Public Policy

On Capitol Hill Members Return to Washington Activity in the halls of Congress increased as lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Monday. Although debate continues on Syria, the votes on the use of force have been put off while a diplomatic solution is explored. In the meantime, House and Senate…

Up on Capitol Hill, a focus on foreign policy overshadows tax reform this week This is the last week of the Summer Congressional recess, but some members have returned to Washington to address concerns about Syria that dominate the airwaves and headlines. With the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee’s…

Historic 50th anniversary in Washington Council President and CEO Vikki Spruill and Susan Taylor Batten, President and CEO of the Association of Black Foundation Executives, co-authored a reflection in today’s Nonprofit Quarterly to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for…

Up on Capitol Hill Tax Reform It's August, but a few interesting developments emerge Talk continues about tax reform and its fate. This week the discussion is structured around two issues. First, House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI-4) announced that he will not be running for the U.S.…

It's August recess and time to look at "Tax Reform, the Big Picture" Washington has been quiet these past two weeks with lawmakers back in their home states, but that doesn’t mean that the debate on tax reform has quieted down. This week we’ve seen both scrutiny and thoughtful analyses on big…

Up on Capitol Hill . . . TAX REFORM: RECAPPING THE FIRST HALF Of 2013 It's quieter... August recess has begun. This gives us a chance to reflect on what's happened over the past seven months on the issues we're following: A House hearing on Valentine’s Day. . . As you will remember, the House…

Up on Capitol Hill . . . Countdown to the August Congressional Recess Congress heads off on recess today. We delayed our usual Thursday delivery of Snapshot until today so we could report to you on the latest breaking news. Tax Reform Anticipating a House Tax Reform Bill this Fall Both Politco…

Up on Capitol Hill . . . Tax Reform Finance Chairman Max Baucus gives us a sense of his timeline It’s looking like we'll have a busy autumn …. Politico Pro reports that the next big milestone in tax reform could be on the horizon. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) announced on…

Why should my community foundation care about public policy? Community foundations have a unique philanthropic voice in to bring to policymakers in Washington D.C. You are fully integrated into the lifeblood of your communities, and are intimately familiar with the urgent needs of those you serve.…

The following letter, reproduced with permission, was sent by Juanita T. James, president and CEO of the Fairfield County Community Foundation, to her representatives in Congress. If you would like to contact your representatives about how the shutdown is affecting philanthropy, the COF Public…

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the law exempting charitable activity from taxation — now referred to as Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Over the last century, this exemption contributed, more than any other factor, to the development of a broad and diverse network of…

This blog was originally posted on bolderadvocacy.org Across the country, community foundations are recognizing the power of public
 policy work to advance their missions. Some do so by awarding grants for advocacy activities like public education and research. Others support nonprofits to lobby.…

Council staff, consultants and I recently met with Senator Max Baucus of Montana who serves as chair of the Finance Committee. Three weeks ago, the Council’s CEO, Vikki Spruill, met with Representative Dave Camp, the chair of the Ways and Means Committee. These two men guide the tax writing…

Up on Capitol Hill . . . Tax Reform The "blank slate" is still, well, blank... As Politico notes, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for Senators Baucus and Hatch and the “blank slate” approach to tax reform. Colleagues on both sides of the aisle seem reluctant to submit official letters of support for…

Up on Capitol Hill . . . Tax Reform Should a newly reformed tax code raise more revenue than the old tax code? Discussion this week has centered on whether tax reform will be revenue raising (the position reflected by Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus) or revenue neutral (reflected by…

BREAKING NEWS: Baucus and Hatch Call for "Blank Slate" in Tax Reform This morning, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) held a closed door meeting with the committee to ask for their support in tax reform. A Dear Colleague letter from Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch…