Tax prep coalitions lobby up as IRS readies pilot program

From: POLITICO Influence - Thursday Jun 01,2023 09:03 pm
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By Caitlin Oprysko

With Daniel Lippman 

TAX PREP COALITIONS HIRE BROWNSTEIN: A pair of industry groups comprising tax preparation providers have enlisted the help of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck as the Biden administration prepares to roll out a pilot program that would allow taxpayers to file their taxes directly to the IRS online, posing a potentially existential threat to the industry.

— The Free File Alliance, a nonprofit consortium of companies partnering with the IRS to provide free online tax preparation for people below a certain income threshold, retained veteran tax lobbyist David Ransom at the end of April to lobby on issues related to the “continuance and strengthening of the Free File program through funding,” according to newly filed disclosures.

— The American Coalition for Taxpayer Rights, whose members include H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, TaxSlayer and TurboTax owner Intuit, retained Brownstein days later to lobby on issues related to tax administration and tax preparation products, disclosure filings show.

Russ Sullivan, the former staff director on the Senate Finance Committee; Harold Hancock, a former tax counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee; Mark Warren, a top tax counsel for both of Congress’ tax-writing panels and a former Treasury official; tax policy expert Radha ​Mohan; and Ransom, a former aide to House Majority Leader emerita Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), are working on the account.

— Tax prep companies have long sought to head off efforts to establish a federally run program allowing Americans to file their taxes for free, and last year lawmakers called for investigations into the industry’s influence efforts.

— But last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, which included an $80 billion tranche for the IRS to invest in general service improvements, directed that $15 million of that amount be set aside for the study of a direct-filing program, prompting the industry to mobilize against the idea. (The deal struck over the weekend to raise the debt ceiling would strip more than $20 billion of the IRS funding away, but the administration released its report on the feasibility of such an undertaking last month.)

— Intuit in particular spent more on federal lobbying last year — over $3.5 million — than it ever has before, as did the American Coalition for Taxpayer Rights, which dropped more than a quarter-million dollars.

— H&R Block spent more than $2.6 million on federal lobbying. The Free File Alliance, whose members include 1040NOW Corp., ezTaxReturn.com, FileYourTaxes, OnLine Taxes, TaxACT, TaxHawk and TaxSlayer, had not previously hired federal lobbyists prior to April, according to disclosures.

Happy Thursday and welcome to PI, where your host has realized we’ve had the day of the week wrong for both editions this week — post-holiday blues, amirite? Send K Street gossip and desk calendar recs: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.

 

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McGLYNN DECAMPS FOR HOLLAND & KNIGHT: Holland & Knight has nabbed another lobbyist from K&L Gates — the third for the firm so far this year as it builds out a team of emerging technologies and space exploration experts. Sean McGlynn, who’s spent more than a dozen years with the firm, most recently as a government affairs adviser, is joining Holland & Knight as a senior policy adviser.

— McGlynn, who worked for former Sen. Barbara Mikulski before heading to the private sector, specializes in the appropriations process with a focus on national security, defense and emerging technology issues. He’s already brought four clients along with him, according to disclosure filings: ​Pacific Defense Strategies, ​Nauticus Robotics, the American Small Manufacturers Coalition and IonQ.

— Holland & Knight had previously poached three other K&L Gates staffers — partners Daniel Ritter and Paul Stimers, plus Dennis Potter — in March.

FIRST IN PI — STATE BROADCASTERS BACK AM RADIO BILL: The bipartisan push to preserve AM radios in newer models of cars continues to gin up support from the broadcasting industry ahead of a hearing on the matter slated for next week.

— All 50 state broadcast associations, along with the broadcast associations representing D.C. and Puerto Rico, have signed on to a resolution throwing their backing behind the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require automakers to maintain AM radio in new vehicles for no added charge.

— The bill from Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and nine other lawmakers in both chambers stems from a growing number of automakers leaving AM radios out of newer vehicles amid concerns that the technology could cause disruptions in EVs and the growing popularity of streaming radio services. The National Association of Broadcasters has already endorsed the measure.

— Automakers and some tech trade groups have pushed back on the notion of a mandate to require AM radio, which more than 100 lawmakers noted to automakers last month has played a key role in transmitting information during emergencies, especially in rural areas.

WARREN, VANCE TARGET BANK EXECS:  POLITICO’s Zach Warmbrodt reports this morning that “Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s push to hit the executives of failed banks with sharper penalties is getting a big boost from an unexpected conservative partner — Sen. J.D. Vance.”

— “Warren on Thursday unveiled Congress’s most politically viable response yet to the economy-shaking collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, with a bill backed by 12 other senators that would require the government to claw back executive compensation at large failed banks in a bid to deter excessive risk-taking.”

— “Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Vance, an Ohio Republican, worked hand-in-hand to craft the latest iteration of the bill and assemble key co-sponsors — among them nearly half the lawmakers on the Senate panel responsible for potentially voting on the legislation. ‘This is not just for show,’ Warren said in an interview. ‘We actually want to make change, and we’ve got a bill where we can get this done.’”

— “The compromise indicates that a thirst for banking industry accountability — one shared by President Joe Biden — persists on Capitol Hill nearly three months after the failure of SVB and other regional lenders. Warren’s coalition is evidence that there may be sufficient political will to change policy.”

PILOTS LAUNCH UFO ADVOCACY GROUP: “The first active-duty military pilot to come forward to Congress about his experience with so-called unexplained aerial phenomena is starting a first-of-its-kind nonprofit group to support other pilots who see things they can’t explain,” NBC News’ Alex Seitz-Wald reports.

— “Airline passengers are encouraged to report suspicious activity in the name of national security, but the pilots on those same planes often face professional stigma and institutional obstacles in reporting unexplained aerial phenomena, or UAPs, that could represent national security threats in the age of drones and spy balloons, advocates say.”

— “For instance, the Federal Aviation Administration has no mechanism for pilots to report UAPs, the term preferred to UFOs, instead directing them to civilian UFO groups that are often dismissed as the domain of cranks and conspiracy theorists.”

— “Americans for Safe Aerospace, which is officially launching Thursday as the first pilot-led advocacy organization dedicated to UAPs, seeks to change that. Co-founded and run by former Navy fighter pilot Ryan Graves, the group, which provided exclusive details to NBC News, aims to better support aviators who witness unexplained events.”

— “The group wants to push for policy changes, like better reporting mechanisms, serve as a hub for pilot whistleblowers and advocate for more disclosure by the military and other government agencies.”


BGR LAUNCHES NEW WORKING GROUP: BGR Group has formed a new working group within its Commerce practice focused on sustainability, nutrition and commodities ahead of this year’s farm bill, which sets out major policy prescriptions in all of those areas.

Jennifer Lukawski, a principal at the firm, and Keaghan Ames, a vice president in the financial services practice, will lead the working group, which will also focus on issues like futures contracts and cryptocurrency, and BGR President Erskine Wells said in a statement the group “will be a focal point within BGR for many key legislative battles ahead.”

Jobs Report

Jayni Hein is joining Covington & Burling as co-chair of the firm’s newly launched carbon management and climate mitigation initiative. She previously was senior director for clean energy, infrastructure and the National Environmental Policy Act at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

— The News Media Alliance has named Danielle Coffey as its new chief executive. She was previously executive vice president and general counsel for the group.

Philip Minardi has joined BuildWithin as vice president of strategic engagement. He was most recently global vice president of public affairs at Expedia Group.

David Hong has been promoted to partner at Kyle House Group. He was previously senior policy adviser.

Andy Keiser has been promoted to senior principal at Navigators Global, where he will lead the newly restructured government relations team and join the executive committee. Sarah Rogers and Ryan Berger will round out the new government relations practice.

George Chen is joining The Asia Group as managing director for Hong Kong and Taiwan. He was most recently head of Meta’s regionwide policy operation.

Alana Peisner is now scheduler for Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.). She was previously a government affairs associate at Mehlman Consulting.

— The U.S.-China Business Council has hired Kyle Sullivan as vice president of business advisory services. He was most recently a vice president with the Albright Stonebridge Group.

Jessica Salmoiraghi has joined BSA | The Software Alliance as senior director for IT modernization and procurement.

Nathan Leamer is launching Fixed Gear Strategies, a consulting shop working at the intersection of tech and policy. Leamer most recently was vice president of Targeted Victory.

Rodericka Applewhaite is now a director in the public affairs division of SKDK. She previously was senior communications adviser for the Michigan Democratic Party and is a Pete Buttigieg and EMILY’s List alum.

Will Todd and Lily Woodall are launching Icebreaker Strategies, a government relations firm specializing in appropriations, national security policy and business development strategy. Todd previously was a principal at Cornerstone Public Affairs. Woodall previously was a senior associate at Cornerstone Government Affairs.

New Joint Fundraisers

Harshbarger Moolenaar Victory Fund (Reps. John Moolenaar, Diana Harshbarger, Tennessee Tough PAC, Together United For Liberty, Integrity And Prosperity PAC (TULIP PAC))
LARSEN VICTORY COMMITTEE (Friends Of Flemming Larsen, Larsen PAC)

New PACs

Battleground Freedom (Super PAC)
CPAC (Super PAC)
Edu PAC (Super PAC)
Equality Delaware (PAC)
Justice Truth (Super PAC)
Keystone Victory Fund, Inc. (Super PAC)
LATINOS FOR A FREE AMERICA (Super PAC)
NHLtoHartford (Super PAC)
The People for A Brighter Future (Super PAC)

New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Arajet, S.A.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Fervo Energy
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: Firstrust Savings Bank
Cartwright & Riley, Inc.: Northfork Strategies
Impact Public Affairs (Formerly Massey, Watson & Hembree LLC: Central Atlanta Progress
Lsn Partners, LLC: Brookfield Properties Development LLC
Lsn Partners, LLC: Pioneer Energy, Inc.
Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Accessbio
S-3 Group: Schneider Electric
The D Major Group: Health Care Service Corporation, A Mutual Legal Reserve Company (Hcsc)

New Lobbying Terminations

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: Firstrust Savings Bank
Kellen Company: Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association
P F Greer Consulting: American Transaction Processors Coalition

 

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