President Trump signed a memorandum directing the Treasury Department to defer payroll taxes from September 1 through the end of the year for those earning under $4,000 (pre-tax) during any bi-weekly pay period (or $96,000/year). Other executive actions, which come amid an impasse on agreeing to additional coronavirus relief between the Administration and congressional Democratic leaders, include allowing a $400 federal unemployment benefit add-on; providing assistance to renters and homeowners regarding evictions; and suspending student loan payments.
David Fialkov
NATSO Update: GOP Stimulus Proposal
NATSO Analysis: House Transportation Committee Draft Reauthorization Legislation
House to Release Draft Highway Bill
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to release its draft highway reauthorization bill this week. The legislation will provide $494 billion in funding over a period of five years for highway, transit, safety, and research programs, a 46 percent increase over current investment levels.
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Case Challenging RFS Point of Obligation
The Supreme Court declined on May 18 to consider a case that addressed whether the Environmental Protection Agency needs to consider every year whether to move downstream the requirement to buy RINs under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
NATSO Analysis: The Cares Act, Phase III Stimulus Package
The Senate approved 96-0 the approximately $2 trillion "Phase III" stimulus bill known as the CARES Act. The House is expected to pass the bill by today after which the […]
House Passes Coronavirus Response Act
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 363-40 in favor of H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act," early March 13 after a chaotic day of negotiations between House Speaker […]
NATSO ANALYSIS: Court Sides with Biofuels Interests in Case Examining RFS Small Refinery Exemptions
Appeals court ruling hands a major victory to biofuels stakeholders, casting doubt on the legal underpinnings of EPA’s rationale for increasing the number of small refinery exemptions and adding a new wrinkle of uncertainty to an already-volatile Renewable Fuel Standard program.
NATSO Analysis; EPA Releases Final 2020 Renewable Fuel Mandates
The Final Rule also includes the Agency’s plan for “reallocating” gallons of renewable fuel that are waived pursuant to the “Small Refinery Exemption” Program.
NATSO Analysis: Federal Court Sides with Fuel Retailers, Informative for Current RFS Debates
On August 30, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in a lawsuit brought by the merchant refining community that sought to require EPA to change the so-called “point of obligation” under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The court’s opinion in the case, which was first filed more than two-and-a-half years ago, is noteworthy for its implications on current policy debates over the future of the RFS.
Compliance Corner:Your Rights And Obligations As A Branded Motor Fuel Retailer
Over the last couple of years there have been several reports of refining companies, such as CITGO, sending letters to their branded gasoline retailers reminding and warning them not to commingle unbranded fuel with branded supplies. “Commingling” is an age-old problem for the retail petroleum industry, and one that branded retailers may often find to be frustratingly restrictive. If less expensive fuel is available, one might ask, ‘Why shouldn’t a branded retailer be able to acquire that product and sell fuel at a more competitive price?’