Wyden Statement at Finance Committee Hearing on Welfare and Poverty
It was Ronald Reagan who said, “the best social program is a job.” I think it’s fair to say that for most Americans, a principal goal of the social safety net is to help individuals and families in their times of struggle and reconnect them to gainful employment so they can pay their rent, pay […]
Wyden Statement on Bipartisan Budget Agreement
WASHINGTON – Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement regarding the introduction of a bipartisan budget agreement: “The bottom line is this agreement takes important steps to protect vulnerable Americans in Medicare and Social Security, while also eliminating the risk of another budget showdown in the coming months. It’s hard […]
Wyden Statement at Finance Committee Hearing to Review IRS Investigation
In early August, the Finance Committee released the final report on its bipartisan investigation into the IRS’s processing of applications from for tax-exempt status. Our investigation looked back at the period between 2010 and 2013. The committee reviewed one and a half million pages of emails and documents and conducted interviews with more than 30 […]
Wyden Cheers Proposed Treasury Rules Enshrining Marriage Equality in Tax Law
Washington — Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today cheered the Treasury Department’s announcement of new regulations following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that made marriage equality the law of the land. The proposed rules update several tax policies to ensure all marriages receive equal treatment under the law. […]
Wyden Hails Action by Trade Agencies to Track E-Cigarette Imports
Following Wyden’s Call for More Consumer Safety Information, Americans Will Have More Data about E-Cigs Coming into U.S., Mostly from China E-Cigs Are Currently Exempt from Federal Tax and Age Restrictions; No Oversight of Health Effects, Ingredients, or Advertising WASHINGTON –Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised a decision by U.S trade […]
Wyden Statement on Substantial Increase in Medicare Costs Due to No Social Security COLA
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today sounded the alarm on news from Social Security that beneficiaries will not receive a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2016. One serious effect of this news is that some seniors would face Medicare Part B premium increases of over 50%, and all Medicare beneficiaries would […]
Wyden Applauds Senate Confirmation of Tom Reeder to be PBGC Director
WASHINGTON –Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., applauded the Senate for confirming Tom Reeder to be director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). The Senate confirmed Reeder’s nomination by voice vote yesterday evening. “I am pleased the Senate has taken swift and decisive action to confirm Tom Reeder,” Wyden said. “Mr. Reeder […]
Wyden Praises Enforcement of Laws Against Illegal Timber Smuggling
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised news of the first settlement by a major U.S. corporation for illegally smuggling wood, resulting in more than $10 million in fines and penalties. Wyden authored the 2008 Combatting Illegal Logging Act, which strengthened U.S. laws against illegal logging overseas and ramped up penalties for […]
Wyden To Secretary Lew: Volkswagen’s Clean Energy Tax Breaks Should Be Recovered, but Car Buyers Should Not Be Penalized
WASHINGTON – In a letter sent Wednesday, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., urged Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice as they consider levying penalties against Volkswagen Group, writing that tax benefits fraudulently earned by the automaker should be recovered. During the […]
Wyden, Senate Democrats Introduce Measure to Prevent Spike in Medicare Premiums
Medicare Part B Premiums and Deductibles Set for Dramatic Rise Next Year Without Congressional Action Bill Would Keep Premiums and Deductibles Affordable for Millions of Seniors WASHINGTON –Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senate Democrats today introduced legislation that would protect Medicare beneficiaries and states from a sharp rise in Part B […]