... and Duke University, Tom resides in Maryland with his wife Jennifer. They are the proud parents of two daughters --
Reprinted/recirculated with permission from the December 2017 issue of NCSEA’s Child Support Communique (CSQ). Want more in-depth content like this article? Become a NCSEA member today! Join at www.ncsea.org/membership
The Washington Rollercoaster Leaves Child Support Mercifully Alone
What a year in Washington! The House and Senate spent most of the year focused on unsuccessful attempts at repealing the Affordable Care Act and making massive changes to the Medicaid program, to the detriment of nearly all other domestic programs. As a result, as the December holidays approach, most of the legislative work in Congress remains undone. Tax legislation is moving quickly, but it is facing an uncertain future. Important health care programs are running out of federal funding, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the nation’s community health centers. As those issues unfold, the federal budget continues to limp along on short term funding extensions. For its part, the Trump Administration has taken strong positions on certain domestic policies, only to quickly change course without alerting key GOP leaders on the Hill or leadership in the affected federal agencies. The resignation this fall of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has left the Department without a leader for two months. Key political appointees requiring Senate confirmation - such as the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) - have yet to receive a Senate hearing. Through this chaotic year, the child support program has emerged unscathed. As this article for CSQ was being written, the Senate was preparing to debate its tax bill. NCSEA is urging the Senate to adopt an amendment originally introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT). It would provide parity for tribal governments administering child support, including amending federal law to give tribes direct access to the federal income tax offset program. While the underlying bill does not have anything affecting child support directly, the large increase in the standard deduction combined with the proposed termination of many other deductions will likely change the income computation for many child support program participants. Whether it will increase or decrease their tax liability is unknown, given the complexity of changing numerous tax provisions and each individual’s financial circumstances.
What is known is that there is no more time this legislative year to make sweeping changes to any domestic program. There are, however, some indications of what may be on the 2018 legislative horizon. During the tax bill debate in the House Ways and Means Committee, an amendment to extend and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to single individuals and persons owing support was introduced by Representative Judy Chu (D-CA). Also contained in House Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) welfare reform plan called A Better Way, this NCSEA-supported policy was rejected by Committee Republicans who argued it would be better to consider it as part of a welfare reform bill next year. Committee staff has indicated to NCSEA that the Ryan Better Way plan will serve as a template for drafting a bill next year. Historically, the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program has also been the legislative vehicle for child support program changes. As Congress reconvenes early next year, please plan on attending NCSEA’s policy forum, “Shaping the Future Of Child Support” February 15 -17, 2018 to learn about the latest federal developments.
Tom Joseph has represented public sector entities in Washington, D.C. since the early 1980’s. For 16 years he lobbied Congress and the administration on behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACo), focusing on health and human services issues. He also served as NACo’s deputy director of its 11-member lobbying department, where he helped manage the organization’s lobbying efforts and oversaw NACo’s federal policy development process. Tom worked with elected county officials and the directors of health and human services departments, advising them on federal developments and assisting them in crafting federal policies promoting counties and the residents they serve. In 1997, Tom left NACo to help establish a Washington, DC office for Los Angeles County where he served full-time as the County’s deputy legislative director. In that capacity, he coordinated and supplemented the County’s lobbying efforts on a wide range of issues, including criminal justice, homeland security, and human services. Tom works for Waterman & Associates, where he works on behalf of NCSEA, county governments and public sector associations, focusing on federal health and human services issues. A native Minnesotan and graduate of St. Olaf College and Duke University, Tom resides in Maryland with his wife Jennifer. They are the proud parents of two daughters -- Taylor, a college freshman and Tess, a high school junior.
