Update on response to House Tax Overhaul plan that would negatively impact graduate students

[Pelz, Jonathan]

Hi all,
I spoke with someone from the OSU office of Government Affairs, and they told me that last week President Drake spoke with Pat Tiberi (who is on the Ways and Means Committee that is considering changes to the bill) about the grad student tuition issue, and she said that Tiberi understood the negative impact this would have on grad students, grad program, and research.  She also sent me the following link from the American Council on Education (which advocates for education) with information about how the tax bill affects higher education.  The grad student tuition issue is under "Human resources and employee benefits":
http://www.acenet.edu/Pages/Higher-Education-and-Tax-Reform.aspx

This page also has a link to contact congress about this and related issues:
https://www2.acenet.edu/actioncenter/?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f55189%2frespond

You can modify the proposed text as you would like.  It seems that this will go to all senators and representatives in congress.

-Jon

From: physics-faculty-full [mailto:physics-faculty-full-bounces+jpelz=mps.ohio-state.edu at lists.osu.edu] On Behalf Of Pelz, Jonathan
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2017 1:23 PM
To: physics-faculty at lists.osu.edu; Physics-postdoc at mps.ohio-state.edu <physics-postdoc at groups.asc.ohio-state.edu>; Physics-staff at mps.ohio-state.edu <physics-staff at groups.asc.ohio-state.edu>
Subject: FYI - update on response to House Tax Overhaul plan that would negatively impact graduate students

Hi all,

Many of you may be aware of a provision in the proposed House Tax Overhaul bill that would make graduate student tuition taxable.  I copy below two messages from Scott Herness (acting Dean of the Graduate School) about this issue.  The OSU administration is aware of this issue, and national university organizations are acting to try to get this changed before the bill leaves the House.  I do echo Scott Herness' encouragement for concerned people to contact their House representative, and think it would be a good idea to contact your senators as well.  I have already sent a similar email to the grad students, and have a call in to Government Relations to see if they have any other information.

Thanks to Tim Gorman and Andrew Piper for contacting the Grad School and us about this issue.

-Jon

*********************** From: Herness, Scott
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2017 10:27 AM
To: Pelz, Jonathan <pelz at physics.osu.edu<mailto:pelz at physics.osu.edu>>
Cc: Herness, Scott <herness.1 at osu.edu<mailto:herness.1 at osu.edu>>
Subject: RE: Potential Tax Increase for Graduate Students

We were contacted by Tim Gorman and Andrew Piper.

Government Relations is following this closely and may have updated information to provide as well.

--SH
****************************

From: Pelz, Jonathan
Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2017 10:24 AM
To: Herness, Scott <herness.1 at osu.edu<mailto:herness.1 at osu.edu>>
Subject: RE: Potential Tax Increase for Graduate Students

Thanks Scott - I will pass this along to our grad students, along with your more recent email about the AAU.

Jon

From: Herness, Scott
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2017 7:02 AM
To: Braumoeller, Bear <braumoeller.1 at polisci.osu.edu<mailto:braumoeller.1 at polisci.osu.edu>>; Steffensmeier, Janet <steffensmeier.2 at polisci.osu.edu<mailto:steffensmeier.2 at polisci.osu.edu>>
Cc: Pelz, Jonathan <pelz at physics.osu.edu<mailto:pelz at physics.osu.edu>>; Herness, Scott <herness.1 at osu.edu<mailto:herness.1 at osu.edu>>
Subject: RE: GOP Tax Plan

This morning I see that

"the AAU  along with several other higher education associations, yesterday wrote<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=ee337ef6c5426f00ab732c0593c067b5ed052f5455a7d355f66591b7dd96367748316d5dc2682b79341fcac40e3184bcf27bf6e8ad8eff17> to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) to express serious concerns with the House bill. The letter notes the legislation, as currently written, would greatly discourage participation in postsecondary education, make college more expensive, and weaken the financial stability of colleges and universities."

So it's already starting.

--SH


From: Herness, Scott
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2017 9:02 PM
To: Pelz, Jonathan <pelz at physics.osu.edu<mailto:pelz at physics.osu.edu>>; Steffensmeier, Janet <steffensmeier.2 at polisci.osu.edu<mailto:steffensmeier.2 at polisci.osu.edu>>
Cc: Herness, Scott <herness.1 at osu.edu<mailto:herness.1 at osu.edu>>
Subject: Re: Potential Tax Increase for Graduate Students

Jon,

I am aware of the implications of the Trump Tax Reform Bill for graduate students.  Fortunately, it hasn't yet passed the house and, if it does, will likely change before going to the Senate.  Nevertheless, we don't know what will happen.

I am reminded of when the IRS decided to re-interpret the ACA so that Universities could no longer subsidize health insurance for graduate students.  Organizations such as the AAU and CGS and ACE all took strong stands with the Senate (in particular).  The IRS backed down.

Losing health insurance, being taxed on fee authorizations are equally devastating to graduate students.  Of course they should be anxious.  I am hoping this dies with the Tax Reform Bill in the House.  If it gets legs, there are large higher educational advocacy agencies that will be fighting it.

Meanwhile, students should contact their house representatives.  Their voice is the loudest.

--Scott

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