August 23, 2003

Urge Co-sponsorship of Artist Tax Deduction Bill

There are three proposed tax provisions that need your attention now. Each of them would increase charitable giving to the non-profit sector:

1. Allow artists to take a tax deduction for the fair market value of their own works if they donate them to a qualified non-profit that will use the art for its mission. (Currently, they can deduct only the cost of materials used to create the works.)

2. Allow taxpayers to roll money from their IRA accounts to charities without first having to pay tax on it.

3. Allow taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions to claim a modest deduction for charitable gifts.

The House and the Senate each are working on a catchall charitable giving bill. The Senate has passed its version, the CARE Act (S. 476), and included all three provisions. The House version, H.R. 7, which has not been passed yet, includes the IRA and non-itemizer provisions but not the artist deduction.

ACTION NEEDED:

Rep. Amo Houghton has introduced the artist provision as a stand-alone measure, H.R. 806, as a way for House members to show support. It currently has 74 cosponsors. The more cosponsors, the greater the likelihood that Ways & Means will incorporate it into H.R. 7.

The following five NY Republicans have NOT cosponsored the artist deduction bill, even though they have arts-friendly records:

• Sherwood Boehlert
• Vito Fossella
• Sue Kelly
• Jack Quinn
• Tom Reynolds
  

Each voted yes on the arts caucus amendment to increase the NEA, and three of them -- Boehlert, Kelly and Quinn -- are arts caucus members, so it's surprising that they haven't cosponsored HR 806 (the artist deduction bill). If you are in the district of any of these members, PLEASE follow directions below to send them an email. AND, in addition, a well placed telephone call to the district office would help.

For other folks, the message is: House members should cosponsor H.R. 806, the artist deduction bill. To do so, take the following easy steps:

1. Go to Americans for the Arts Online Advocacy Center at http://www.capwiz.com/artsusa.

2. Click on "Tax Legislation Overview"

3. Enter your zip code in the box and click on "Take Action Now."

If your member of Congress is already a cosponsor, the system will generate a thank-you message. If your member is not yet a cosponsor, it will bring up a message urging him or her to cosponsor immediately. You can customize either message.

The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a 28-year history as New York's primary service association for community based arts and cultural organizations. The Alliance provides leadership and vision, and delivers services, resources and tools that strengthen community cultural organizations. The Alliance monitors, informs and mobilizes the field on statewide and national issues affecting the arts and assists local arts agencies in building community support and developing effective grassroots public policy.

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Mattituck, NY 11952-0096
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