House Democrats to Chairman Camp: No Excuse for Delaying Work of Payroll Tax Cut Conference Committee

House Democrats on the payroll tax cut conference committee—Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Congressman Sander Levin, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, and Congressman Henry Waxman—sent a letter today to Congressman Dave Camp, the Chairman of the conference committee and Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, calling for work developing the legislation to begin now and reiterating that they are available to meet at any time. They write:

The clock is ticking on this urgent priority. The last thing the American people, or the American economy, needs is another unnecessary and avoidable crisis like those we faced repeatedly in 2011.

Because the Conference Committee has responsibility to develop this legislation, we should be working on that legislation now, not waiting for weeks, even if Congress is not formally in session.

Last week, we, the House Democratic conferees declared we were in Washington, ready to meet at any time to begin that process. We reiterate that offer today. There is no excuse for delaying the work of the Conference Committee. The American people want jobs; we should be working to create them.

Full letter:

January 9, 2012

The Honorable Dave Camp

Chairman

House Committee on Ways and Means

United States House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Camp:

The payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans expires in only a few weeks. So, too, does assistance to those unemployed Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, as well as access for millions of seniors to their Medicare doctors.

The clock is ticking on this urgent priority. The last thing the American people, or the American economy, needs is another unnecessary and avoidable crisis like those we faced repeatedly in 2011.

Because the Conference Committee has responsibility to develop this legislation, we should be working on that legislation now, not waiting for weeks, even if Congress is not formally in session.

Last week, we, the House Democratic conferees declared we were in Washington, ready to meet at any time to begin that process. We reiterate that offer today. There is no excuse for delaying the work of the Conference Committee. The American people want jobs; we should be working to create them.

Thank you for your attention to our urgent request, and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Chris Van Hollen

Sander Levin

Xavier Becerra

Allyson Schwartz

Henry Waxman