11/ 21/ 2006
As the final days of the 2006 election wound down, NFIB and its members worked overtime to get small-business voters across the nation to the polls.
The get-out-the-vote and voter education efforts capped a vigorous election-year push on behalf of pro-small-business lawmakers and candidates.
"This election was too important for our members to allow small-business concerns to be lost in the din of a contentious campaign season," says NFIB President and CEO Todd Stottlemyer. "They know better than anyone that the consequences of elections for small-business owners, employees and their families are enormous. And thanks to the significant involvement of our members, we were able to take our efforts to a new level."
The NFIB SAFE Trust--both the federal and 50 state PACs--endorsed 2,282 candidates in state and federal races in this midterm election.
At press time, nearly 80 percent of the endorsed candidates were elected in the states and to Congress. NFIB members provided record levels of volunteers, contributions and grassroots activity to support pro-small-business candidates in both parties with a targeted effort that focused on voter education and getting out the vote in the final weeks.
But in an election year where other issues seemed to outweigh business issues, the change in congressional leadership means the agenda for the 110th Congress will be more challenging for small business.
Based on previous voting records (go to www.NFIB.com/hcv), the new congressional leadership is now likely to take up legislation that has been pushed by organized labor, trial attorneys, environmental groups and others. Instead of pushing for Small-Business Health Plans, many in the new congressional leadership will likely promote a national, single-payer system that imposes new taxes and coverage mandates on small business. Instead of reducing taxes and frivolous lawsuits, efforts to impose mandates on small business and increase taxes on capital gains, dividends and gasoline are likely to emerge.
However, the nonpartisan issues that affect small business still remain: access to affordable, quality health care, regulatory and tax relief, and much-needed tort reform. Small-business owners don't care who addresses these concerns, as long as they are addressed. NFIB will continue to work with whoever is willing to fight on behalf of our members to make sure that small-business concerns aren't lost in the halls of the Capitol.
