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HR Public Policy Outlook for the Final Months of the112th
Congress“It’s Crunch Time!”
Michael Layman and Bob CarragherJuly 25, 2012
HR Public Policy / Washington Outlook
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Eisenhower Carter Reagan Bush Clinton GW Bush Obama
70%
33%
53%
38%
52%47% 47%
Presidential Job Approval RatingsJuly of Fourth Year
Gallup
November 2012 Election
HR Public Policy / Washington Outlook
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Congressional Productivity
The 112th Congress — this Congress — is the
last bar on the right.
HR Public Policy / Washington Outlook
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Not All Spending Is Created EqualMandatory Spending Is Consuming More and More of
the Budget
Source: Financial Management Service Bureau of the United States Department of Treasury; Congressional Budget Office Historical Budget Data, 2011.
Total 2011 Spending – $3.598 Trillion
Projected Spending 2012-2022
$700$227
$646
$725
$480
$275
$545
In Billions
*
**
In Trillions
$6
$4
$2
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Health Care Reform
Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on June 28, 2012
Implementing regulations are being promulgated
Efforts to “repeal and replace” will continue regardless of who controls Congress or the Administration
• In 2013, a Romney Administration and as few as 50 Senate votes could repeal any budgetary provision through budget reconciliation
Public Policy Agenda 2012
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Health Care Reform
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Taxes and Benefits
Fiscal Cliff
• Bush tax cuts expire – December 31, 2012
• Statutory spending caps – 2012-2019
• Sequestration – January 2013 through 2021
• Debt limit increase – Jan/Feb 2013
Public Policy Agenda 2012
HR Public Policy / Washington Outlook
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Introduced by Representatives Sam Johnson (R-TX) and Richard Neal (D-MA) in March 2012
The legislation would extend and make permanent Internal Revenue Code Section 127, which allows an employer to provide up to $5,250 per year tax-free in tuition, fees, and books to employees for courses on the undergraduate and graduate levels
Currently, Section 127 is set to expire on December 31, 2012
SHRM is the co-chair of the Coalition to Preserve Employer Provided Educational Assistance www.cpepea.com
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 2012 (H.R.4137)
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Employment Verification
Federal government’s voluntary employment verification program, E-Verify, expires on October 1, 2012
Public Policy Agenda 2012
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Republican & Democratic Conventions - 2012
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As of today, only 6 states and the District of Columbia remain in session – California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Looking back, it’s been a pretty quiet year in the states too – unlike the previous 2 years.
Legislation mandating the use of E-Verify (Pennsylvania), curbing the use of Credit Checks (Vermont becomes the 8th state to enact limitations), dealing with Right-to-Work (Indiana), and allowing employees to store Weapons at Work in their vehicles parked on company property have become law.
The hot HR topic for 2012 – restricting employer access to Social Media Passwords from applicants/employees. Maryland became the first state to enact a law (Illinois, California, and possibly others likely to follow suit).
2012 State Legislative Issues Snapshot
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Plan for the Remainder of 2012
I will be reaching out to the State Legislative Directors in those 6 states to see if they would be interested in advocating on 1 or more of the bills pending before their legislatures relating to the HR topic areas we track.
To date, we’ve assisted 8 state councils in advocating in 13 issues on the state level this year.
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Bob CarragherGovernment Affairs
Michael LaymanGovernment Affairs
