Twenty members from the NYSSCPA’s Queens/Brooklyn chapter met with State Senator Kevin S. Parker (D-21) and Kings County Democratic Chairman Frank Seddio on May 9 as part of the Society’s new Legislative Breakfast series.

The NYSSCPA launched the series last winter to connect members with their local politicians and shine a spotlight on the organization’s legislative agenda. Its first breakfast took place on Long Island in December, with State Senator John J. Flanagan (R-2) as the guest speaker.

Acknowledging the Society’s efforts to be effective advocates for the profession, both Parker and Seddio said that the NYSSCPA has an opportunity to work more closely with legislative leaders in Albany, given that its members’ opinions are widely valued.

For example, last winter, members of the NYSSCPA’s New York, Multistate and Local Taxation Committee and Taxation of Individuals Committee held a conference call with a special commission that had been assembled by the governor and charged with conducting an exhaustive review of the state’s tax policy. The Society’s input was included, along with feedback from other key stakeholders, in the commission’s final assessment. And last fall, the Society was asked to testify before the Senate Finance Committee, which held a series of tax reform hearings throughout the state.

During the breakfast, NYSSCPA President J. Michael Kirkland and Society staff also spoke with those in attendance about recent highlights from the organization’s legislative agenda, including the Society’s success in preventing New York CPAs from having to comply with duplicated regulatory requirements when the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance officially approved new regulations for tax return preparers in December.

In addition, the Society distributed its latest economic outlook survey, which outlines the steps CPAs in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania believe should be taken to improve the business climate in the region.

Legislative breakfasts are planned as cooperative efforts between the Society and chapter leaders. If you wish to hold a legislative breakfast in your chapter, contact NYSSCPA Public Affairs Manager Robert Busweiler at rbusweiler@nysscpa.org.