Advocacy Week in Albany

Our usual annual trip to Albany for Advocacy ‘’Day’ had a different format this year. Instead of driving to and from the capital in one day, we were part of a series of well-planned virtual meetings with our representatives throughout the week of February 22nd  I found this arrangement to be even more effective in educating our legislators about insurance matters and other issues that we, as agents and brokers, face regularly. Perhaps, more importantly, we discussed the effects these issues have on our clients and legislator’s constituents.     Big I NY has had numerous “wins” in the past year, illustrating how effective Advocacy…

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Big ‘I’ Praises Reintroduction of Main Street Tax Certainty Act

​Legislation to make small business deduction permanent reintroduced in House and Senate. WASHINGTON, DC, February 26, 2021— The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I") is grateful for the reintroduction of the “Main Street Tax Certainty Act" in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Jason Smith (R-Missouri) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana). The legislation would make permanent a 20% deduction on qualified business income for some owners and shareholders of pass-through businesses.“The Big 'I' thanks Reps. Smith and Cuellar and Sen. Daines for their work to reintroduce the Main Street Tax Certainty Act,"…

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Agents Make Their Voices Heard in Albany

During this week's Independent Agents Advocacy Week, more than 70 independent agents conducted virtual meetings with more than 40 state legislators to call for pro-policyholder reforms. Key issues included making the auto photo inspection requirement voluntary, streamlining the process for placing coverage in the excess market, repealing the anti-arson application, and preventing no-fault insurance fraud.The event gave Big I NY members the opportunity to meet face to face with their elected state representatives. Kelly Gonyo, owner of the Blue Line Insurance Agency said,“I am so fortunate to have been given an opportunity to use my voice to directly speak with our lawmakers who represent us in…

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