Washington, DC – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) announced today that he will introduce a bill tomorrow that would extend for two months the payroll tax holiday, unemployment benefits, reimbursements to doctors treating Medicare patients, and the nation’s primary welfare program – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

“We heard the concerns of America’s job creators loud and clear, and we have taken the responsible action to address their needs.  Despite the Senate’s refusal to return to work and negotiate a longer-term bill in good faith with the House, we will not let their vacation harm these employers nor Americans struggling in this weak economy.  

“This legislation fixes a critical flaw in the hastily passed Senate bill, which failed to provide employers with a workable mechanism with which to implement a partial-year payroll tax holiday.  Leading small business groups, such as the National Federation of Independent Business, the Associated Building Contractors, the National Roofing Contractors Association, the Small Business Entrepreneurial Council, the Associated General Contractors, and the National Payroll Reporting Consortium, all stated the Senate bill would add complexity, confusion and costs to employers – harming job creation.
 
“However, a two-month fix is just that – a short-term patch.  America’s employers, families and Medicare doctors deserve long-term solutions.  When the Senate returns to work in January, we must finish the job and provide greater certainty for these policies.

“Our efforts will not end there.  Republicans are focused on getting America working again.  Our bill included many job-creating initiatives – from spectrum auctions to tax relief to regulatory reforms to needed reforms in our unemployment program.  The unemployment program must do more than simply send out checks – it must help people get back to work.  The commonsense reforms House Republicans and I proposed included items like requiring those who receive unemployment benefits to actually look for work and work toward a GED if they don’t have a high school diploma.  The reforms also would provide states with the ability to administer drug screening programs if they so choose.  Democrats only wanted to send out more taxpayer-funded benefits.  Republicans want to get these Americans the training and resources they need to move from an unemployment check to a paycheck.”