The Slacktivist

Congress will face a number of expiring tax provisions, “automatic” spending cuts, and the prospect of another battle about the nation’s debt limit during the lame duck session following the November election.

Without Congressional action of some kind, income taxes will increase for every American, the current employee payroll tax rate reduction and extended unemployment benefits will expire, and more than 27 million middle class households will be subject to higher taxes under the Alternative Minimum Tax.  The choices that Congress makes during this period on spending and how to address tax reform debates in 2013 could have profound implications for our organizations and the people we serve.

Independent Sector strongly encourages you to take advantage of the upcoming August recess to plan meetings with your Congressional representatives while they are back in their home states and districts. Connect face-to-face with your elected officials or their key staff – or invite them to your facility or a program where they can personally witness your role as employer and contributions to the local economy, as well the value of your work in their state and district.

During your conversations, there are 4 key messages that they hope you will share:

• Protect the charitable deduction and reject proposals that limit (or eliminate) the deduction to pay for other legislative proposals;
• Extend and make permanent the IRA charitable rollover and other charitable giving provisions;
• Any legislation to spur employment should include nonprofits because the nonprofit sector is a major employer and contributes to a strong economy;
• Reduce the federal deficit without increasing poverty or income inequality.

These key messages and other materials, including state-specific and national nonprofit sector profiles and issue one-pagers are available on the IS website on the Summer 2012: Connect with Lawmakers page.