The 2014 session of the Hawaii Legislature is coming to an end, May 1, but the shaping of the small-business agenda never stops. NFIB relies on our members to help educate legislators, the media, and the public all year round on how issues affect small business.
We also realize how valuable your time is, so we will not ask for too much of it. The purpose of NFIB’s state Leadership Council is to give advice on future actions within the framework of the NFIB mission statement on behalf of the membership statewide. The Leadership Council works directly with NFIB staff. Activities include:
Helping the state director weigh potential legislation and regulations for the harm or help it could be for small business.
Assisting with the candidate endorsement process, which usually requires two or three conference calls or perhaps an in-person meeting in a calendar year.
Speaking to the media. The media often want a quote on small-business issues, such as health care or taxes, from a small-business owner’s perspective. This could include signing a guest editorial written for you or giving a phone or in-person interview to a reporter. We have plenty of experts who can help you with the details.
Testifying at the state Legislature. There is always opportunity to add small businesses’ voice to legislation by testifying in front of a legislative committee.
Every poll shows small-business owners the most respected group in America, and every legislator claims to be a friend of small business. But in the cut and thrust of legislative activity, even lawmakers who should know better can fall under the persuasion of the highly financed lobbying machines of labor, lawyers and advocates of bigger government.
It will forever be an NFIB mission to remind policymakers that small businesses are not smaller versions of bigger businesses; they have uniquely different difficulties in remaining solvent. You know this and your voice could be very helpful in making sure harmful laws aren’t passed.
Leadership Council terms begin with two years’ service. If you would like to get more involved with NFIB on one or all of the above activities, send an email to Member Support Manager Stacy Jenkins, or call her at 1-866-307-2846.
Add to your small-business advocacy knowledge with the links below, which take you to one page of quick information on each topic.
