[Via BikingBis.com]
After news broke about the passage of the bike commuter tax provision in the recent financial bailout bill, many commenters had questions about how it would work.
To help answer those questions, the League of American Bicyclists has published a list of Frequently Asked Questions. I’ve pasted excerpts from each question below:
When does [...]

Blumenauer at the unveiling of his Gas Price Relief Act, one of manypieces of legislation that included a bike commuter tax break over the years.(Photo © J. Maus)

What a long, strange trip it’s been for Congressman Earl Blumenauer and his Bike Commuter Act.
The House Democrat is a former City Commissioner of Transportation in Portland [...]

[See below for updates: Hint, Blumenauer is saying he won't support the bailout package.]

“The (bailout) bill now includes a… tax benefit for bicycle commuting sought by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat, also a “no” vote on Monday.”– from an article in the Baltimore Sun

Hoping to garner votes from House members who previously voted “no” [...]

John Lim (R-Gresham)

This morning’s Gresham Outlook newspaper has a story about new legislation that has been drafted by Oregon State Rep. John Lim (R-Gresham) that would give a tax break to bike commuters.
According to the Outlook, the current draft language of the bill says,
“a taxpayer who rides a bicycle to work at least 10 days [...]

“I think it’s the best chance the Bike Commuter Act has had so far in the Senate.”– Katie Drennan, a legislative assistant for Congressman Earl Blumenauer

For the fourth time this session, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that includes a tax benefit people who ride their bikes to work.
The Bike Commuter [...]

Bike legislation is moving forward in D.C.(Photo © J. Maus)

House Congressional Resolution 305, also known as the National Bike Bill, has passed through a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week.
The resolution — which was introduced by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) back in February — recognizes the importance of bicycling to “enriching [...]

Now it’s onto the Senate. More on this story was published yesterday. Official press release from Blumenauer’s office is below:

EARL BLUMENAUER
February 27, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Erin Allweiss
Blumenauer [...]

Blumenauer, shown here at the National Bike Summit last year, hopes his Bike Commuter Act will finally fly with lawmakers.(Photo © J. Maus)

On the heels of record profits by the big five oil companies, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) will once again try to enact a tax benefit for bike commuters and close the “Hummer [...]

Congressman Earl Blumenauer introducing the Bike Commuter Act on Capitol Hill last March.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

The bike commuter tax benefit — which was introduced to Congress by Earl Blumenauer last March and passed a House vote last week — has been stripped out of the Energy Bill by the Senate.
The U.S. Senate passed the Energy [...]

[See below for YouTube version of McHenry's statement.]

Poster that accompanied a statement on the House floor by Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) who said bicycles were a, “19th century solution to a 21st century problem.”

Last Saturday the House of Representatives passed Energy Independence legislation that amends a section of the IRS code to include “bicycles” in [...]

(Note: The title of this post was originally, “Benefits fraud may stymie progress on Bike Commuter Act.” I changed it to better reflect the situation.).
I just got an email from Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s legislative assistant Katie Drennan. She said that although there is considerable momentum for the Bike Commuter Act (42 co-sponsors so [...]

Congressman Earl Blumenauer introducing his Bike Commuter Act at the House Office Building. Members of the Oregon contingent in the background.

Congressman Earl Blumenauer reinvigorated his effort to bring equity to all modes of transportation by officially announcing his new Bike Commuter Act (H.R. 1498) at a press conference today at the House Office Building.

“Stop [...]

Blumenauer at theSummit opening.

Tomorrow morning, after a speech by Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar, Earl Blumenauer plans to re-introduce his Bike Commuter Benefits Act in a press conference on Capitol Hill.
Blumenauer just finished a speech at the opening of the National Bike Summit and he hinted at this news when he confidently said,
“With the congressional shift [...]

If you think bicycle commuters deserve the same tax benefits from employers that already exist for drivers and transit users now is the time to make your voice heard. I just got this urgent call to action from Jessica Roberts at the BTA.

There is a bill in Congress right now that would benefit cyclists [...]

[I received this information from an inside source in the Oregon bike advocacy scene, I will post a link to the full press release when it is available online.]
This just in from the office of Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore):
‘Conserve By Bike’ Provision Included in Energy Bill
[...]