We have received a great deal of feedback from our members and association executives regarding our recent report, "Industry Trade Associations, What Printers Think". A major section of the report dealt with Government Representation - which printers indicated was on par with Education as the top purpose of an association. Our report concluded that there should be a stronger focus on lobbying efforts by industry associations and those efforts should be communicated more frequently. Ben Cooper, Executive Vice President/ Public Policy - Printing Industries of America, wrote to us saying that the report illustrated that “a number of people in the printing industry do not understand what the PIA lobbying operations is all about.” Additionally, he states that “contrary to the views of some of your respondents, the PIA lobbying team is the only lobbyists representing printers in Washington.” Certainly, part of Cooper’s concern is that some of the printers who helped shape our report (and said Government was a top concern) are not members of PIA and therefore have a lack of understanding of their process. He also indicates that PIA’s lobbying efforts are for PIA members only. “It would be unfair of us to ask our members to pay money for services which we in turn give to those who do not pay.” We believe his comments should be considered within this discussion and Cooper has agreed to allow us to publish his letter. Letter from Ben Cooper, Executive Vice President/ Public Policy - Printing Industries of America Your report (Industry Trade Associations, What Printers Think) was interesting. I particularly enjoyed the comments from the respondents. We were able to learn a few things - primarily that a number of people in the printing industry do not understand what the PIA lobbying operations is all about. I thought it might be helpful to outline some of these issues for consideration by your subscribers. First of all, most surveys of the PIA membership have tended to support your results in that the number one service members want from their association is representation before the government. This tends to be true whether the issue is state or federal. It is for this reason that an argument could be made that the primary use of dues dollars is for the lobbying and government affairs program. But what exactly is the lobbying and government affairs program? The role of the PIA lobbyists is simple - we assure that the views of the printing industry are heard on important legislative and regulatory issues, that we minimize the impact on the industry of legislation and regulation and that we influence the outcome of pubic policy in a manner that is favorable to the industry. We approach these goals with our team of staff and outside lobbyists and a strong grassroots and political organization. Contrary to the views of some of your respondents, the PIA lobbying team is the only lobbyists representing printers in Washington. NPES maintains a government affairs operation to represent the interests of equipment manufacturers and suppliers to the industry and the screen printing association has an active government affairs program which focuses primarily on state and regulatory issues. However, there is no other association which has the full service program of PIA. Our agenda is set every two years. In the summer of the congressional elections, we survey the PIA membership to determine their concerns. After the elections, we have a two and a half day meeting to review the survey and the results of the elections to set the final course for the lobbyists for the next two years. The results of the survey and the meeting are submitted to the Board of PIA to ratify or change. While we follow the priorities very carefully, we are aware that emergencies arise. Our Government Affairs Committee is contacted when we need to make a change. Our staff is very professional. I have been with PIA for 24 years. Prior to that I worked in the government relations office of the U. S. Postal Service and another trade association. Wendy Lechner who serves as senior lobbyist and head of our employment policy area worked for former Senator Bill Armstrong and was Senate lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Business. Felicia Cheek came to PIA after serving as a legislative specialist for Rep. Ed Whitfield. In addition, we have some of the best lawyers and consultants in the Washington area providing support in areas where additional expertise is needed. (No, we do not pay retainers.) Specifically, we have experts in government procurement, copyrights and intellectual property, labor and benefits and environment and tax. One of the key areas for the Department is PrintPAC, the association's (and the industry's only) political action committee. Through PrintPAC, the association is able to raise and contribute nearly $250,000 every two years to candidates for the U. S. House and Senate. PrintPAC is funded by voluntary, personal contributions of PIA members. No PIA funds are used for PrintPAC. Even the administrative expenses are donated funds. In addition to actively supporting candidates for the House and Senate, we arrange for printers to meet their elected officials. In the last election cycle, we conducted over 150 grassroots meetings. As you might expect, the issues that are of importance to printers are those that affect their bottom line - taxes, benefits, and other employment issues. One of the themes in your report was that the associations should work together. We certainly try to do so but in the final analysis, we are an organization of members. It would be unfair of us to ask our members to pay money for services which we in turn give to those who do not pay. While cooperation is a worthy goal, we are still a business. I hope your subscribers who are PIA members will take advantage of the services we offer. I hope those who are not members will decide to join. It is the members who make this possible. Benjamin Y. Cooper Executive Vice President/ Public Policy Printing Industries of America, Inc 100 Daingerfield Road Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: (703)519-8115 Email: [email protected] Top PIA Legislative Issues In his letter, Cooper included their top issues for the current two year congressional cycle and status comments. These items are listed below for your consideration. ISSUE 1: Oppose legislation that would hinder the ability of employers to provide affordable health benefits to their employees. COMMENT: PIA has been leader in coalition opposing PBOR but legislation is expected to pass. ISSUE 2: Oppose implementation of OSHA's ergonomics program standard. COMMENT: Congress repealed standard. PIA given significant credit. ISSUE 3: Support repeal or phase out of the death tax. COMMENT: Congress voted to phase out tax over ten years. ISSUE 4: Support legislation to reduce the depreciation schedule on computer and computer related equipment from five years to two years. COMMENT: Congress voted for 30% bonus depreciation aimed at computers. ISSUE 5: Oppose any effort to expand coverage under the Family and Medical Leave Act. COMMENT: No action taken but PIA active in limiting action. ISSUE 6: Develop a consistent policy for determining whether customer service representatives can be classified as exempt under federal labor laws. COMMENT: Delays in approval of key staff delayed progress ISSUE 7: Oppose legislation that would hinder the ability of employers to electronically monitor the activities of their employees while on the job COMMENT: No legislation has passed. ISSUE 8: Support reform of retirement plan laws, such as 401(k)s, to better enable employers to start and maintain cost effective retirement programs for their employees. COMMENT: PIA was leader of coalition which resulted in pension reforms. ISSUE 9: Support reinstatement of the investment tax credit (ITC) for manufacturing businesses. COMMENT: Congress took no action on ITC but voted stimulus instead. ISSUE 10: Oppose using state unemployment insurance funds to pay benefits to new parents taking Family and Medical leave or any other purpose that is beyond the scope of providing a safety net for employees who are unemployed through no fault of their own. COMMENT: No action taken. PIA continued to oppose.