APGA Staff Talk Tax Policy and Advocacy Best Practices with House Representative

By Joshua St.Pierre posted 10-10-2024 12:36 PM

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Last month, APGA staff joined other trade associations at a breakfast with Representative Mike Carey (R-OH-15) to discuss upcoming tax policy negotiations and hear his advice for engaging with members of Congress over the next several months. Rep. Carey is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, the chief tax-writing body in the House of Representatives. Members of this committee are tasked with working through many tax proposals, including APGA’s priorities related to preserving the tax-exempt status for municipal bonds and ensuring that tax policy is equitable and doesn’t incentivize one energy option over another. Opportunities like these to engage directly with members of Congress on issues of significance are pivotal to APGA’s success on the advocacy front.

Rep. Carey encouraged attendees to stay visible over the next few months and serve as resources to policymakers who may not be as familiar with particular tax policy proposals. He also offered a few nuggets of advice for advocates who plan to engage with staff and legislators:

When meeting on Capitol Hill, either virtually or in person, make sure that you explicitly state the purpose of the meeting and the ask in the first 60 seconds. This ensures that the staffer or legislator you are meeting with is able to ask appropriate questions and gather the necessary background information.
Take advantage of the time when legislators are back in their districts or states. Invite them to attend events or meet at their district offices.
Engage with representatives from your trade associations and use them as tools.

With the expiration of the Trump-era Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), there is a lot on the menu for members of Congress to work through when it comes to tax policy. Many government spending watchdogs are looking to decrease tax burdens and cut “wasteful spending.” Other legislators are looking for innovative ways to incentivize investment in the economy and support emerging technologies.

Rep. Carey emphasized the urgency of explaining the direct benefit that each proposal will have on the communities that legislators serve. APGA staff will work to ensure that the public gas industry’s priorities are front and center in these discussions. Preserving tax-exempt financing, passing the American Infrastructure Bonds Act, and extending the Alternative Fuels Tax Credit (AFTC) are just a few of the key considerations public gas systems need Congress to act on as tax policy negotiations continue.

For questions on this article, please contact Joshua St.Pierre of APGA staff by phone at 202-407-0015 or by email at jstpierre@apga.org.

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