Chair's Message
George M. Cohen, CPA
Get in the Game — Our Advocacy Efforts Affect You! The focus of this month’s AZ CPA is legislative updates and advocacy. Did you know one of our four focused strategic action plans is advocacy? The ASCPA monitors all proposed legislation affecting the accounting profession, and works to enact legislation to further our profession and the public interest. How does our organization accomplish this? • By working with our contract lobbyist to maintain contact with our legislators and proposed legislation. • By raising political contributions for individuals and the • By developing a working relationship with the Arizona State Board of Accountancy. • By providing feedback when requested from a multitude of legislative and regulatory sources. How do you support this important strategic focus? • By communicating what you believe is important to you, your clients, your employer, and our profession to the ASCPA. • By meeting, and communicating similar information and opinions to your legislators. • By providing financial support. • By attending fundraising events. Face time is of great value and the ASCPA can help you with talking points. How do state legislative and regulatory issues affect you? I can best answer by mentioning today’s hot topics, and then asking you to decide if you are a stakeholder: • Interstate mobility practice privileges task forces are formed to help standardize state laws, which vary greatly. •Cascade of SOX to the private and small business sectors is being mitigated by influence from the AICPA in coordination with state associations to adopt a “reasoned approach” to reform, instead of a “ready, aim, fire” approach. • Global alliances are being formed to work with key regulators in eight countries to develop materials dealing with international emerging issues and private company issues. • Transparency rules surrounding reporting peer review results is a hot licensing board and member issue. • Public policies dealing with pensions and retirement security are on the horizon. I could continue to list additional issues, but I think I have made my point. I urge you to make a difference. By increasing our visibility in the political arena and being active, we can protect the integrity of our profession and improve the business climate in Arizona. Go to our Web site — www. ascpa.com click on member activities and scroll down to government relations. There you will find many ways to participate as a stakeholder. I promise, once you take the plunge and get involved, you will quickly understand how your grassroots efforts count and in fact, are the foundation for all that follows. You will also have the opportunity to interact with others who share your common interests. Similar to another popular phrase, we hear in September, I ask, “Are you ready for some political football?” Talk to you soon. AZ CPA – September 2006
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