The ICSC Office of Global Public Policy, now Government Relations & Public Policy, was founded in the aftermath of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which had a devastating impact on the retail real estate industry. Some of the economic consequences — eliminating of the capital gains tax differential, increasing the period for writing off taxes for depreciable real property, and limiting the deductions of passive investment losses — reduced the market value of real property, created an incentive for divesting real property, increased the difficulty of doing so and reduced the attractiveness of investing in new housing and construction.

ICSC’s Washington, D.C.-based advocacy office opened in 1989 to provide a voice for the retail real estate industry and to educate federal lawmakers on issues of importance to commercial real estate. The mission of the office expanded to include state legislatures soon thereafter. 

ICSC is the only organization representing the Marketplaces Industry that combines federal advocacy with state-level activity and is dedicated to the needs of both private entrepreneurs and public companies. To drive ICSC’s advocacy and policy efforts forward effectively and efficiently and to address the highest-priority concerns — at the federal, state and local levels — three elements work closely together.

• ICSC’s professional GPP team coordinates and leads federal, state and local policy efforts.
• Member volunteers, such as Government Relations Chairs and policy committee members, play a critical role in support of ICSC-coordinated advocacy efforts. They provide much needed boots on the ground at the state and local levels while also informing federal efforts.  
• The ICSC PAC is the only federally registered political action committee representing the Marketplaces Industry. The PAC, funded entirely by voluntary contributions from ICSC members, donates to federal candidates who are supportive of or could impact the industry.

Notable Victories over GPP’s 24 Years

E-Fairness: ICSC led a 20-year effort regarding collection of sales tax by remote sellers that ultimately resulted in the Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision to modernize state tax laws for modern retailers and end the competitive advantage of online sellers over brick-and-mortar retailers.

Taxes: ICSC has a 15-year history of defeating attempts
to change the treatment of carried interest, also known as “the promote.”

In the states: ICSC defeated Prop 15 in California in partnership with the California Business Properties Association and is consistently victorious in defeating anti-industry legislation.

ICSC is currently focused on efforts to pass organized retail crime legislation at the state and federal levels.

To learn more about the ICSC Office of Government Relations & Public Policy, email gpp@icsc.com.