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Ohio’s two U.S. senators are disappointed the House didn’t extend a health-care credit for Delphi salaried retirees
WASHINGTON
The state’s two U.S. senators say they are disappointed the U.S. House failed to extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit that would help Delphi salaried retirees struggling to maintain affordable health care.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland, was able to get a two-year extension on the credit attached to a bill approved by the Senate with the support of U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from the Cincinnati area.
A one-year tax-extender bill approved by the House doesn’t include the HCTC.
“I’m very disappointed in our House members from Ohio from both parties for forgetting about the Delphi retirees,” Brown said Thursday.
Every House member from Ohio, except Rep. Jim Jordan of Urbana, R-4th, voted for the bill that extends about 50 tax breaks that expire at the end of the month, but not for Delphi retirees.
“While I would have preferred that this legislation included an extension of the Health Coverage Tax Credit, it does contain many tax provisions that will help businesses and working families,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, who voted for the bill.
Portman said Thursday that he’s heard the House is considering a one-year extension of the HCTC.
Brown said he’s heard the same talk but doesn’t have faith it will get House approval.
The tax credit helps Delphi salaried retirees, of which there are about 20,000 with 1,500 in the Mahoning Valley area, with health care costs.
Their pensions and their health- and life-insurance benefits were terminated during the federal government’s 2009 rescue of General Motors. The retirees are receiving 30 to 70 percent of their pensions through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.
The tax credits are for retirees who lost their health care coverage when companies for which they worked entered bankruptcy or moved overseas.