ITA Update 12/21/12

[Robert K]

Indoor Tanning Association, Inc., 2025 M St, NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 · Phone: 888-377-0477 · Fax: 202-367-2142

Member Update 12/21/2012:

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President's Message
The ITA board was in Washington this week for its third regular board meeting for 2012. The purpose of the meeting was to set goals and approve budget parameters for 2013.

Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) was our guest at this meeting. Congressman Kingston is a long-time friend of the industry and is chairman of the powerful subcommittee responsible for funding the FDA. Congressman Kingston briefed the board on the issues the industry will face in his committee when the new Congress convenes in January. As everyone knows, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) also serves on the Appropriations Committee and has made her very negative opinions of the industry clear for the past few years.

Congressman Kingston also said that the results of the November elections are viewed by the Administration as a referendum on the role of government and its continued expansion. He said we should be forewarned that our enemies on Capitol Hill will be invigorated by this election and that all businesses, not just indoor tanning businesses, should expect increased scrutiny from the regulatory agencies.

The congressman urged us not to let down our guard and told us to redouble our efforts with regard to the issues important to the industry. He thanked us for the support the industry has given him personally over the past few years and told us the industry must stay active politically in the House and Senate.

As all of you know, over the years the ITA has established and cultivated relationships with dozens of key policymakers. We have built a small but very effective political action committee (PAC) to support this effort and as a result made our industry a respected adversary to those groups who would try to put you out of business. At our meeting, the board reaffirmed that Federal legislative and regulatory issues will be our primary and critical focus next year and pledged to raise the resources to accomplish that goal.

The board is meeting again in February to lay out some new fundraising plans and fine-tune our legislative efforts for 2013.

As we end 2012 and on behalf of the ITA Board, I want to thank you for your support and wish you a joyous Holiday Season and very happy and successful New Year.

Thanks, Rob

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