This year is poised to be another bruising battle for control of the House and Senate. Historically, the president’s party loses seats in midterm elections. Unless something drastic occurs, that is likely to be the case once again.
For almost 30 years, we’ve been hoping for a reform of the tax code and for the better part of the last seven, LIFO users have helped beat back the possibility of repeal. 2014 may be the biggest fight we’ll ever see on this front. With two departing committee chairmen, all signs are pointing toward a tax overhaul. We expect a release of draft legislation early in the first quarter. The scrapping of tax provisions that many ASA members have benefited from could become a reality in exchange for lower marginal rates.
Your elected officials must hear from you and ASA is your vehicle to make that happen. When members of Congress are at home, we strongly encourage you to invite them to your facility and lay out how LIFO repeal would impact the four walls they’re standing in. Our Legislative Fly-In this April in Washington, D.C., will provide members with an entire day’s worth of visits with those who represent not just your headquarters locations, but your branches as well.
And finally, ASA PAC continues to be one of our most successful sources of influence. ASA PAC is the American Supply Association’s Political Action Committee. It is the PHCP/PVF industry’s voice in the political process and is your pipeline to the elected officials that impact your company. ASA PAC is the only political action committee that works solely to elect pro-PVF and PHCP candidates to the House of Representatives and Senate. Through voluntary contributions from eligible executive and management employees of ASA member companies, ASA PAC supports candidates for Congress who are sympathetic to your concerns.
Be on the lookout for ASA PAC’s new brochure in early 2014, as well as more April Legislative Fly-In details and more on how you can help your industry! Visit http://www.asa.net/Advocacy for up-to-the-minute information.
