Keeping advocacy at the forefront, the New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA) hosted CPA Day at the State Capital: Advocacy Reimagined on Oct. 28, which included meetings with key lawmakers at the State House and a luncheon at the Historic Trenton Masonic Temple.
More than 30 NJCPA members were on hand to discuss business-friendly, pro-CPA initiatives with Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer (D-36), Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter (D-22), Assemblyman Sterley S. Stanley (D-18), Assemblywoman Ellen J. Park (D-37), Assemblywoman Shama A. Haider (D-37) and Assemblywoman Victoria A. Flynn (D-13). NJCPA lobbyist David A. Smith, MSFS, of Princeton Public Affairs Group, directed the meetings.
Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, MA, IOM, CEO and executive director at the NJCPA, stressed the need to make state and national legislators aware of the accountant talent shortage and other challenges surrounding the accounting profession. “The NJCPA and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) have been actively advocating for accounting to be recognized as a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subject, and to allow the STEM K-12 grant funding to be used for accounting awareness and education. We are continuing that conversation,” she said.
Other initiatives the NJCPA is supporting include examining alternative pathways to CPA licensure without lowering the bar to enter the profession and continuing its outreach to schools, academia and the business community to encourage more students to enter the accounting profession and retain young professionals already in it.
In a panel discussion led by NJCPA Vice President of Government Relations Jeffrey Kaszerman, Smith; Jon Bombardieri, managing partner of CLB Partners; and Micah Rasmussen, director at the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, provided a candid view of the state’s political process and what it takes to get legislation passed.
“As New Jerseyans, we are still county-based. Power rests in the counties. Although the lines have been questioned in the courts so they (county officials) don’t have as much power, they still do have the ability to communicate with motivated voters,” explained Smith. Whether it’s social media, regular news, TV shows or something else, he noted, “New Jerseyans talk about the issues that matter, and they are pretty educated. There’s a foundation of knowledge.”
Bombardieri added that one of the most important things about voters in New Jersey is the power of the local vote. “Local constituents are very important. They (legislators) spend a lot of time with their districts,” he said.
According to Rasmussen, while voters in New Jersey understand the power of their local governments, they are also aware of the power and responsibility that their state-wide elected officials hold. Since they were elected to be in charge, it’s up to them to move many of the bills they care about along, while other bills often sit for years, he explained.
Another speaker, Elizabeth C. Matto, Ph.D., director at the Eagleton Institute of Politics and research professor at Rutgers University, noted that on a broader scale many people are worried about American democracy and that, “American ideals don’t always live up to reality.”
“How do we restore our faith in American democracy?” she asked attendees. The answer, she said, “is by getting involved and holding them (legislators) accountable.” She added, “Such accountability can only be done with a well-informed populous.”
Johnson reiterated the need for NJCPA members to get and stay involved in the issues that matter to the accounting profession. “We should all think about our personal communities and make your voice heard.” She explained that the Society is a place “to share information, share resources and hold key lawmakers accountable to what’s important to our profession.”