NFIB Breakfasts with Legislators

February 24, 2023

NFIB Breakfasts with Legislators

Lobbying is in full force for NFIB California, inside and outside the State Capitol. NFB’s chief legislative advocate Tim Taylor continues his meetings with lawmakers and their staffs, alerting them to small businesses’ support or opposition to various bills. At a recent informational breakfast for the new legislative class, co-sponsored by NFIB California, the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, the California Business Roundtable, and the Civil Justice Association of California, State Director John Kabateck reminded the gathering that small businesses make up most of the business community and yet bear the brunt of taxes, regulations and lawsuits. He also talked about the need for the business community to better share their stories, and about the importance of the impact of small business revenue and tax dollars on social services. “When small businesses either thrive or suffer, so do those social services that policymakers on the left and right believe are vital to their districts and communities,” said Kabateck. In a separate initiative, all 120 state Senators and Assemblymembers were sent personalized welcome-back letters co-signed by NFIB California Leadership Council Chairman Sunder Ramani and Kabateck. The example linked, sent to Assemblymember Robert Rivas, produced a quick result when Rivas’s staff responded to a possible interest in meeting with NFIB to learn more about the small-business agenda. Rivas will become the next speaker of the California State Assembly in June. The Ears to the Ground Unique among all associations, NFIB bases its lobbying agenda on what its small-business-owning members tell it are vital to their ability to own, operate, and grow their enterprises. That comes through yearly balloting on federal and state issues, but giving those results and added refinement and clarity is the work of our valiant Sales team, which is ringing bells, shaking hands, and lending an ear to the concerns of enterprises up and down the Main Streets of California. Because of the added advantage the Sales team contributes, NFIB’s lobbying agenda is exponentially more successful. In the second photo below, stopping by Sacramento for a quick meal and to exchange information with NFIB State Director John Kabateck and chief legislative advocate Tim Taylor were Sales leaders Ken Greek, Don Weiland, and Mark Hash. Joining to add their insights were Assemblymembers Bill Essayli and Vince Fong.