The news came as a surprise. It was in a video to constituents in which Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., proposed dumping the mortgage interest deduction for boats that qualify as a second home. (Read More…)

Tis’ the time of year when we like to recognize employees with Christmas parties, bonuses and/or gifts. But according to author Cindy Ventrice in her book, “Make Their Day! Employee Recognition that Works” (Amazon), it really doesn’t work. The problem is this: Christmas gifts and bonuses are considered by most employees as some “entitlement” rather than a way for the boss to recognize a worker’s contribution. So, as a way to say “thank you for your good work,” these age-old practices no longer make it. (Read More…)

Retail dealers shouldn’t need a lot of reasons to be members of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. The fact that the MRAA is the exclusive national flag for the retail segment of our industry is reason enough. (Read More…)

This is a great time of year. It’s a point when the boating business typically slows down enough to allow time to reflect on thoughts and ideas that, while not earth-shaking, might be helpful going forward. Here are three purely random things worth thinking about: (Read More…)

While the Boating Associations of Ohio spars with the Ohio Department of Taxation over the latter’s decision to renege on a decade-old deal with Ohio’s dealers concerning the application of “use tax” (see Tuesday’s Dealer Outlook for details), two Florida associations took on the issue of “sales and use tax” and hit a home run for everyone. (Read More…)

A recent report that the Ohio Department of Taxation is going back on a deal it made with the marine industry immediately grabbed my attention, because I was the one who agreed to the deal a decade ago. This new dilemma, compared with a similar, though not identical, situation in Florida, gives us a great case study for lowering taxes on boats and thereby generating increased revenue for all concerned. (Read More…)

The election is settled and Thanksgiving is behind us. It’s the season to be jolly. And jolly it might be if we look at encouraging reports of positive economic activity and consumer attitudes. (Read More…)

“It is absolutely absurd,” NMMA legislative director Jim Currie told the National Marine Trades Council when describing EPA’s recent approval of a model E15 “Misfueling Mitigation Plan” developed by the so-called Renewable Fuels Association. (Read More…)

What a round of meetings last week in the White House about solving the looming “fiscal cliff.” Union leaders came there Tuesday. CEOs from big corporations were invited in on Wednesday (no small businessmen invited). Why, I’ll bet there was even a delegation from Hollywood packed in there one day. (Read More…)

There’s no more time to put off your active support of The Sportsmen’s Act of 2012. The bill (S. 3525) is scheduled to come up for a vote tonight after 5:30 p.m. in the U.S. Senate. (Read More…)