04/29/2008
NFIB endorses pro-business candidate in Louisiana's 1st District
CONTACT: Mike Diegel, 202-314-2004
WASHINGTON, D.C.--The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business advocacy group, today announced its endorsement of Steve Scalise in the special election for Louisiana's 1st U.S. Congressional District. The election to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat vacated by Gov. Bobby Jindal will take place Saturday, May 3, and NFIB will encourage its members to get out the vote on Election Day.
"Steve Scalise has an outstanding record of supporting pro-small business positions while serving as a member of Louisiana's House of Representatives,” said Lisa Goeas, NFIB's vice president, political. "He earned a 99 percent lifetime voting record during his 12 years in the House. After his election to the state Senate last year, he has served as a key ally for small business owners in his role as chair of the Labor Committee."
"During his time in the Legislature, Steve voted against every proposal to raise taxes. He also fought to help small businesses by eliminating sales taxes on machinery and equipment, as well as co-authoring a bill to cut taxes on business utilities,” Goeas continued. "We feel confident he will represent our members in Congress the same way Gov. Jindal did, and we look forward to working with him."
Scalise received the support of 97 percent of NFIB small business owners in a member survey, while his opponent, Gilda Reed, received 3 percent. She did not respond to NFIB's candidate questionnaire on small business issues.
Today's endorsement puts the considerable grassroots support of the district's small businesses behind the Scalise campaign. Small business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for actively recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to go to the polls. NFIB will encourage its members to help turn out the influential small business voting bloc on Election Day. According to NFIB polling data, small business owners and their employees make up 43 percent of registered voters in America.
