This week ICSC’s Office of Global Public Policy kicked-off the first in a series of “Fly-Out” meetings with Members of Congress in their home states, working with ICSC members in Arizona, Washington, Utah and Colorado to host. This approach is a change from previous years where ICSC members came to Washington, DC to meet with their elected officials.
The focus on local meetings is a response to the current political environment in Washington, DC, which has constrained significant movement on legislative priorities. We also believe that by using the 2020 election year when federal officials are focused on interactions back at home, we can increase long-term relationship building, highlight the breadth and scope of the industry, and include more ICSC members in the advocacy process.
Issues discussed at the meetings included fixing the Qualified Improvement Property (QIP) glitch, opposing legislation that would tax carried interest as ordinary income, restoring Section 118 income tax exemptions, changes to beneficial ownership reporting requirements and ADA lawsuit reform.
In Colorado, ICSC members met with Representative Ed Perlmutter in his district office. Other Colorado meetings are in the works.
While in Washington state, Rep. Derek Kilmer and Tommy Bauer (state director for Sen. Maria Cantwell) participated in a roundtable discussion at Point Ruston, and Rep. Suzan Delbene had a walking tour of The Village at Totem Lake. Members also met with Rep. Kim Schrier at her district office.
L to r: Abby Jagoda (ICSC), Sandip Soli (Real Property Law Group, PLCC), Rep. Derek Kilmer, Alesha Shemwell (Kemper Development) and Michael Foley (Point Ruston, LLC).
Rep. Suzan DelBene (center) and ICSC members at The Village at Totem Lake.
L to r: Michael Foley (Point Ruston, LLC), Abby Jagoda (ICSC), Alesha Shemwell (Kemper Development), Rep. Kim Schrier, Sandip Soli (Real Property Law Group, PLCC), Rick Parks (TRF Pacific, LLC) and Jim Hill (Kemper Development).
District office meetings were held in Arizona with staff for Senator Kyrsten Sinema (who was attending impeachment hearings in Washington, DC), as well as Representatives David Schweikert, Debbie Lesko and Greg Stanton.
L to r: Rep. Debbie Lesko and Carrie Temple (ViaWest Group).
L to r: Jim Pederson (The Pederson Group, Inc.), Gordon Kieg (Pennant Development, LLC), Rep. Greg Stanton, Carrie Temple (ViaWest Group), Josh Simon (Simon CRE) and Greg Valladao (Investment Properties).
Greg Valladao (Investment Properties), Betsy Laird (ICSC), Carrie Temple (ViaWest Group), and Gordon Kieg (Pennant Development, LLC) met with Senator Sinema's aides.
In Utah, Representative Ben McAdams participated in a site-tour at the Gateway Shopping Center and Rep. John Curtis met with ICSC members at Woodbury Corporation’s offices.
L to r: Andy Moffitt (Mountain West Commercial), Pete Jacobson (ICSC), Heather Bogden (Legend Partners), Rep. Ben McAdams, John Taylor (Legend Partners), Arian Lewis (Kiln), Lance Pendleton (Mountain West Commercial), Josh Woodbury (Woodbury Corp.) and Ryan Forsyth (Leading Tech Online).