Opposition Grows In Congress To Efforts To Change The Tax-exempt Status Of Municipal Bonds

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mayors and city officials represented by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and The National League of Cities today thank Senator Mark Begich (AK) and his colleagues who have taken up the effort to oppose proposals to cap or eliminate the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds.  Municipal bonds are the primary means used by local communities to build and maintain critical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, libraries and sewer systems.

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Fourteen key Senators have joined with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (VA) in opposing proposals to alter the exemption for municipal bonds.

In a letter to President Obama, Senator Begich and thirteen other Senators (listed below) voiced their opposition to any effort to change the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds calling any proposal to do so "inappropriate" and "shortsighted."

See excerpts from the letter below:

"We are very concerned about the impact that altering the tax treatment of municipal bonds would have on the ability of cities, counties, and states to manage their finances and invest in the future. At risk are important services provided by local governments, including utilities like power and water and public safety like police and fire protection.  ...

"While we recognize the challenges our nation faces as we work to bring order to our fiscal house, we believe strongly that balancing the federal deficit by shifting the burden to local governments would have, ironically, a substantial negative impact on our federal budget outlook through decreased federal tax receipts as a result of diminished economic activity."

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced his opposition to changing the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds and expressed his views in remarks to the National Association of State Treasurers saying, "The message was received, at least in my office, about the importance of that benefit to states [and localities].  We can't be pulling back on that [the tax exemption for municipal bonds] right now given the current state of our existing infrastructure."

Mayors and city officials warn that as the primary method used by states and local governments to finance public capital improvements and public infrastructure projects, tax exempt municipal bonds are essential to creating jobs, sustaining economic growth and improving the quality of life for middle-class Americans.  Eliminating or capping the deduction would increase the borrowing cost of local infrastructure improvements, which in turn means higher taxes for residents and less funding for teachers, fire and police officers, hospital workers, librarians, construction and maintenance workers, and much needed infrastructure projects.

Senators Signed onto Letter to President Obama Opposing Changes to Municipal Bonds:

The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,295 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.

SOURCE The U.S. Conference of Mayors

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