December Advocacy Tip: Cultivate a Relationship With Your Lawmaker
After a tumultuous and drawn-out election cycle, the 111th Congress will commence in January. With pro-small business lawmakers in the minority of both chambers, coupled with a strong labor movement attempting to push their radical agenda, there is no doubt that the new Congress will pose significant challenges and threats to the rights of small business owners to run their businesses free from unreasonable costs, intrusive regulations and burdensome taxes. With that said, your business will be operating in an entirely new political environment. Therefore, quality personal contacts and aggressive outreach to lawmakers is essential if small business expects to have a voice and be relevant at the bargaining table. By taking the time to cultivate a relationship with your lawmaker, you will become a credible, reliable and influential source during key policy debates such as card check, healthcare reform and tax reform.
Take advantage of your next town hall meeting
Before the next Congress reconvenes, many lawmakers will travel back to their districts in December to engage in a series of town hall meetings with their constituents. The upcoming recess presents you with a lucrative opportunity to convey your small business policy concerns to your elected official. A town hall meeting is a perfect venue for you as a small business owner to spend time gauging the opinions and positions of your lawmaker without having to compete with the everyday political pressures and demands of Washington. In fact, a recent survey by the Congressional Management Foundation showed that raising a question at a town hall meeting is one of the most effective methods for influencing undecided lawmakers. Attending a town hall meeting and sharing your personal story with your lawmakers provides them an opportunity to step into your shoes as a small business owner and try to understand how legislation impacts your business and your bottom line.
Issues to discuss with your lawmaker
The next Congress will expect to pass a number of significant laws during its first 100 days that will have profound and serious implications on your business--most notably with respect to card check and taxes. At a town hall meeting, question your lawmakers about their stance on these issues and make sure they are fully cognizant of the small business position. See below for additional resources to assist you at your next meeting.
- Card check: Tell your lawmaker to vote against card-check legislation. Explain to your lawmaker that small businesses would be disproportionately vulnerable to the tactics typically associated with union authorization cards, and one-sided confrontations between union representatives and employees are prone to intimidation, threats and misinformation. For more information, please visit NFIB.com/page/cardcheck. To learn about NFIB's efforts to protect workplace privacy, visit myprivateballot.com/.
- Taxes: Burdensome, unfair taxes stand in the way of small business growth, and NFIB continues to fight for permanent relief for the nation's No. 1 job creator. In an NFIB survey released earlier this year, small business owners pointed to federal taxes as their third most critical problem, up from fifth place in 2004, and they cited the complex tax code as their fifth most critical issue. The "estate" or "death" tax, the Alternative Minimum Tax and simplification of the tax code are likely to be dealt with by the next Congress. Please visit NFIB.com/taxrelief for talking points and more information on these pertinent issues.
Find a town hall meeting near you
To find information about an upcoming town hall meeting in your district, please utilize NFIB's Find Your Elected Officials tool to obtain the necessary contact information.
