At the urging of NACo, bills have been introduced in the 105th Congress to establish a local government postal rate and to allow governments to use credit cards in the payments of taxes, fees and charges.
Rep. David McIntosh (R-Ind.), along with 12 cosponsors, has introduced H.R. 906, which would reduce the postage rate for mailings that are mandated under federal or state law to be made by local governments. It is critical that the bill gains the support of many members of Congress if the legislation is to move this year.
The bipartisan list of cosponsors of H.R. 906 include Reps.:
Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Gary Condit (D-Calif.), Tom Davis (R-Va.), Martin Frost (D-Texas), Virgil Goode (D-Va.), Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Jim Moran (D-Va.), Sue Myrick (R-N.C.), Mike Pappas (R-N.J.), and Pete Sessions (R-Texas)
Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) has introduced a revised credit card bill (H.R. 883) titled the Government Credit Card Reform Act. The bill would amend the Truth in Lending Act to simplify credit card payments to federal, state and local governments. The bill would not restrict a government from charging a fee when a credit card is used to make a payment.
The bill is cosponsored by Reps.:
Tom Davis (R-Va.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Sam Gejdenson (D-Conn.), Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Phil English (R-Pa.), and Richard Baker (R-La.).
County officials are urged to contact their congressional delegation
and get them to cosponsor both bills. If your member of Congress is a cosponsor,
please call him or her and say thanks.