ASAE is encouraging associations to sign on to its prepared comments in response to the Obama Administration’s proposed rule that would restrict government employees from accepting invites to trade association programs and events. ASAE’s goal is to have a large number of associations, business partners, and travel organizations join ASAE in its comments to show the Obama Administration the value of association meetings and events, particularly for federal employees.
The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has carved out exceptions in the proposed rule allowing attendance at events held by 501(c)(3) organizations, professional societies, institutions of higher education, scientific organizations and learned societies. But ASAE believes strongly that trade associations are unjustly left out of that exception, simply because of the administration’s misperception that all these organizations do is lobby.
“These educational and professional development programs conducted by trade associations are virtually indistinguishable from those conducted by the other types of organizations listed in the proposed rule. They offer the same benefits to government employees and should qualify for the same exclusion,” ASAE said in its comments. “Setting policies that restrict knowledge-sharing between the government and trade associations is counterproductive to the administration’s stated aspirations to work in partnership with the business community to create jobs and grow the economy.”