Elections will affect public policy

Members of the CPA profession pride themselves in making informed decisions based on their knowledge of a situation and verifiable facts. Whether you vote regularly or never vote, it's important to remember our elected leaders set the rules the profession must follow every day, and voting is one way to have a say in the direction those policies go.

Another way to make an impact, and more directly, is by talking to candidates. CPAs are respected, trusted advisers and elected leaders value your insight. If you're not familiar with the candidates, you have about six weeks to learn more about them. You also have six weeks to let candidates know what issues are important to you, your business or your clients -- so it pays dividends when they become lawmakers.

Find your legislative district →

The Minnesota Secretary of State's office provides information about every election you will see on your ballot; it also provides links to each candidate that has provided one.

Learn more about what will be on your ballot →

MNCPA developing 2019 legislative priorities

After the election, all eyes look toward the 2019 legislative session, which starts in January. The MNCPA Legislative Issues Committee is working to develop the 2019 legislative agenda recommendations for the MNCPA board. Your input is a valuable part of the process to make the committee aware of what's important to members.

There are several topics we believe will be addressed by the Legislature in 2019, including:

• A tax on professional services.
• Guidelines for the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) to follow when reviewing county audits conducted by CPA firms.
• Occupational licensing legislation.
• Partnership audit Minnesota regulations.
• Federal tax conformity.
• A taxpayer bill of rights, including the establishment of a private letter ruling program.
• A new "retired" status for CPAs who meet certain criteria and aren't working in accounting.

Do you have topics for the committee to consider or thoughts on the list above? Share them by emailing Geno Fragnito at gr@mncpa.org.

MNCPA members meet with Congressman Peterson

The MNCPA advocates for members at both the state and federal levels. Part of this effort includes engaging federal lawmakers to connect with their CPA constituents.

Earlier this month, MNCPA members attending the Farm Tax Update in Fergus Falls had an opportunity to have lunch with Rep. Collin Peterson, an MNCPA member who represents Minnesota's Seventh Congressional District.

Rep. Peterson is the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee and is one of the lead negotiators working on a compromise farm bill. Peterson provided an update on farm bill negotiations, tax reform 2.0, which would make some individual tax cuts permanent from the first tax bill, and a possible technical corrections tax bill.

This lunch provided an opportunity for area CPAs to meet with and ask questions of their federal lawmaker. After lunch, several CPAs also took the opportunity to ask questions one-on-one.