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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
| Address1 | 1575 I STREET, NW, 12TH FLOOR |
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| City | WASHINGTON |
State | DC |
Zip Code | 20005 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
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5. Senate ID# 3390-12
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6. House ID# 311010000
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| TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2016 |
Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) | Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) | Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) | Q4 (10/1 - 12/31) |
9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report
| 10. Check if this is a Termination Report | Termination Date |
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11. No Lobbying Issue Activity |
| INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13 | |||||||||
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| 12. Lobbying | 13. Organizations | ||||||||
| INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: | EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were: | ||||||||
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| Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income for the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). | 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options. | ||||||||
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Method A.
Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only
Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code |
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| Signature | Digitally Signed By: JAMES L. CLARKE |
Date | 4/19/2016 2:26:05 PM |
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code BUD
16. Specific lobbying issues
Advocated against statutory restrictions on government employees' travel and attendance at mission-related association conferences.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of Management & Budget (OMB)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
James |
Clarke |
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Christopher |
Vest |
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Mary Kate |
Cunningham |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code HCR
16. Specific lobbying issues
Continued to monitor implementation of the Affordable Care Act including enrollment in federal and state health insurance exchanges and provisions impacting associations as employers. Advocated for repeal of the Affordable Care Acts 40 percent excise tax on high-cost health plans (the "Cadillac tax") that was due to take effect in 2018 (now delayed until 2020 as part of the omnibus spending package passed last December).
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
James |
Clarke |
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Christopher |
Vest |
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Mary Kate |
Cunningham |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TAX
16. Specific lobbying issues
Advocated against proposals to expand the UBIT statute to tax certain revenue-generating activities of associations, including proposals in the 2014 Dave Camp tax reform discussion draft to tax royalty income and certain qualified sponsorships.
Advocated as part of a coalition in favor of retaining the deduction for charitable giving as part of any overhaul of the tax code. Specifically voiced support for the Charities Helping Americans Regularly Throughout the Year (CHARITY) Act, introduced by Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
Advocated against the IRS adopting an alternative substantiation rule that would have given nonprofit organizations the option of substantiating contributions of $250 or more by collecting and reporting donors Social Security numbers to the IRS.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
James |
Clarke |
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Christopher |
Vest |
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Mary Kate |
Cunningham |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code POS
16. Specific lobbying issues
Tracked legislation to reform the U.S. Postal Service's business model with intent on preserving favorable postal rates for nonprofit mailers.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
James |
Clarke |
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Christopher |
Vest |
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Mary Kate |
Cunningham |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code CPT
16. Specific lobbying issues
Tracking Department of Justice's decision to review consent decrees with ASCAP and BMI. Primary interest is in application of rules to associations and other event organizers who are responsible for licensing music at meetings, conferences and trade shows.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
Justice - Dept of (DOJ)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
James |
Clarke |
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Christopher |
Vest |
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Mary Kate |
Cunningham |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TEC
16. Specific lobbying issues
Tracked new rules on net neutrality, approved by the FCC last March.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
James |
Clarke |
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Christopher |
Vest |
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Mary Kate |
Cunningham |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code GOV
16. Specific lobbying issues
Advocated in favor of new legislation removing the requirement that all trade association PACs obtain prior approval before soliciting employees of member companies. No bill introduced as yet.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
James |
Clarke |
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Christopher |
Vest |
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Mary Kate |
Cunningham |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code LBR
16. Specific lobbying issues
Advocated for changes to overtime rules proposed by the Department of Labor. Primary concern is DOL proposing a "one-size-fits-all" salary threshold for overtime eligibility as opposed to considering regional cost-of-living differences. Also interested in what, if any, changes the DOL intends to make to the duties test that is part of the executive, administrative and professional (EAP) exemption included in the original Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
Advocated for changes to the Department of Labor's persuader rule that could force employers to disclose any labor-related communications they have with legal counsel or outside consultants.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor - Dept of (DOL)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
James |
Clarke |
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Christopher |
Vest |
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Mary Kate |
Cunningham |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code CON
16. Specific lobbying issues
Advocated against the development of new rules to limit the amount of political activity that can be carried out by 501(c)(6) trade associations. In particular, advocated against expanding the definition of political activity to include issue advocacy, voter registration activities, candidate forums and other constitutionally-protected activities. A provision restricting the IRS from issuing new political activity rules was included in the omnibus spending bill last December.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
| First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
James |
Clarke |
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Christopher |
Vest |
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Mary Kate |
Cunningham |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.
20. Client new address
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21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)
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22. New General description of client’s business or activities
LOBBYIST UPDATE
23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client
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ISSUE UPDATE
24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains
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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)
Internet Address:
| Name | Address |
Principal Place of Business (city and state or country) |
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26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
FOREIGN ENTITIES
27. Add the following foreign entities:
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Principal place of business (city and state or country) |
Amount of contribution for lobbying activities | Ownership percentage in client | ||||||||||
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28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization
| 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 2 | 4 | 6 |