The two latest Small Business Rundown episodes include a recap of the election results and Proposition HH in Colorado
NFIB released two new Small Business Rundown episodes discussing important information and insights into the November state elections. In Episode 22, experts gave their take on the outcomes, emerging trends going into the 2024 elections, and the importance of getting involved. Episode 23 featured NFIB member Bonnie Roerig and NFIB State Director Tony Gagliardi discussing Prop HH in Colorado and how it would have impacted small business by jeopardizing the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Episode 22: What the 2023 Elections Mean for Small Business
“People don’t like where we are on the economy,” said Jim Ellis of The Ellis Insight. “This election showed people think the country is on the wrong track. They don’t like inflation and increase in prices, yet they continue re-electing the incumbents. Pro-business candidates need to communicate people’s feelings into votes and that hasn’t been happening.”
Ellis discussed how the results of the Nov. 7 elections could impact small businesses, and NFIB’s Senior National Political Director Sharon Sussin explained ways that NFIB’s political team helped educate and engage voters leading up to the election. They also analyzed what was learned from these elections that may apply to the 2024 election and the importance of getting involved.
“We support candidates who support small business,” said Sussin. “NFIB PAC-endorsed candidates won 88% of their races with key wins in Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, and New Jersey. NFIB also conducted successful ballot initiative campaigns in Colorado, Texas, and Maine. NFIB educated members about the elections and encouraged them to get out and vote.”
Episode 23: Tax Refunds Protected in Colorado Advocacy Win
“Prop HH went against everything the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) Amendment stood for,” said Bonnie Roerig, NFIB member and owner of Bonnie Roering & Associates, a commercial real estate appraisal firm in Denver. “Prop HH was a trojan horse that had the allure of lowering taxes for one year but would then kill the TABOR tax refunds.”
Bonnie, NFIB State Director in Colorado Tony Gagliardi, and Vice President for State Government Relations Tim Goodrich discussed Prop HH, a key ballot issue in Colorado this past election day. Prop HH would have impacted small businesses by jeopardizing the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) amendment. Bonnie shared the long-term impacts of Prop HH on small businesses if it had passed. Tony and Tim explained NFIB’s advocacy campaign efforts that helped defeat the ballot measure and the importance of this win for small businesses across the nation.
“This was an all-hands-on-deck issue. If Prop HH had passed, TABOR refunds would have gone away permanently,” said Gagliardi. “Any increase in taxes helps no one, including small business because the cost of business would rise.”
The podcasts “What the 2023 Election Means for Small Business” and “Tax Refunds Protected in Colorado Advocacy Win” are available to listen to and download. For more election news visit NFIB’s Elections Center.
