The Dodd-Frank financial reform law, which passed Congress in 2010, authorized the creation of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, and now the CFPB wants to regulate the banks that make consumer loans, the dealers that refer them, and the service providers that broker them. The CFPB has been tasked by the Dodd-Frank law with, among […]

The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2013 was re-introduced last week in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 2122) with a companion bill in the Senate (S. 1029). These bipartisan bills would update the process by which federal agencies promulgate regulations. It has been a process that has not been updated in more than 66 years. […]

Florida House Bill 999 was signed by Governor Rick Scott (F) in late May and will take effect on July 1, 2013. The bill 1.) provides for general permitting of mooring fields not exceeding 100 vessels, removes availability of a general permit for public marinas so all marinas will be subject to the standard permitting […]

Legislation that began in Florida as H.B. 4001 and sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) was signed by Governor Rich Scott (R) on May 31. The new law repeals a five-year old statue requiring all state service stations to sell gasoline containing an established percentage of ethanol. “The law, which fined retailers for not selling […]

The House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing on February 26 titled, “Mid-level Ethanol Blends: Consumer and Technical Research Needs.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the scientific, technical, and consumer impacts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to allow the introduction of mid-level ethanol blends (E15) on […]

Subsequent to the Environment Subcommittee hearing on mid-level ethanol blends, MRAA sent a letter to Rep. Chris Stewart, Chairman of the Subcommittee asking Congress to intercede with the EPA to prevent the sale of E15 gasoline blends until proper research has been completed to ensure the protection of boating consumers. MRAA told the Subcommittee Chairman […]

On February 14, Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced, S. 344, a bill to prohibit the EPA from approving the introduction of gasoline that contains greater than 10 per cent ethanol. The bill has three co-sponsors. The key to the Wicker bill is that it would nullify any EPA granted waiver to mitigate mis-fueling. On February […]

As an update to our ongoing watch about the estate tax, Senator Thune (R-South Dakota) has postponed his bill until next week to repeal the Death Tax. We will continue to look for the introduction of this important bill. In the mean time, the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition (FBETC), which the Marine Retailers Association […]

Both the House and the Senate have introduced bills to address the growing problem of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi River and Ohio River basins and tributaries. These invasive species threaten ecosystems and billions of dollars of economic activities connected to outdoor recreation in states throughout the Midwest. You can view the bills at […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, January 3, the 113th Congress was gaveled into session with great hope for reduced polarization and paralysis, but with no real evidence that they’ll lift anytime soon. Some say the worst is yet to come, but others point to the bi-partisan support of H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act […]