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STATEMENT ON PROPOSAL TO CUT THE ESTATE TAX

I add my voice in support of removing the estate tax cut and changing the business tax cut to focus on small businesses. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership on the overall tax revision package, which has significantly increased the progressivity of our tax code. Because of these reforms, I think we have one of the most progressive income tax systems in the nation, which is something to be proud of.

However I don’t think that significantly raising our estate tax threshold is compatible with either the goal of increasing progressivity or our goals as a District. The estate tax is the most progressive tax we have. It only affects the wealthiest, and it is an incredibly effective tools for combating income inequality. If you say you want to fight income inequality here in the District, I just don’t know how you can support raising the exemption for the estate tax.

Later today, At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who chairs the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, will present her FY18 budget recommendations during the Council’s all-day budget work session. These recommendations, which were developed over five weeks and approved unanimously at the Committee mark-up last week, include supporting adult learners seeking to go back to school, expanding job training opportunities for District workers, and aiding working families living in the city.

The Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, having conducted hearings and received testimony from its responsible agencies on Mayor Bowser’s proposed budgets for FY18, reports its recommendations in the budget report attached below.

• Fiscal Year 2018 Committee Budget Report

The Committee on Labor and Workforce Development will hold a mark-up of its FY18 draft budget report on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at 12:00 p.m. in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW).

The meeting agenda and draft report are attached below.

• Labor Committee Budget Report Mark-up Agenda, 05-17-17
• Labor Committee Draft FY18 Budget Report for Mark-up, 05-17-17

Dear Resident,

It’s an exciting time in our city, with the Wizards in the playoffs, the Nationals on a hot streak, and, well, the Capitals had a great season. There might not be thousands of cheering fans at the Wilson Building, but there are hundreds of advocacy calls and emails I’m receiving—which are even more important in helping me and my staff keep focus through the final budget vote.

Performance oversight records for the FY17 hearings held by the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development are now available. The complete records of testimony, divided by hearing, can be accessed below:

• February 15, 2017: Testimony for the Office of Employee Appeals & Public Employees Relations Board
• March 1, 2017: Testimony for the Office of Risk Management, Department of Human Resources, & Office of Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
• March 15, 2017: Testimony for the Department of Employment Services, Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity & Workforce Investment Council

On Tuesday, May 9, the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development will hold a budget oversight hearing on the Department of Human Resources and Office of Risk Management. The meeting will be in Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) at 1:00 p.m., or following the conclusion of the earlier budget hearing and a short recess.

A draft witness list is available here.

The Committee on Labor & Workforce Development will continue the May 4th budget oversight hearing for the Department of Employment Services, Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity, and the Workforce Investment Council on Tuesday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW). This hearing is for government witnesses only.

A draft witness list is available here.

On Thursday, May 4, the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development will hold a budget oversight hearing on the following agencies: Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity, Department of Employment Services, and Workforce Investment Council. The meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW).

A draft witness list is available here (last updated at 5:26 p.m. on May 3, 2017).

Today, on the first of two legislative votes, the D.C. Council committed to addressing the need for more affordable, non-traditional child care options for District families by unanimously passing the Child Care Study Act of 2017 at its regularly scheduled legislative meeting.

Originally introduced by At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman as the Non-Traditional Child Care Needs Evaluation Act of 2017 and supported by seven colleagues, the legislation seeks to respond to resident concerns about the rapidly increasing need for affordable child care options for families working outside the standard hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

“No family should have to take on excessive financial hardship to make sure their child is safe while they earn a paycheck,” said Silverman. “Every District family should have the opportunity to grow and thrive in our city. Access to diverse, affordable child care options is essential to making that possible.”