Rep. Levin does not expect an expanded extender bill

Ways and Means Chairman Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) said legislation extending several expiring provisions will not be expanded to include a whole host of other issues. 

"This won't be a Christmas tree," he told reporters. 

For the past few weeks rumors have spread throughout the Capitol that the extender bill would be the last bill passed by Congress before lawmakers turn their attention to the upcoming election. In such a case, members want to add pet measures to the legislation to help their chance for re-election. Levin cautioned against believing the rumors. 

"Don't listen to all the rumors," he said. 

The Chairman also discounted the rumor that the war supplemental would be added to the bill. 

"I haven't heard that one," he said. "That's a good one."

House leaders are looking to extend the "doc fix" in the bill, but for how long remains an open question. 

"We're working on it," Levin said. "I need to leave it at that because we had a meeting [with Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), but now it needs to be followed up by discussions with the leaders." 

House and Senate tax writers are also weighing whether to add to the legislation Build America Bonds and extra state funding for educators, staffers from both chambers told The Hill. Offsets for the bill have also dominated discussions that included Democratic leaders. Senate staffers hinted that modifying the tax on carried interest and no long allowing the splitting of foreign tax credits are top contenders. Combined, these measure could raise between $30 billion and $35 billion over 10 years. 

Levin expects work on the extender bill to be completed by the original target of the Memorial Day recess.

"We hope very much that there will be action before Memorial Day," he said.