The National Association of Counties (NACo) has issued an action alert, asking county leaders to urge their US House of Representatives Members to protect municipal bonds. Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District has taken the lead on the tax-free municipal bond issue following a letter to the Congressman and other members of the Maryland congressional delegation on the issue.As described in MACo’s letter the municipal bond tax exemption is key to state and local infrastructure financing in Maryland,
Now NACo provides the following Legislative Update: |
Reps. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) are circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter in support of tax-exempt municipal bonds. The letter urges Speaker of the House John Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to support municipal bonds and to oppose proposals that would cap or eliminate the deduction for municipal bond interest. NACo has been working closely with congressional staff to move this effort forward.
Action Needed URGE YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES to sign onto the letter to House Leadership urging them to preserve the tax-exemption for municipal bonds. Click here to read the letter. If your Members would like to sign on, have their staff contact either Ammon Simon in Rep. Hultgren’s office (Ammon.Simon@mail.house.gov or 202.225.2976) or Walter Gonzales in Rep. Ruppersberger’s office (walter.gonzales@mail.house.gov or 202.225.3061).
Background As tax reform discussions resume in the 114th Congress, proposals that would cap certain tax benefits, including the exemption for municipal bond interest, continue to be offered as a way to help address the federal debt and deficit. Some of these proposals include:
Tax-exempt municipal bonds have been a fundamental feature of the United States tax code since 1913. They remain the primary method used by states and local governments to finance public capital improvements and public infrastructure projects that are essential to creating jobs, sustaining economic growth and improving the quality of life for Americans in every corner of this country. Between 2003 and 2012, counties, states and other localities invested $3.2 trillion in infrastructure through long-term tax-exempt municipal bonds, 2.5 times more than the federal investment. During that decade, $514 billion of primary and secondary schools were built with financing from tax exempt bonds; nearly $288 billion of financing went to general acute-care hospitals; nearly $258 billion to water and sewer facilities; nearly $178 billion to roads, highways, and streets; nearly $147 billion to public power projects; and $105.6 billion to mass transit. Resources
If you have questions or need assistance, contact Mike Belarmino at mbelarmino@naco.org or 202.942.4254 |