NAEDA currently plays a valuable role in the U.S. political process by providing needed information to elected and appointed officials on selected topics at the various levels of national government so that they can make informed decisions on legislation or regulations that affect equipment dealers . We are charged with the task of ensuring our members’ interests are representing them before the government. This means establishing and maintaining relations with Congress and the White House through direct lobbying as well as political action and education.
NAEDA annually does a Legislative Fly-In to Washington, D.C., and encourages dealers and affiliates to join us to meet and greet their representatives and senators and their staffs on important issues. For 2010 the important issues discussed during the Fly-in included:
- Equipment depreciation
- LIFO (Last in, first out accounting practice)
- Taxes (income, corporate, and estate)
- Credit and finance issues
- Bank and credit card charges and fees
- Card Check
- Energy and environment
NAEDA as part of our legislative efforts, also monitors regulations being proposed by federal agencies that may affect equipment dealers and will make appropriate comments on these rulemaking proposals as needed to protect dealers’ interests.
In addition, as part of any legislative program, we also attempt to identify and contact other key agencies, associations, groups etc. to outline our policies and positions. This often is in the form of participating in coalitions, initiating grassroots participation and/or developing communications programs concerning government relations activities for affiliates, members, and news media through publications, position papers, faxes, action alerts, Web sites, etc.