WASHINGTON, D.C. – When John Irwin of Irwin Marine, Laconia, N.H., joined his fellow MRAA members at the 2012 American Boating Congress in April, he developed a plan to make the most of his time with legislators on Capitol Hill. Irwin reviewed the issue briefs provided by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, called […]

The boating industry, including boat manufacturers, dealers, marina operators, and boat yards, has been voicing strong concerns in Washington for the past couple of years that ethanol blends in gasoline used in recreational boating have caused considerable damage to engines and fuel systems. The damage is significant in that it can severely impact boating safety […]

Meetings in the Senate on repeal of the estate tax contained in the Bush-era tax cut legislation confirm there is strong support for continuing current estate tax policy of a $5 million exemption and a 35-percent tax rate. Senators Baucus (D-Montana), Landrieu (D-Louisiana), Tester (D-Montana), Pryor (D-Arkansas), and McCaskill (D-Missouri have said they would continue […]

The Advisory Council of Marine Associations (ACMA) met at the Marine Dealer Conference and Expo (MDCE) on Nov. 10 to review 2012 federal and state legislative activities and to project potential legislative action in 2013.            During the meeting, ACMA members discussed ethanol, federal red tape and over regulation, problems with a lack of funds for […]

MRAA continues to closely follow negotiations regarding the Fiscal Cliff. The Fiscal Cliff is defined as the combination of a 10-percent across the board cut of government spending and the expiration of the Bush era tax cuts. MRAA has lobbied in favor of balanced equitable solution and retention of the second home mortgage interest deduction, […]