After demanding answers, Collins says volunteer fire depts. not subject to ObamaCare

After pressing for answers for months, Congressman Chris Collins, R-NY-27, said the IRS will not force volunteer fire departments to comply with ObamaCare's employer mandate.

The Department of Treasury sent a letter to Collins this afternoon clarifying its policy.

For months, the IRS and Obama Administration refused to answer if volunteer fire departments would be subject to ObamaCare regulations, as volunteers are classified as employees by the IRS for tax purposes.

"The (uncertainty) of this classification left me seriously concerned about the potential impact ObamaCare would have on volunteer fire companies across the country," Collins said. "Today I am glad to share that our nation's volunteer fire departments will not be crippled by unnecessary costs brought on by ObamaCare, so they can focus on the important work of protecting our communities."

In November, Collins wrote a letter to the acting commissioner of the IRS seeking a specific exemption for volunteer responders. Earlier this week, he spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of legislation (H.R. 3685) that would ensure volunteer service responders would not be classified as full-time employees under ObamaCare.