WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, January 2, 2013, the 112th Congress of the United States finally ended. Many may think the slow rate of legislating is a good thing, but for the record, the 112th Congress was the most unproductive Congress since 1948, when President Truman called Congress the “Do Nothing.” Congress passed only 220 […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The events and negotiations leading to passage of key legislation averting the so-called Fiscal Cliff were the big story on Capitol Hill this year. The House of Representatives passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act, H.R. 8, 257 to 167. The U.S. Senate passed it 89 to 7 earlier the same day. Many […]

The link below will take you to a copy of the newly passed H.R. 8 that extends certain Bush-era tax benefits and establishes a new high end tax rate of 39.6 percent for earners with annual gross income exceeding $1 million. Other issues addressed are the re-authorization of the estate tax with a $5 million […]

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, […]

Yesterday, the American Automobile Association issued a press release opposing E15 gasoline and urging the Environmental Protection Agency to stop the sale of E15 until consumers are better protected. The 53-million member organization is one of the biggest consumer lobby organizations in Washington, D.C., so this news is big for the support of MRAA’s position […]

According to a press release distributed yesterday, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs confirmed that recreational fishing infrastructure such as marinas, tackle and bait stores and public access points that provide fishing access are eligible for disaster assistance under the fishery […]