Elections are in full swing and there is a lot at stake for
small business in the outcome of national, state and local elections.
Regulations, taxes, healthcare and much more are on the table and whether or
not Congress and the legislature in Lansing are pro-small business will make a
big difference in how your small business fares in the coming years.
What should you do? Make sure that the candidates asking for
your vote recognize the contribution that your small business makes to the community and economy. How can you do that? If they are running for reelection,
check their past vote record on issues of small business concern. While a voting
record does not reflect all elements considered by a lawmaker when voting, it
is a valuable guide to examining a legislator’s attitude toward small business. You can check out the most recent Small Business Voting Record for your
state lawmakers and Congress HERE.
What if a candidate has never held public office before or
there is no voting record available for the offices they have held? Organizations
like NFIB will often examine candidates with a survey and/or personal interview
to determine how they might vote on small business issues if they were to be elected.
NFIB’s political action committee – the Michigan SAFE (Save American Free
Enterprise) Trust will examine these surveys and interviews and make
recommendations or endorsements of candidates based on these factors. At the
national level, the same analysis is conducted by the federal NFIB SAFE Trust
committee for Congressional candidates. To see the state candidates running for reelection supported by NFIB go HERE. To see the candidates supported by NFIB that are running for an open state House seat go HERE.
In addition to electing members of the state Legislature and Congress this November, Michigan voters will be asked to elect two justices to the Michigan Supreme Court. To see the candidates supported by NFIB go HERE.
NFIB will be sending out our 2016 Voter’s
Guide to all NFIB members in Michigan. This guide will allow #SmallBizVoters to
see all of the candidates that are recommended by our state and federal SAFE Trust
committees. Not a member? You can learn more about that HERE.
So stay informed, stay involved and get out there and be a
#SmallBizVoter!
