The elections are now over, and Congress is back for the lame-duck session. While Congress must at least pass temporary funding for the government before Dec. 20, it is unlikely that much else will take place over the next few weeks.
We now know that the Republicans are in control of the Senate, House and Executive branches. The question for us is how will this impact our chances for passage of the Community News and Small Business Support Act (H.R. 4756), and how should it change our strategy?
The short answer is that any change in power will impact pending legislation, and while Republicans and Democrats alike are concerned about the success of their local newspapers, industry-specific tax breaks, including H.R. 4756, may not be the easiest type of legislation to move forward in the new Congress. We know that there will be at least one major tax bill next year when the 2017 tax cuts expire, and we will continue to push for the inclusion of either the tax credits for newsroom employees or the tax credits for advertisers who spend dollars with their local news media. With more than 50 bipartisan cosponsors of H.R. 4756, we have good support in the House, although the Senate has proven to be more challenging. I will be in Washington in December, along with some of our members, and we will encourage our supporters in the House to consider including our legislation in the upcoming tax legislation.
While we know that not much legislation is moving right now, we will continue to keep an eye on the dozens of AI bills that have been filed and could potentially impact our members, as some of these bills will certainly be reintroduced next year.
What can you do?
First - Tell us about your new members of Congress.
We’re trying to assess the new members of Congress and their likelihood of supporting our initiatives. If one of the newly elected Representatives or Senators is from your newspaper’s circulation area, please let me know if you know them, and their likely support for legislation that could help your newspaper. Also, if you know of any new Representatives or Senators with a background in newspapers, either as an owner, family member of an owner, or previous reporter or employee, please let me know. This information is always helpful when we meet with the legislators.
Second – Get to know your new members of Congress.
If you don’t know your new members of Congress, please reach out and introduce yourself. Don’t wait, as now is a great time for introductions. Remember, you are a voter; you represent a major business; and you likely represent one of the most important news organizations in the legislator’s district. It is always good to start with the local district (or state) director, but the communications director or press secretary are also good contacts. While a relationship with your elected representative is always the best, don’t discount getting to know the staff as they often play a critical role in the process. Your initial message is simple: you want to make an introduction and to thank them for taking on an important, but difficult job. It is also good to let them know that your newspaper can be a way to communicate with their constituents, so offer up a spot on the opinion page, or let them know who they should send their press releases to on your team.
Third – Get involved with the America’s Newspapers legislative committee.
We have an active group of our members who are now engaged in the legislative process, and that has made all the difference in getting our bills filed and cosponsors added. If you’re interested in the process, send me an email and let me know! We are planning a Fly-In for 2025 and will make sure that you have all the info as soon as dates are confirmed.
Thanks for your support, and I look forward to new opportunities in 2025.
