NFIB

President and CEO of NFIB Jack Faris this morning was a guest on CNBC’s “Morning Call,” where he discussed the small-business agenda for the upcoming political season and how the candidates fit into that program.

Specifically, Faris discussed the Kerry-Edwards ticket, noting that the pair has traditionally been at odds with small-business issues.

“(Kerry and Edwards) are like two peas in the same pod,” Faris said of the senators’ stances on small-business issues. “They will look to reverse tax cuts, nationalize health care.”

Also, the Kerry campaign is opposed to Small Business Health Plans--also known as AHPs, which would allow small-business owners to join together across state lines to take advantage of the same purchasing power for health insurance that big business and big labor already enjoy.

Currently labor unions, medium-sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies like Ford, Chrysler and Wal-Mart have the ability to offer health benefits to their employees under one uniform federal statute known as ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This saves such companies from the cumbersome task of having to comply with the different rules, regulations and benefit mandates that exist in each of the 50 states. Small business, however, has no such opportunity.

Faris said that NFIB provides all of its members with a voting record, How Congress Voted, which shows how each member of Congress voted on the issues. A member of Congress who has a record of 70 percent or greater for voting in support of small-business issues receives NFIB's Guardian of Small Business Award. According to NFIB’s data, both Kerry and Edwards hold a 25 percent voting record.

“We give our members the records, and they’ll make the decision on who to vote for,” Faris said. “Our members will vote on the presidential candidate, not the vice presidential candidate, but who Kerry picks as his sidekick is an indication.”