AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES for AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Advocated against proposals in various budget and deficit reduction plans to cap the tax deduction for charitable contributions on personal income taxes.

Contacted: Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; SENATE; Office of Government Ethics (OGE)

Health Issues HCR

Continued to track implementation of the Affordable Care Act, including formation of health insurance Exchanges and the role associations can play as navigators to the Exchanges.

Contacted: Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; White House Office; Office of Government Ethics (OGE); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Postal POS

Monitored postal reform legislation, including the "21st Century Postal Service Act" (S. 1789) that passed the Senate in April. This bill would address the Postal Service's dire financial condition while preserving preferred rates for nonprofit mailers. This bill has not been considered in the House.

Contacted: White House Office; Office of Government Ethics (OGE); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); SENATE

Bills named: S. 1789 (112th)

Government Issues GOV

Advocated against legislation that would severely restrict government employees from attending meetings and conferences held by associations and other private sector organizations. Amendments imposing new spending limits and reporting requirements for government employees attending conferences were included in the pending House DATA Act (H.R. 2146) and the Senate postal reform bill (S. 1789). A similar bill titled the "Government Spending Accountability Act" (H.R. 4631) was passed by the House Sept.

Contacted: SENATE; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; White House Office; Office of Government Ethics (OGE); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Bills named: H.R. 4631 (112th), S. 1789 (112th), H.R. 2146 (112th)

Travel/Tourism TOU

Advocated as part of a coalition in favor of policies that better promote the U.S. as a destination and improve visa processing for international visitors to the U.S.

Contacted: White House Office; Office of Government Ethics (OGE); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; U.S. Customs & Border Protection