| FMCSA Set to Issue Two-Year Delay of New Entry Level Driver Training Rule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is set to announce a two-year delay to its Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) Rule scheduled to go into effect February 7, 2020. The ELDT rule is controversial in the petroleum marketing industry because it requires rigorous new training requirements for both CDL license applicants and current CDL holders seeking a license upgrade. The new requirements will make it more difficult to obtain and renew a CDL, discourage new applicants from applying for a CDL and, as a result, contribute to the shortage of CDL drivers already occurring nationwide.
Click here to view the full PMAA Regulatory Alert.
Tax Extenders including Biodiesel Tax Credit Still in Limbo
Congress is still debating on what to do with a government spending bill, tax extenders (including the biodiesel tax credit), a retirement bill and technical fixes to the GOP’s “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.” Currently, government funding expires on December 20th. Click here to urge your members of Congress to pass a retroactive multi-year extension of the biodiesel blender’s tax credit.
PMAA Comments on EPA RFS Proposed Rulemaking
Last Friday, PMAA sent comments into the EPA on its RFS supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking. PMAA urged EPA to take no action in the rulemaking that would increase corn-based ethanol mandate beyond 9.7 percent projected gasoline demand. Specifically, PMAA told the EPA that it has no position on the small refinery exemptions (SREs), however, PMAA opposes any reallocation of displaced gasoline volumes lost to SREs if it would result in a total corn ethanol RVO greater than 9.7 percent of projected customer demand as determined by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Reallocating displaced ethanol volumes would likely create undue speculation and disruption to retail motor fuels markets. Click here to read the comments.
It was also reported this week that White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow is devising a plan to boost biofuel blending requirements in response to mounting pressure from ethanol groups and Senators from farm states that could be important for President Trump’s reelection. The White House has been under intense scrutiny from ethanol groups and lawmakers who have said the administration’s current proposal does not adequately compensate for ethanol blending volumes lost due to SREs. The EPA aims to announce its 2020 RFS blending volume mandate by December 20th, but it is possible that target date could be pushed into early next year. The EPA proposed rule increases the volume of renewable fuels to 20.04 billion gallons in 2020, up from 19.92 billion gallons in 2019. Under the plan, the corn ethanol mandate would remain at the 15 billion and biomass-based diesel at 2.43 billion gallons, level with the 2020 blending requirement.
Treasury Department Publishes Regulations on Federal Estate Tax
The Treasury Department recently published Treasury Decision 9884.
The regulations make clear that the federal estate/gift/GST exemptions of $11.58 million per individual and $23.16 million per couple with spousal portability (new 2020 exemptions announced in Rev. Proc. 2019-44) can be fully utilized without taxpayers fearing a “claw back” if the exemptions revert back to pre-Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) levels after current policy is scheduled to expire in December 2025.
Family businesses planning for succession can now transfer up to the maximum exemption amounts until 2025 without fearing a large tax bill if the estate/gift/GST exemptions aren’t extended before 2026. If a taxpayer gifted $10 million in 2018 when the exemption was $11.18 million per individual and died in 2026 when the exemption reverted back to $5.49 million per individual, there was a question as to whether that taxpayer would be required to pay a “claw back” 40 percent tax a portion of the amount already transferred tax free. The resolution of this issue provides more certainty for businesses working towards transitioning to the next generation of ownership. The resolution of this issue represents one less hurdle family businesses must face in continuing to the next generation of ownership. The Family Business Coalition (FBC), of which PMAA is a member, is encouraged to see the Treasury Department prioritizing regulations important to family owned and operated businesses.
Click here to view the letter that FBC recently sent to Secretary Mnuchin regarding the changes.
New Plan Would Cut SNAP Benefits for Thousands of People
This week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it has finalized a plan that would strengthen the work requirements for able-bodied adults with no dependents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The USDA said that as many as 688,000 people would be unable to receive the benefits if the rule were to go into effect.
Under current law, able-bodied adults with no dependents can receive SNAP benefits for up to three months during a three-year period, unless they are working or participating in an education or training program for 80 hours per month. Currently, states can waive the rule if work is not available, but the new rule will limit the state's ability to waive the rule unless unemployment reaches a certain percentage. It is estimated that seven percent of SNAP recipients are considered able-bodied adults with no dependents and Trump Administration officials have estimated that the rule will save the government around $5.5 billion over five years. The new rule is set to take effect on April 1, 2020.
November 2019 PMAA Small Business Committee (SBC) PAC Contributions
PAC Co-Chairs Brad Bell and Tim Keigher are grateful for the PMAA Small Business Committee (SBC) PAC contributions from the following individuals during the November 1-30, 2019 time frame:
California: Matt Cullen, Michael Doggett, Erin Graziosi, Rusty Rinehart, Ron Van De Pol, Ed Ward
Louisiana: Rachel Pantinople
Michigan: Craig Marzke, Brian Mifsud, Steven Schweihofer
Mississippi: David Craddock, John Fair Jr.
Montana: Dallas Herron, Gregory Hertz, Gregory Taylor, Kary Tonjum
Nebraska: Craig Freeburg, John Helper, Jeff Ingalls, Richard Jameson, Jennifer Likes, Luke Moser, Clinton Ruether, Ray Saebell, Phil Smith, Chad Wollan, Joe Wynne
New Jersey: Lawrence Ray, Michael Ray
New York: Dean Smith
North Carolina: T. Scott Aman, Tomie Benton, Thomas Berry, Charles Cox, Wendy Fisher, John Fuquay, Hannah Holt, Hayes Barber Homes, Anthony Waddell
North Dakota: Dan Dustan
PMAA Member Services Spotlight Featuring: National Purchasing Partners (NPP)
Staples Discount on File Purge Supplies and 2020 Dated Items through NPP
 Through our partnership with National Purchasing Partners (NPP), PMAA members can access exclusive savings on products and services from Staples.
Are you purging 2019 files or old records? Planning your 2020 calendar of events? Let NPP and Staples help you save on banker’s boxes, file storage and 2020 calendar items. Start the new year off with a clean office and a fresh calendar AND get items delivered next day from Staples!
Enroll your business for FREE here. NPP is a member benefit provider of PMAA.
Restrictions may apply.
Federated Insurance Employment Practices Network Webinar
The Role of HR / Risk Managers: Tuesday, December 17, 2019, 1:00 p.m. CT
This one-hour webinar will focus on how busy HR professionals and risk managers can take advantage of tools they already have to avoid mistakes and navigate generational changes.
What you will learn:
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Overview of employee handbook, corrective action forms and training
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How to sharpen those tools to include other elements such as gender neutrality and dress code
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How to handle bullying in the workplace
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DOL's proposed rule for fixed salaries
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And more!
Advanced registration is required.
For additional information or to discuss this in further detail, please contact your Federated regional representative or PMAA’s newly assigned National Account Executive Jon Medo at 800.533.0472.Federated is a PMAA Corporate Platinum Partner.
PMAA MDF Contributors for November 2019
PMAA’s Marketer Defense Fund wants to thank the following individuals for their contributions during the November 1- 30 timeframe:
California: Michael Downs
Mississippi: Walton Gresham
North Carolina: Banks Garrison
Tennessee: Emily LeRoy, Tennessee Fuel & Convenience Store Association
Utah: Utah Petroleum Marketers and Retailers Association
Corporate donations are acceptable. MDF funds have been used for various studies, litigation and disaster relief dedicated to strengthening our lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. Click here to donate to the PMAA MDF.
Promote Your Products or Services in PMAA’s Online Buyer’s Guide
The Petroleum Marketers Association of America ("PMAA") exclusive PMAA Buyers’ Guide (the "Guide") — the premier resource of relevant products and services for petroleum professionals — is available at the PMAA website.
PMAA partnered with Overland Park, Kansas-based Strategic Value Media, a leading nationwide provider of print and digital media solutions for national, state and local trade and membership associations, to produce the Guide. PMAA is proud to provide its members with this useful and easily accessible year-round resource.
"This comprehensive Guide offers access to a vast network of industry suppliers," said Rob Underwood, President of PMAA. "We are very pleased with the fine work SVM has done with this Guide, which will now greatly assist industry professionals in making educated purchasing decisions throughout the year. The response to this Guide by the industry has been nothing short of outstanding."
The 2019 version of the Guide features updated and expanded company and product listings, in addition to other valuable information relating to the petroleum industry. The Guide provides PMAA members and other industry professionals with an efficient way to browse for goods and services. The Guide also offers petroleum suppliers and companies exceptional visibility by showcasing their products and services to a targeted, industry-specific buyer group.
If your company or business has not yet taken advantage of this exceptional opportunity to highlight your products and services in the Guide, it is not too late! To learn more about advertising your products or services in this exclusive Guide, please email.
Federated Insurance Employment Practices Network HR Question of the Month
Federated Insurance’s HR Question of the Month focuses on employment-related practices liability issues. This month’s question is: Payroll Advances – Best Practices? We are in need of some information on payroll advances. We have some employees asking for repeated payroll advances and need to know our options and how to proceed as best practices. Please click here to read the response.
For additional information or to discuss this in further detail, please contact your Federated regional representative or PMAA’s National Account Executive Jon Medo at 800.533.0472. Federated is a PMAA Corporate Platinum Partner.
PMAA Member Services Spotlight Featuring: Laborchex
Hiring Trustworthy Talent
Hiring trustworthy talent is a huge investment of time and money. The main benefit of pre-employment background screening is to ensure that the individual you hire is trustworthy.
Please read how you can obtain credit checks through Laborchex work for your company by clicking here. Please note that the general information provided is not a substitute for legal advice. Please consult with your legal counsel regarding these topics and other general employment questions.
Laborchex, a PMAA Vendor and a PMAA Corporate Bronze Partner who has been serving clients nationwide since 1991, provides a program of background checks for PMAA members. For more information and to discuss your needs, please email PMAA’s Consultant Kym Lewis or call her directly at 800.880.0366 or visit.
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