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Public Policy
EA Public Policy Committee Work:
The Executive Alliance Public Policy Committee focuses on the analysis, creation of and evaluation of public policy that impacts nonprofits in the Puget Sound region. We also focus on issues and concerns that are addressed through legislation.
The Public Policy Committee looks forward to hearing from members about their policy concerns. The committee takes these suggestions and decides which policies are worth pursuing.
Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 3:30 p.m.
Please RSVP to Jena Burstein, Public Policy staff.
Current Issues & News
Economic Stimulus & Recovery - Special Reports
This Reports are a series on the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act prepared by National Council of Nonprofits Executive Director Tim Delany and his staff.
Nonprofit Grant Opportunities Special Report #1 (February 23, 2009)
This core report analyzes the $787 billion economic stimulus legislation, summarizing the major spending and tax cut provisions and identifying potential grant opportunities for nonprofits.
Stimulus Grant Tips and Thoughts Special Report #2 (February 24, 2009)
This report offers grant information, tips, and considerations - including that the stimulus package offers some grant opportunities, but is not a universal remedy for everyone.
Whether and How States Are Accepting & Distributing Federal Stimulus Funds Special Report #3 (February 25, 2009; updated March 2)
This report reviews how various Governors have indicated they will handle the federal funds.
Sources of Information Regarding Stimulus Funds Special Report #4 (March 3, 2009)
This report identifies national and state sources of information about the federal stimulus funds, including official recovery websites that states have established.
Information about the Proposed Changes in Charitable Deductions
Special Report #5 (March 9, 2009, updated March 17)
This report examines the proposed changes for charitable deducations in President Obama's proposed budget for 2010.
Forward Together: An Action Agenda for America's Economic Recovery
Special Report #6 (March 11, 2009)
Please read and then join the growing number of leaders from across America who are signing their names to this special declaration for Americans to “come together in this time of national crisis to renew our commitment to serve as partners in public service in addressing the challenges our nation faces.”
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009: White House Briefing for Nonprofits Special Report #7 (April 14, 2009)
On April 9, the White House held a special “briefing for outside organizations about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)” to provide an opportunity “to learn about how the ARRA funds are being distributed in the various departments and how you as organizations can participate.” The National Council of Nonprofits attended the briefing and is publishing this Special Report so nonprofits across the country can have equal access to this important information.
Current projects:
Updated issues:
- Donation of Space Tax Deduction Incentives – According to the Internal Revenue Service in their 2007 Charitable Contributions Publication 526, it is expressly forbidden to deduct the donation of space usage as a charitable contribution. The IRS considers the deduction of these “partial-interest” contributions as a double deduction.
- IRS Form 990EZ accepted by WA Secretary of State Office – The Secretary of State’s office has informed us that the IRS 990EZ form will be accepted with all filings related to charitable organizations, including the Application to Register as a Charitable Organization, the Washington State Solicitation Report, the Supplemental Solicitation Report and the Unified Registration Form.
- The Charities Education Fund – Although advised by the Charity Advisory Council to increase the WA Charitable Solicitations Report fee from $10 to $20 to fund the Charitable Education Fund, we were disappointed that the Secretary of State has chosen not to include this in the Initiative 960 legislation. We will continue to work with advisor Put Barber on this issue.
- The GIVE Act – The GIVE Act would have provided that volunteers received a mileage deduction of 70% the business rate (currently 41 cents per mile) and eliminate any income tax consequence for receipt of gas reimbursements. The GIVE Act has now become the Revised GIVE Act which will set the mileage deduction to the medical rate (currently 27 cents per mile).
- Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 – The recent Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, often referred to as the “Bailout Bill”, included a roll-over of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which mandates that all US health insurance companies provide coverage for psychological disorders, alcoholism, and drug addiction equal to physical disorders, if they provide for mental health at all.
Legislation Watch List:
- The Artist-Museum Partnership Act of 2007 – We are currently watching the Artist-Museum Partnership Act of 2007 work its way through the US Congress. Introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy, this bill would allow artists, writers, and composers to take a tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the works they donate to museums, libraries and other non-profit organizations.
- The Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative – We are currently waiting for the NCBI to be introduced into the Senate where it will most likely be sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
City of Seattle Lobbying Registration: EA is advocating for fairness and simplicity in the City's lobbyist registration bill and will continue to work with the 'Ethics and Elections Commission' to ensure clarity of the new requirements. Final requirements will not be available until September of '08.
The New Tax form 990 and its instructions:
Working Families Tax Credit was signed by the Governor!!:
Charitable Fundraising Event tax:
Trust Mill Bill:
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Click here for the policy brief.
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Click here for the Attorney General's (AG) letter to EA.
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Click here for the Indep. College's of WA letter to the AG
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Click here for the AG's letter to the Indep College's of WA
Washington State HB 2489 0708, Increasing raffle ticket prices:
Tax Exemptions for the administrative offices of some nonprofits:
Employee Hour Tax or 'Head Tax':
Seattle square footage tax:
Seattle's Transportation Infrastructure crisis and the nonprofit sector:
Charitable Solicitations Act:
The Pension Protection Act (HR4):
Executive Alliance Public Policy Forum Highlights:
Charitable Soliciations Act: Putnam Barber, Idealist.org and Judy Andrews, Fisher, Gottlieb and Andrews PLLC .
Prosposed Tax Legislation: Mark Hugh from Mark Hugh & Associates.
HR 1114, Trust Mill Act: Beth McCaw, Stokes Lawrence, PS.
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