Tax Act Press BREAKING NEWS: Congress Passes Attorney's Fees Provision Of CRTRA! Click here for NELA’s press release on the CRTRA. On October 11, 2004, the Senate passed the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, which includes a provision barring the double taxation of attorneys' fees in employment discrimination, civil rights, and other cases regulating any aspect of the employment relationship. The House had passed the same bill on October 7, 2004. All that remains is for the President to sign the bill into law, which should come within a matter of days. The provision permits an above-the-line deduction of attorneys' fees so that any payments are not subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax or the 2% floor on miscellaneous deductions. The bill is prospective only, applying to fees and costs paid after the date of enactment with respect to any judgment or settlement occurring after such date. Hopefully, we will see additional relief for those with settlements and awards already paid through the two cases pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, Commissioner v. Banks and Commissioner v. Banaitis. NELA has filed an excellent amicus brief, drafted by NELA member Doug Huron, which is posted on NELA’s Amicus page. No FEAR Coalition (NFC)
Washington, D.C. 20004
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release - 3/07/03
For information: (301) 320-3021
Senator Collins /Congresspersons Pryce and Lewis fight to preserve the 1964 Civil Rights Act: the Civil Rights Tax Relief Act
In 1996, Congress "de-facto" repealed the 1964 Civil Rights Act by imposing punitive and devastating taxes on civil rights victories. Victims of discrimination, after spending years to win civil rights cases, were subject to blinding taxes. Many victims owe the IRS tens of thousands of dollars in taxes after wining Title 7 "victories". Prior to 1996, Congress did not tax civil rights victories. Senator Susan Collins (R-Ma), Chairman, House Republican Conference Deborah Pryce (R- Oh), and civil rights legend John Lewis (D-Ga) introduced the Civil Rights Tax Relief Act. This legislation will eliminate abusive taxes on civil rights victories.
"The 1964 Civil Rights Act was de-facto overturned by Congress in 1996 - by imposing punitive and inhumane taxes upon people that have suffered horrendous forms of discrimination and were brave enough to fight back" said Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, Chair, No FEAR Coalition. We thank Senator Collins and Congresspersons Pryce and Lewis for standing up and protecting victims of discrimination".
Dr. Ruby Reece Moone, President, Southern Christian Leadership Conference/MSC, stated" Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be outraged to know that Congress had imposed severe and mean-spirited taxes upon people that had suffered civil rights abuses…the civil rights community must rally behind Senator Collins and Congresspersons Pryce and Lewis to ensure passage of this legislation."
J. Blair Hayes (No FEAR Coalition- Tax Project) , "the current tax code discriminates against victims of discrimination and is meant to discourage people from filing civil rights complaints". " Passage of the Tax Relief Act will ensure fairness in our legal system and a just
and equitable society" said James Standish, Esq. Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner,Chair, Judiciary Com. (R- WI) and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson- Lee (D-Tx) have indicated their support for this legislation.
The No FEAR Coalition spearheaded the passage of the first civil rights bill of the 21st century: the Notification of Federal Employees Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR). President Bush signed the No FEAR Act into law, May 15, 2002.
No FEAR Coaltion Members: African American Environmentalist Association, EPA Victims Against Racial Discrimination, The National Whistleblower Center, SCLC, CARACLE, Customs Employees Against Discrimination, GAP, NAN, NELA, AARP, US Chamber of Commerce,EPA-NTEU#280, EPA Chapter AFGE, Society for Human Resource Management, Religious Action Committee on Reform Judaism, National Council of Churches in Christ, USA, Seventh Day Adventist Church.
|
