.modernmedicine.com

Practices with 20 or fewer physicians may be exempt from the "Red Flags" rule, which requires physicians' practices and other businesses to spot and report identity theft, according to a bill unanimously passed in October by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Days later, the Federal Trade Commission reported that enforcement of the "Red Flags" rule would be delayed – for the fourth time in less than two years – until June 10, 2010.
The exemption bill was referred to the Senate banking committee as of press time.

"It is obvious that physicians and dentists are not creditors, and they should not be forced to spend hundreds of dollars to comply with this needless regulation," says bill co-sponsor U.S. Representative Mike Simpson (R-Idaho). "They don't require full payment at the time of service because they first bill the insurance company, then they bill the patient the remainder of the bill. This system should not be treated the same as a loan with a financial institution."