May 15, 2012 7:00 AM CDT
Our primary issues this year were the NCMA check-off program, the estate tax, misclassification of employees, the alternative minimum tax and regulatory issues. Some of our members also touched on the pension issue and pension reform. The position papers for this year are attached.
This year our program included a South 40 reception hosted on D Street. You will see some photos from the reception. The reception was in a unique venue. The D Street office of the Keelen Group has a courtyard in the back. It is very unusual to find a beautiful courtyard in the downtown DC area. Look for updates coming soon on results from our conference. We are confident that we were picking up co-sponsors throughout our 1 ½ day visit. We welcome all members of the MCAA to participate in next year’s conference. This year we saw some great groups from the following areas: North Carolina, Texas, Arizona and St. Louis. Whenever you can do visits in a group that is geographically shared it has a greater impact and makes for a fun time among the participants.
This year the MCAA recognized four people with the Freedom and Prosperity award. The award is given to people who have contributed to the advancement of our issues this past year. This years recipients were: Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Buck McKeon (R-CA), Scott Brown (R-MA) and Mike Johanns (R-NE). We thank them for all their support this past year.
The MCAA is also in the midst of a fundraising effort for our PAC. PAC dollars must be from personal accounts and offer the MCAA opportunities to support members of Congress who support our positions. They are critical to our current and future success on the Hill. If you would like to give to the PAC, please feel free to contact the MCAA office or visit www.masoncontractors.org/macpac.
2012 Legislative Conference a success
Mason contractors get front and center with the issues
Sentor Scott Brown (R-MA) is presented the MCAA Freedom and Prosperity Award
The MCAA held it’s annual Legislative Conference May 8-10th. This year’s program was held at the same time that NCMA held their function, together we had over 50 people in attendance. Our visits this year also saw record numbers. Between both groups we visited over 120 offices on Capitol Hill. Our primary issues this year were the NCMA check-off program, the estate tax, misclassification of employees, the alternative minimum tax and regulatory issues. Some of our members also touched on the pension issue and pension reform. The position papers for this year are attached.
This year our program included a South 40 reception hosted on D Street. You will see some photos from the reception. The reception was in a unique venue. The D Street office of the Keelen Group has a courtyard in the back. It is very unusual to find a beautiful courtyard in the downtown DC area. Look for updates coming soon on results from our conference. We are confident that we were picking up co-sponsors throughout our 1 ½ day visit. We welcome all members of the MCAA to participate in next year’s conference. This year we saw some great groups from the following areas: North Carolina, Texas, Arizona and St. Louis. Whenever you can do visits in a group that is geographically shared it has a greater impact and makes for a fun time among the participants.
This year the MCAA recognized four people with the Freedom and Prosperity award. The award is given to people who have contributed to the advancement of our issues this past year. This years recipients were: Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Buck McKeon (R-CA), Scott Brown (R-MA) and Mike Johanns (R-NE). We thank them for all their support this past year.
The MCAA is also in the midst of a fundraising effort for our PAC. PAC dollars must be from personal accounts and offer the MCAA opportunities to support members of Congress who support our positions. They are critical to our current and future success on the Hill. If you would like to give to the PAC, please feel free to contact the MCAA office or visit www.masoncontractors.org/macpac.
About the Author
Jeff Buczkiewicz is the President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America. Jeff has worked in the masonry industry for several years as the Executive Vice President of the Building Stone Institute and the Director of Marketing and Membership for the Mason Contractors Association of America. Jeff has also served as Secretary on the Board of the Natural Stone Council and is a former Board Member of the StonExpo Federation.
