CED

September 2013

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Inside AED Getting All the Right Gears Turning Together in Washington, D.C. AED's participation in coalitions maximizes our resources and joins our voice with a much stronger chorus on important issues. In Washington, making friends is critical. Coalitions Coalition, and the LIFO Coalition. Just last month, AED serve a useful purpose, uniting friends around a common announced participation in a new coalition called the Coaligoal to amplify those voices on Capitol Hill. tion for Fair Effective Tax Rates, where it will serve on the "My job as a lobbyist is to get as many little gears as steering committee. possible turning in the same direction," said AED's Vice On a number of policies that affect dealers directly, AED President of Government Affairs Christian has been leading the charge. "On issues such as Keystone, the Klein. Coalitions get the gears turning. highway bill and LIFO, we play a disproportionate role," said AED participates in more than nine coaliKlein. While dealers are concerned about health care reform, tions that are focused on issues ranging Klein says there are hundreds, if not thousands of groups from transportation to water infrastrucinvolved in that debate, so AED plays more of a supporting role. ture to LIFO. As an example of its dealer-centric focus, AED was a Coalitions allow organizations to use founding member of the 124-member LIFO coalition, which their resources wisely. AED's two lobbyists, Christian Klein was set up in 2006 and is managed by the National AssociaKlein and AED Senior Director of Governtion of Wholesaler-Distributors. In addition to helping guide ment Affairs Daniel Fisher, can't be everywhere on Capitol coalition activities and sharing the lobbying burden, AED also Hill at once. So, rather than trying to cover all the legislators developed and manages the coalition's website. "LIFO repeal on their own, efforts are coordinated and leveraged among could subject more than a third of AED members to a massive the coalition members. In addition, coalition partners can retroactive tax burden, so we see the need to engage at a be a valuable source of high level," Klein said. political intelligence and In addition to formal trade information. They coalitions, there are also Americans for Transportation Mobility (Management Committee) also demonstrate a broad ad hoc coalitions such Coalition for Fair Effective Tax Rates (Steering Committee) constituency for an issue, as the one that exists to Coalition for a Democratic Workplace which is always valuable support bonus depreciaFamily Business Estate Tax Coalition in Washington. tion. AED, along with the LIFO Coalition (Steering Committee) "For organizations to National Association of Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare be effective, you need Manufacturers, has been Sustainable Water Infrastructure Coalition (Steering Committee) to be willing to play well leading the charge on that Transportation Construction Coalition with others," said Klein. issue since 2001. Water Resources Coalition "It can be difficult for an An interesting wrinkle organization to accomplish on the coalition front is anything on its own. You the fact that allies and need as many voices as possible clamoring for the same result." opponents can shift from issue to issue. Today's opponents AED's Washington team relies on the feedback from are tomorrow's allies, and vice versa. "One of the biggest the Board of Directors and regular membership surveys to mistakes in Washington is thinking of your opponents as your determine the issues that are a priority. In general, the more enemy," said Klein. "We might beat the heck out of a labor involved AED is in the coalition, the more financial resources organization on NLRB issues, but we will work with them are needed to participate. AED serves on the management hand-in-glove on the highway bill, Keystone, and other issues." committees of several coalitions including the Americans for Coalitions indeed keep the gears of policy-making in Transportation Mobility, the Sustainable Water Infrastructure motion and AED priorities moving forward. AED's Coalition Activity Proposed New Members Loyalty Bound, East Syracuse, N.Y. RPM Machinery, LLC Indianapolis, Ind. This list is published each month as required by AED bylaws. Comments on the applicants should be directed to AED President Toby Mack at 800-388-0650 ext. 326 or jtm@aednet.org. 8 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | September 2013 8_inside AED_KP.indd 8 8/28/13 12:40 PM

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