Alert 1/24/08 Tax Credit Bill Up Tomorrow – Friday, 1/25/08!
There isn’t a public pound or a “c3” shelter or rescue that couldn’t use more money or more help from veterinarians – or both.
And there isn’t a single person who now buys their pets from pet shops or backyard breeders who wouldn’t reconsider this and instead adopt from a public pound, rescue, or shelter if a tax credit for doing so were available.
That’s what our bills do and that’s what the finance committee will be judging tomorrow.
Time/Place: 7:30 a.m.
Friday, 1/25/08
5 th Floor East Conference Room, General Assembly Bldg.
These bills – HB 1267 and HB 1080 – will expand the resources of pounds, shelters and rescues to provide medical care and increase adoptions as a consequence.
The link to HB1267:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb1267++++++++
The link to HB1080:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb1080+++++++++
We need vets to come and saya few words (less than a minute) in support of the bill. Please let us know if you can bring a vet!
We also need those with “c3” groups to also say a few words in support of the bill.
Note that Don will be able to respond to questions about specific financial impacts.
Please do this:
1. First, thank (calling is fast and easy) the patrons for helping with this important piece of legislation.
For HB1267: Del. Robert Hull; his email: DelRHull@house.state.va.us; his office is
804-698-1038
For HB1080: Del. Terrie Suit; her email: DelTSuit@house.state.va.us; her office is
804-698-1081
2. Please contact the members of the House Finance Subcommittee3 (there are only 5 on this subcommittee) and ask each to support the bill. The list of committee members is at the end of this alert.
The subject line should be: please vote in favor of HB 1267 and HB 1080
The message should ask them to pass HB 1267 and HB 1080. See the talking points below for ideas if you want to give them some reasons to support the bills.
3. Next, send a quick note or make a quick phone call to your own delegate, let them know you want the bills passed, and ask for their support. This is particularly important to do if your delegate also happens to be a member of the House Finance Subcommittee3.
background:
currently, veterinarians who donate their medical services to pounds, shelters, or “c3” rescue groups do not get a tax credit for their contributions; they would with this bill; the present tax policy allows for a deduction only; for those of you unfamiliar with the distinction between a credit and a deduction, it is significant since a credit reduces overall liability and a deduction only reduces taxable income
currently, people who adopt from a pound, shelter, or “c3” rescue organization and pay an adoption fee do not get any tax credit for the adoption, nor does the pound, shelter or c3 rescue organization have sufficient incentive in too many cases to attempt to be competitive with pet shops and backyard breeders; they would with this bill
talking points:
for veterinarians:
a. veterinarians should receive tax credits for pro bono services performed because this a public service and is brought about by what is now an unfunded mandate to operate public pounds and a disposable mindset out of touch with sound public policy
b. tax credits for vets would encourage vet care at public pounds that do not otherwise provide it, and would remove some of the burden shouldered by pounds, shelters and rescues, thereby alleviating pet suffering and a financial burden to localities, private shelters and rescues
c. pro bono services can be a revenue source for vets building their practice if they are the first vet some dog/cat owners ever meet; the vet can be the vet of referral in such circumstances
for adopters:
a. tax credit for adoption encourages adoptions from public pounds and “c3” groups and reduces euthanasia and pound expenses thereby; it should also reduce untaxed purchases from backyard breeders or purchases from puppymill-supplied pet shops
b. if more are adopted because of the tax credit, and we expect this will happen, the shelters and rescues will have more space free for other homeless animals
Will you come to the hearing? It’s time there were tax credits like these in place!
Lillian Clancy and Don Marro
___________________
House Finance Subcommittee 3
Del. Benjamin L. Cline
Chairman, House Finance Subcommittee 3
Johnson, Joseph P.
Orrock, Robert D. (Bobby)
Purkey, Harry (Bob)
Ware, R. Lee