Temporary Tax Holiday and Government Reduction Act

Bill: 112-s-1931
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Congressional officers and employees
Employee hiring
Employment taxes
Food assistance and relief
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Inflation and prices
Medicare
Members of Congress
Sales and excise taxes
Social security and elderly assistance
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: 
Temporary Tax Holiday and Government Reduction Act - Amends the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 to extend through 2012 the 2% reduction in employment and self-employment tax rates. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 100% tax on excess unemployment compensation, as defined by this Act, received by certain high-income taxpayers.
 
Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to render ineligible for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), formerly food stamps, any household in which a member receives income or assets with a fair market value of at least $1 million.
 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) increase Medicare Part B and D premiums for Medicare beneficiaries with adjusted gross incomes over $750,000, and (2) extend through 2022 the freeze on the inflation adjustment to the income threshold for the Medicare premium subsidy eligibility.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to determine the number of full-time employees employed in each federal agency. Prohibits a head of a federal agency from hiring more than 1 employee for every 3 full-time employees who leave employment in such agency until OMB and OPM make a determination that the number of full-time federal employees is 10% less than the initial level determined by OMB and OPM. 
 
Extends the freeze on the pay of federal employees through 2015. Provides that such extended pay freeze applies to legislative branch employees, including Members of Congress. 
 
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to reduce levels of discretionary spending for FY2013-FY2021.
 
Buffett Rule Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to donate an amount (not less than $1), in addition to any tax owed, which shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury and transferred to an account used to reduce the public debt.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-08
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure, under the order of 12/8/2011, not having achieved the required 60 votes in the affirmative, was rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 22 - 76. Record Vote Number: 225. (consideration: CR S8445)
action_date: 2011-12-08
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S8445)
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure, under the order of 12/1/2011, not having achieved the required 60 votes in the affirmative, was rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 20 - 78. Record Vote Number: 220.
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure was deemed to have been made in Senate. (consideration: CR S8139)
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 244.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate