01/20/14 On Tuesday evening, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski will visit the Plymouth Firehouse and host a press conference with Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter and Plymouth Fire Chief Rodney Miller, to highlight the importance of federal legislation to exempt volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency responders from the employer mandate included in Obamacare.
In the president’s health care law, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers volunteer firefighters and emergency responders working 30 hours per week as full-time employees, forcing volunteer companies and units to provide health insurance or a pay a fine.
Under pressure from Congress and representatives of volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency personnel, the Treasury issued guidance similar to the provisions in the Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act. Congresswoman Walorski will address the significance of ensuring volunteer firefighters and emergency responders are not penalized under the president’s health care law, as implementation of the employer mandate would place a significant financial burden on local fire stations.
