NFIB

Expect a Slow Start to Legislative Activity
03/ 29/ 2002

Small business owners shouldn't expect quick action on any legislative front in the 107th Congress, says NFIB President Jack Faris.

"Organizational activities, the lack of a voter mandate and a need to bridge the partisan divide will all contribute to a sluggish start to legislative activity this year," Faris explains. "While we're already working to promote small business priorities, we don't expect a whirlwind of legislative accomplishments until later in the year."

Traditionally, legislative activity is slow to kick into high gear after an election transition, Faris says. Committees must be filled, leadership positions established and general organizational activities take place during much of the month of January, and sometimes February. Though some bills may be introduced, no real legislative progress is expected until February after the president's State of the Union address.

This Congress in particular may take quite a while to begin moving legislation, due to the lack of a mandate from voters and the partisan divide that still exists from the presidential race.

"The closeness of so many races and the slim margin of the majority in both houses will make moving the most basic legislation a challenge and moving ambitious legislation virtually impossible early on," Faris says. "On top of that, there is no mandate from voters to help direct a legislative agenda for the Congress."

Adding to the traditional causes of a slow start is the partisan divide caused by the protests, recounts and lawsuits over the presidential race in Florida. More than 300 members of Congress traveled to Florida to observe vote recounts and to support their party's candidate before the media. The bitterness that grew after the election will take time to overcome. "I think we have great opportunities in this Congress, but I think we need to be patient for the new Congress to hit its legislative stride," Faris says.

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This article originally appeared in the January/February 2001 issue of MyBusiness Magazine, NFIB's member magazine.

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