[Legislative Issues]

AAF National Government Report May 2020

As anticipated, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) vetoed the digital ad tax passed by the General Assembly. The Assembly is expected to try to override the veto when it returns. Normally, the body would have reconvened in late May but did not because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The next session has not been scheduled and could be delayed until the Fall or next year pending the state of the health crisis. AAF Baltimore, AAF DC and the Maryland/Delaware/District of Columbia Press Association released a joint statement praising the Governor’s action. Read More

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AAF National Government Report April 2020

On April 24, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) issued an Executive Order that among other things, rescinded the advertising ban included in a previous order. The previous Executive Order addressing the COVID-19 crisis in her state sparked a well-covered protest because of the stay-at-home provisions included in the order. The order also included language that impacted advertising. Read More

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AAF National Government Report

Two ad tax bills have been introduced in the Nebraska legislature. LB 946 would extend the state sales and use tax to all services unless specifically exempted. No exemption for advertising is mentioned in the bill’s language. LB 989 would impose the sales and use tax to digital advertising. Because Nebraska has a very short legislative session this year, and the governor has pledged not to raise taxes, these bills are not expected to be enacted. However, many observers in the state believe that they could lay the groundwork for more serious consideration next year. Read More

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AAF Government Report | September 30, 2019

The AAF protects and promotes advertising at all levels of government through grassroots activities. Our nation-wide network monitors advertising-related legislation on local, state and federal levels. We put our members face-to-face with influential lawmakers while encouraging self-regulation as a preemptor to government intervention, when appropriate of course. Read More

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AAF Government Report | June 28, 2019

Federal “Do Not Track” Bill Introduced
Multiple federal privacy bills have been introduced, including a recent one by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., that would establish a Do Not Track registry for online data collection similar to the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call list which allows people to say they do not want to receive telemarketing calls. The bill would allow consumers to opt out of companies collecting data beyond what is “necessary” for the services to run. Read More

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Advertising Day on the Hill

“It’s crucial for us as advertising industry leaders to help policymakers understand the role we play in our communities and economy; the free press, crucial to democracy; innumberable internet apps and services from the Alphabet to the Weather Channel. All of these and more are ad supported. We need to help our elected leaders understand our industry and it’s implications when they make policy that effects what we do.”
Ryan Horn, President Bullhorn Communications
AAF Omaha Legislative Issues Committee Member
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AAF Government Report November 29, 2018

Elections Bring Major Changes
A big transformation in power is coming to Capitol Hill in 2019, as the Democratic Party won control of the U.S. House of Representatives 234 seats to 201 ending complete Republican control of both Houses of Congress and the Presidency. The Republicans slightly increased their Senate majority from 51-49 to 53-47. Read More

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AAF Government Report | October 2018

The AAF protects and promotes advertising at all levels of government through grassroots activities. Our nation-wide network monitors advertising-related legislation on local, state and federal levels. We put our members face-to-face with influential lawmakers while encouraging self-regulation as a preemptor to government intervention, when appropriate of course. Read More

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AAF Government Report | May 2018

The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) has launched an industry-wide initiative to increase transparency and accountability around digital political ads, including new guidance for political advertisers and a “PoliticalAd” icon that will link to additional information on such ads. AAF is one of the supporting associations of the DAA. Read More

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AAF Government Report | April 2018

AAF Omaha and AAF Lincoln team up each year to host a Legislative Meet & Greet with Nebraska State Senators in the capitol of Lincoln to speak with state representatives about issues important to the advertising community. This year’s event was held on February 7th and featured a brief presentation from Ryan Horn, AAF Omaha Legislative Team Member, about the role advertising plays in cultivating a creative Nebraska, and Andy Roback the CEO of Flood Communications who talked about the role his television and radio stations play across the state of Nebraska in supporting young people in rural communities with interests in broadcasting and advertising. Read More

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AAF Government Report | November 2017

The U.S. Congress keeps moving ahead on comprehensive tax reform. The House has passed their version of reform and the Senate is currently debating their version with amendments being offered and voted on. Neither bill includes any limitations on the full current year deduction for advertising expenses as a normal and necessary business expense. This is very good news for consumers and the advertising industry. However, it is still possible that the advertising deduction issue could be raised before tax reform is finished. Read More

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AAF Alert – Tax Reform Update | November 7, 2017

The advertising industry must stay vigilant. I urge all AAF members to contact their Senators and urge them to oppose any effort to limit the full deduction for advertising expenses. If your Senator or Representative signed either the Boozman-Baldwin or Engel-Yoder letters I encourage you to contact their offices and thank them for supporting the advertising industry. These elected officials took a stand on our industry’s behalf and their support should be acknowledged. Read More

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AAF Government Report | October 2017

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, plans to release comprehensive tax reform legislation on Wednesday, November 1. According to the previously released United Framework for Fixing Our Broken Tax Code, the corporate tax rate will be lowered to 20% and many special exclusions and deductions will be repealed or restricted. The Chairman has not said which deductions would be limited, or more specifically, whether the advertising deduction will be targeted. Read More

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AAF National Legislative Alert Urgent – Advertising Deductibility

Time is getting short. The time for you to act is now! Congressional tax writers are discussing the specifics of the tax reform bill “ including a possible tax on advertising” this week.  If your Representative is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, or one of your Senators is on the Finance Committee, I implore you to contact them now and urge them to oppose any effort to change the tax status of advertising.  Read More

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AAF Government Report | September 2017

Senior Congressional and Administration officials have released their Unified Framework for Fixing our Broken Tax Code. The so-called “Big 6″(Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch) have been negotiating the details of the plan for weeks. Read More

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AAF Government Report | August 2017

According to prior reports, Senate talks on tax reform have been centered on a framework similar to the plan introduced in 2014 by former Ways and Means Committee Chair Dave Camp, R-Mich. That plan called for lowering the corporate tax rate to 25 percent while eliminating many tax preferences and deductions, including limiting the federal deduction for advertising expenses to 50% in the current year with the remaining 50% amortized over ten years. A similar plan was introduced at the same time in the Senate by then Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus, D-Mont., although the amortization schedule in the Senate plan was for five years. There has been no indication that the advertising deduction is currently under consideration. Read More

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Legislative Committee Update – August 2017

Advertising is a powerful engine that helps drive the economy of Nebraska. Advertising expenditures account for $33.1 billion of economic output or sales in Nebraska – that is 15.2% of the $218.5 billion in total economic output in the state. Sales of products and services that are driven by advertising help support 111,999 jobs, representing 10.7% of the 1.1 million jobs in Nebraska. Read More

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March is Legislative Action Month

March is Legislative Action Month The American Advertising Federation Omaha (AAF Omaha) is the unifying voice for advertising in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metropolitan area. As advocates for the rights of advertisers, the club educates policy makers, the media and the public on the value advertising brings to the well-being of the community. AAF Omaha fosters the highest standards of practice and cultivates the industry’s present and future leaders....

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AAF Government Report | January 30, 2017

AAF’s Advocacy and Action: Advertising Day on the Hill is fast approaching. This exciting event will be held on Thursday, March 30 with a preconference dinner on Wednesday evening, March 29. AAF’s unique strength in Washington, DC is as a grassroots organization and the Day on the Hill is a time for those grassroots to be heard. Attendees will be briefed on the issues by policy experts, hear from lawmakers and regulators and walk the Halls of Congress delivering the advertising industry’s message. Read More

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Legislative Spotlight – December

Your AAF Omaha Legislative Issues Committee has been meeting monthly advocating for our members and the rights of advertisers throughout Nebraska and western Iowa. Thank you to our strong committee and their dedication to keep you informed to issues important to our industry. Read More

Legislative Issues

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