Senator Chuck Grassley Visits alliantgroup (06-18-10)

On Friday, June 18, 2010, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), visited alliantgroup, LP for a reception and conversation with alliantgroup executives and invited CPA guests. The Senator was given a tour of the alliantgroup headquarters, during which he chatted briefly with many of the staff and learned from the folks who do it every day just how alliantgroup serves small and medium businesses. He also gave a 15-minute talk to the assembled executives and staff, touching on the economy, the state of the recovery, and stressing the important role that small and medium businesses play in our economy.

The Senator was particularly interested in learning about the Iowa companies that alliantgroup has worked with, including agricultural and food processing businesses that are receiving the R&D credit. Grassley re-emphasized a point that he often repeats – that Congress enacts tax incentives with the intent that businesses use them, and encouraged alliantgroup's efforts in helping make sure they do.

Senator Grassley also took a moment to specifically address the younger employees in the audience, urging them not to be complacent about their government – to participate. 

Dean Zerbe, currently alliantgroup's National Managing Director in Washington, D.C., is former senior counsel and tax counsel on the Senate Finance Committee when Senator Grassley chaired that committee. Zerbe said, “It was a great honor to show my former boss, Senator Grassley (Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee) all the good work alliantgroup is doing to help small and medium businesses in Iowa and around the country. The chance to discuss what we an alliantgroup's partner accounting firms are seeing when it comes to the tax laws and tax administration was a tremendous opportunity. It is rare for the policy-makers in Washington D.C. to hear first-hand what can be done to provide real benefit to small and medium businesses.”

According to Dhaval Jadav, alliantgroup CEO, “It was terrific for everyone to hear the senator's passion for helping small and medium businesses.” The senator's words  encouraged everyone at alliantgroup to redouble their efforts to ensure that small and medium businesses are taking full advantage of the tax incentives that Congress has provided.”