Private Property Rights Protection and Government Accountability Act

Tax Reform and Relief: General advocacy continues regarding fundamental tax reform, and tax relief permanency, re: 2001 and 2003 tax relief packages. Research & Development tax credit permanency. Home Office Deduction Simplification Act (H.R. 6214) -- support Tax Reform and Relief (continued): Continue to oppose tax increases on small businesses and tax gap proposals that increase taxes/reg burden on firms. For example, expressed concern regarding provisions in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (H.R. 3221), which mandated information reporting on merchant card payments to the IRS. Support AMT patch, minus various tax increases . Trade/Global Market Access: U.S.-Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) -- continue to support and press for passage. General advocacy continues on opening new markets for small businesses through trade agreements, while opposing efforts to re-negotiate existing agreements such as NAFTA. Health Coverage/Affordable Health Insurance: Continue to voice support for individual and small business tax credits; tax parity and fairness for the self-employed; nationwide marketplace for health insurance; pooling mechanisms for small businesses; health savings account (HSA) improvement and expansion. Government Procurement: H.R. 1023/S.777: Continue to express support for these bills to repeal Section 511 of Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act (P.L. 109-222), the 3 percent withholding mandate on government contractors. Employee Eligibility Verification Mandate on Government Contractors (FAR Case No 2007-013): Sent comments to GSA in opposition to mandated approach to e-verify for small government contractors as this would put such firms at a competitive disadvantage and increase costs. Regulatory Burden: "SAVE Act", H.R. 4088 -- continue to express opposition to the legislation in general. "Independent Office of Advocacy and Regulatory Reform Act," S. 2902 -- support regulatory measures in the legislation. Continue to express concern regarding "tax gap" measures that will increase paperwork burden and costs on small firms (for example, credit card, e-payments income reporting). Paycheck "Fairness" Act -- H.R. 1338 -- Urged opposition in House due to cost/legal impact on small firms. Affordable Energy: Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) development and exploration -- Support allowing ban to expire of OCS and oils shale recovery to help increase supply of U.S. (home-grown) energy resources, and economic opportunities for small business. Continue to express general support for domestic exploration and development; increased incentives for companies to accelerate bringing alternatives to market; lower gas taxes. Oppose tax increases on U.S. oil and gas firms. Comprehensive American Energy Security Act, H.R. 6899 -- opposed portions of bill that work against enabling increased energy supply, including higher taxes on U.S. energy companies. MMS 5 Year Oil and Gas Leasing Program -- supported MMS consideration of expanding offshore oil and gas development for periods 2010-2015 to help increase U.S.-based energy supply, and increase opportunities for small business. Property Rights: "Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2008," H.R. 6219 -- support. General Issues: Supported Mr. Sandy Baruha's nomination as SBA Administrator (Acting Administrator). Urged Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to suspend mark-to-market rules to help quell instability in markets. E-Verify Basic Pilot Program -- supported extension of pilot (not mandatory e-verify for all employers), including study of federal government's e-verify program related to cost impact on small businesses. Access to Credit/Capital: In comments to the Federal Reserve, as well as a letter to the House regarding H.R. 5244 -- expressed concerns and unintended consequences of overregulating low-limit credit cards, re: would decrease access to credit and capital for consumers and small businesses, while preventing these consumers to rebuild their credit.

Client expense: $45,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Federal Reserve System, General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), White House Office

Committee Votes Online Budget, Earmarks , Taxes Transparency S. 3077 Whistleblower Reconciliation HR 985/S 274 Private Property Rights Protection and Government Accountability Act HR 6219 Eminenet Domain Tax Relief Act Transparency

Client expense: $38,768 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), President of the U.S., SENATE

Tax Reform and Relief: General advocacy continues regarding fundamental tax reform, and tax relief permanency, re: 2001 and 2003 tax relief packages. Research & Development tax credit permanency. Home Office Deduction Simplification Act (H.R. 6214) -- support Tax Reform and Relief (continued): Continue to oppose tax increases on small businesses and tax gap proposals that increase taxes/reg burden on firms. H.R. 6049 (AMT patch with various tax increases) -- opposed Senate consideration/cloture. H.R. 6275, "AMT Relief Act" -- opposed various tax increases in the bill. Trade/Global Market Access: U.S.-Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) -- support. Opposed House Democratic initiative to block consideration of U.S.-Columbia TPA. General advocacy continues on opening new markets for small businesses through trade agreements, while opposing efforts to re-negotiate existing agreements such as NAFTA. Health Coverage/Affordable Health Insurance: Continue to voice support for individual and small business tax credits; tax parity and fairness for the self-employed; nationwide marketplace for health insurance; and pooling mechanisms for small businesses. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) "substantiation mandate": Opposed House passage. Opposed "substantiation mandate" in H.R. 5719, "Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008." Government Procurement: H.R. 1023/S.777: Support these bills to repeal Section 511 of Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act (P.L. 109-222), the 3 percent withholding mandate on government contractors. Regulatory Burden: H.R. 2831, "Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007" -- opposed Senate consideration of legislation. "SAVE Act" Discharge Petition -- H.R. 4088, "Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act" -- oppose new burdens and regulatory requirements on small firms. "SAVE Act" -- continue to express opposition to the legislation in general. "Independent Office of Advocacy and Regulatory Reform Act," S. 2902 -- support regulatory measures in the legislation. "Employee Free Choice Act" -- oppose Senate consideration and passage of the bill. Extension of small public company reporting requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley -- supported Security and Exchange Commission announcement. Department of Homeland Security "No-Match Rule" -- opposed and expressed concerns about various elements of "Supplemental Proposed Rule and Safe Harbor Procedures." Continue to express concern regarding "tax gap" measures that will increase paperwork burden and costs on small firms (for example, credit card, e-payments income reporting). Affordable Energy: Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) development and exploration -- supported Rep. Peterson's amendment to FY 2009 Interior Appropriations bill. "Climate Security Act," Lieberman-Warner, S.2191 -- Opposed "Climate Security Act," S. 3036 -- Opposed. Continue to express general support for domestic exploration and development; increased incentives for companies to accelerate bringing alternatives to market; lower gas taxes. Oppose tax increases on firms. Property Rights: "Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2008," H.R. 6219 -- support. Continue to express sense of urgency to provide legislative fix for U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo decision. General Issues: Steve Preston's nomination as U.S. HUD Secretary -- expressed support to Senate for the nomination. SBA Office of Advocacy Independence, S. 2902 -- support.

Client expense: $65,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), White House Office