Virginia Governor Encourages Telework
Gov. Timothy Kaine announced in mid-July an initiative that will allow 120 gubernatorial appointees to telework and he directed all state agencies to do what they could to follow his lead. Kaine cited rising fuel and commuting costs, traffic congestion, and environmental concerns as the drivers behind the new policy, which he described as an "opportunity to create a culture of conservation." Almost immediately, more than 60 employees within the Kaine Cabinet and office began teleworking or using alternative schedules for part of their work week.

Telework Tax Credit Proposed
In mid-July, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced new legislation for consideration by the 110th Congress, with Representatives Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) as original cosponsors of the "Transportation and Housing Options for Gas Price Relief Act of 2008" (H.R. 6495). This bill focuses on the impact of increasing gas prices on U.S. consumers and proposes a number of initiatives associated with alternative forms of transportation to reduce dependency on gas consumption. Among the programs outlined, the Gas Price Relief Act proposes creation of a Telework Tax Credit "for qualified teleworking expenses for employers and employees." This telework incentive program is intended to encourage broader adoption of telework nationwide and reduce millions of gallons of fuel used by commuters. For more information on H.R. 6495, please visit www.teleworkexchange.com.