By Kathy Bell, CPA, MST

Advocacy is an important part of PICPA’s mission. It is something all members should strive to support. Some donate to our CPA-PAC, others go out and meet with their representatives. Whichever route you choose will help the PICPA and the accounting profession achieve its goals. I know it’s not always easy to go beyond the safe choice (donating), but let me share my story of how great it can be when you take your participation one small step further into the great unknown.

Early in October, I received a postcard from my Pennsylvania state senator inviting me to an event at the East Hempfield Township offices where constituents could discuss relevant issues with him. I immediately decided I wasn’t going to go. Number one, it was scheduled for Oct. 15, which can be a busy day for those of us who wrestle with taxes; and number two, it would involve conversing with strangers – always high on my list of things I try to avoid.

But I do try to be a responsible citizen. I thought perhaps it would be beneficial if I attended, so I did RSVP. The closer the date of the event came, the more I regretted that RSVP. In fact, I got an email from the senator’s staff a couple of days ahead of time giving me a golden opportunity to back out “if my plans have changed.” But I hung in there. I wanted to thank him for spearheading a couple of bills in Harrisburg that I think are important. The first deals with allowing a resident credit for partners as well as shareholders, which just seems like basic equity to me. The second was to finally – at long last – enact a pass-through entity business tax for Pennsylvania so that we could catch up with 36 other states that have passed such legislation.

My father always told me that being on time means being at least 10 minutes early, so I was one of the first people that showed up – only increasing my nerves about talking to the senator. Mercifully, the senator was already engaged with another constituent when I got there, so I hovered in the background waiting. They talked and talked and talked. Just as the senator was going to start the meeting, I awkwardly blocked his path to the podium and blurted out my thanks for his efforts regarding the two bills. I particularly wanted to mention Peter Calcara, PICPA's vice president for government relations, but for some reason that day I decided Peter’s name was Mike. Where did I get that from? I hastily backpedaled and finally dragged out the correct name, and the senator's confused face cleared up. He now knew exactly who I was talking about! He was very kind. He agreed with me that both bills were necessary.

I could relax now that I had gotten my points across. So, I sat in a chair near the back and tried to be completely unobtrusive. The meeting was scheduled to last for two hours; by one hour and 55 minutes I had learned a lot about education policy in my county, energy policy in the commonwealth, common sense gun safety, and cell phone use in schools. Honestly, I found it all interesting. It was illuminating to discover that my narrow focus on taxes (and the overall business environment) was just that, narrow. There is more to life than taxes.

I had always been impressed with our senator, and after an hour and 55 minutes that had not changed. He let people talk, but he didn’t let people dominate. That’s a fine line to walk. At one hour and 55 minutes we had circled back and were talking about energy policy again, and I was thinking about the work I had to do that was still on my desk. So, I nodded goodbye to one of his staffers and headed for my car. It seems that I didn't need to do that. He must have ended the meeting on time based on my struggles to get out of the parking lot.

I will be doing this again, and I flatter myself that the senator was interested in my views about these two bills. I had previously met my state representative when he was going door-to-door campaigning, and now I have met my state senator.

If you have a chance to go to a constituent meeting, I highly recommend it. I can’t speak for all of political gatherings, but this meeting was well run and engrossing. And they served pastries and fruit! There was no way I could go wrong! Well, no way to go wrong once I remembered Peter's name.

Kathy Bell, CPA, MST, is currently associated with Hamilton & Musser PC CPAs in Mechanicsburg, Pa. She has three decades of experience in both public practice and private industry,  and her main areas of interest are pass-through entities and complex individual tax returns. Bell is a member of the CPA-PAC board and can be reached at kathybell2cpa@gmail.com.

Join the PICPA on June 4, 2025, for an all new Day on the Hill. Day on the Hill is a unique opportunity for PICPA members to engage directly with lawmakers and ensure the accounting profession is well-represented in state policy discussions. Learn more and be sure to save the date on your calendar. 

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^{Statements of fact and opinion are the authors’ responsibility alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the PICPA's officers or members. The information contained herein does not constitute accounting, legal, or professional advice. For actionable advice, you must engage or consult with a qualified professional.}