112th Congress
Update as of March 11th, 2011:
Committee Hearings
In the first in a series of about two dozen hearings in the Senate Finance Committee, members heard from witnesses about how the tax code has changed since the last substantial reform in 1986. While the majority of time was spent on corporate tax rates, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) asked a former top tax official at the Treasury Department a question about the charitable sector: “The charitable sector is often neglected in tax reform. It has been over 40 years since tax reform has been discussed in charitable organizations. I understand that the tax exemption is not considered a tax expenditure. What are your thoughts on if we should consider the impact of them?” The significance of this question is that reforming the charitable sector continues to be on Senator Grassley’s priority list and we should expect at least one hearing on the sector this year.
Continue reading...
2011 Summit for Leaders
ACR held its second annual Summit for Leaders yesterday (March 8) in Washington D.C. Over 100 leaders from 21 states (and the District of Columbia) representing private foundations, community foundations, academia and national nonprofit organizations packed the Capitol Hilton hotel for a morning of sessions devoted to public policy. Several senior staffers from the House and Senate discussed a variety of topics from the prospects of tax reform in the 112th Congress to the measures currently being proposed that directly impact the nonprofit community including the charitable deduction. After a review of the rules for engaging in advocacy for nonprofit organizations, attendees listened to challenges that several well-known organizations faced when engaging in advocacy on a domestic and international scope from both ends of the political spectrum. The panels generated thoughtful questions from organizations looking to maximize their resources to affect change in the public space.
Check this Friday’s newsletter for a full recap of the sessions.
Continue reading...
Charitable deduction in FY 2012 Budget
A coalition of national nonprofit organizations, inclduign the Alliance for Charitable Reform and The Philanthropy Roundtable, have today sent a letter to President Obama asking him to reconsider his proposal to cap the charitable deduction.
Here’s an excert:
As charities struggle to meet increased demands for their services and raise additional funds, we need to encourage all individuals, regardless of income and wealth, to give more to charitable organizations. Limiting the value of the charitable deduction does the exact opposite and would fundamentally change a tax structure that has contributed to a cherished tradition of charitable giving that is unmatched in the world.
Again, we urge you to withdraw any proposal that would limit the value of itemized deductions for charitable contributions in your FY 2012 Budget.
Download the full letter below.
Further Reading
March 8, 2011, Washington, D.C.
Following is information about ACR’s annual public policy conference:
2011 SUMMIT FOR LEADERS
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
8:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Capital Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.
A new Congress including the largest freshman class in more than 60 years has returned to Washington to tackle the continuing challenges facing our nation. This gives the donor and foundation community a tremendous opportunity to educate new members on the vital support we provide to individual neighborhoods, the nation, and the global community.
To help you think through the best approach for your organization, we invite you to attend the second annual ACR Summit for Leaders on March 8, 2011. The conference will include an overview of the 2011 political landscape and an exploration of various advocacy strategies available under the tax laws for donors and foundations to educate and influence policymakers. Foundation executives, nonprofit leaders, and others interested in public policy are invited to attend.
Continue reading...
Current Issue
Friday, February 25, 2011
The latest edition of the ACR newsletter is available below. Here are highlights:
Washington Roundup
- President’s Budget
- Your Action Needed
- Congressional Activity
- Congressional Committee Hearings
Consider This: Government Shutdown?
Click continue reading for the latest edition of the ACR newsletter.
Continue reading...
Reception honoring Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
We are pleased to announce that we will honor
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member,
SENATOR ORRIN HATCH (R-UT)
Tuesday, March 8
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Please join friends and supporters of the Alliance for Charitable Reform
as we hear Senator Hatch discuss the current legislative agenda.
Mark A. Prater, Chief Tax Counsel,
Finance Committee Minority Staff, will accompany the Senator.
Location:
Monocle Restaurant
On Capitol Hill, the senate side
107 D Street Northeast
Washington, DC 20002
Shuttle service to the Monocle will be available
from the Capital Hilton hotel promptly at 4:45 p.m.
To RSVP (if you have not already), please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
It’s not too late to you register for the Summit for Leaders to be held in the morning? Click here
United Way Worldwide comes out against the president’s FY 2012 budget
Brian Gallagher, president of the United Way Worldwide, pens an op-ed in the Huffington Post about the proposal by President Obama to cap the charitable deduction.
Here’s an excerpt:
The President’s budget proposal seeks to limit a vital incentive for charitable giving, the charitable deduction in the federal tax code.
It’s understandable that Congress and the Administration are committed to reducing the deficit, with the financial integrity of the United States being at stake. They are competing to find cuts to all manner of programs, many of which provide assistance to children and low-income families.
At a time when unemployment remains high, our nation’s most vulnerable families need more help, not less. States can’t fill the gap and most are cutting their human services budgets. As a result, more and more people are turning to charities for assistance.
Thus, any change to the federal tax code that undermines charitable giving is a bad idea…
Further Reading
President’s Budget Calls for Sharp Reduction in the Charitable Deduction Again
In his Fiscal Year 2012 budget proposal, President Obama again included a cap on the charitable deduction for upper-income taxpayers. The provision proposes to “limit the rate at which high-income taxpayers can take itemized deductions to a maximum of 28 percent, affecting only married taxpayers filing a joint return with income over $250,000 (at 2009 levels) and single taxpayers with income over $200,000,” and it would take effect January 1, 2012. It’s worth noting that the charitable deduction was NOT singled out. Like last year, the cap is on ALL itemized deductions, including the charitable deduction.
Continue reading...
Current Issue
Friday, February 11, 2011
The latest edition of the ACR newsletter is available below. Here are highlights:
Washington Roundup
- Friend Leaves the Senate
- President’s Budget
- Startup America Initiative
- White House Council on Community Solutions
Consider This: B-Day Not V-Day! President’s FY 2012 Budget to be Unveiled on Valentine’s Day
Click continue reading for the latest edition of the ACR newsletter.
Continue reading...
Consider this…
Here in DC, budget season is about to kick off with a vengeance. This year, the federal budget process promises to be messier than most.
We expect the President’s budget to be unveiled on Valentine’s Day and then promptly shelved. Later in the week, the House intends to debate legislation to extend the operations of the government past March 4th for the remainder of the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2011. We understand they plan to do so under what is known as an open rule - something more often seen in the Senate. Under this rule, during the budget debate any House member can offer an amendment to the budget bill, talk about it and then ask House members to vote on it – a tedious and time-consuming process. This translates into a free-for-all on the House floor. Why do this? By allowing freshmen to engage directly in the legislative process and offer spending cuts, Republican leadership expects to amass political chips it can use down the road when they need votes for more meaningful legislation – such as voting to increase the amount of debt the U.S. can borrow (i.e., raising the “debt ceiling”).
Why do this? What about the substance of the budget?
Continue reading...
