Make it your business (to get involved)Presentation to Midwest Regional

Chamber of CommerceNovember 4, 2015

Government’s Daily Impact Businesses

Government Impact Increasing

Biggest Federal Regulatory Agencies

• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)• Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)• National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)• Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA)

The Volume of Regulation

Affordable Care Act????

• ACA/Obamacare – 78,000 pages and counting

The Most Costly Regulations

The Cost of Regulation on Business

Regulatory Costs Vs Other Costs

Businesses Are Tied Up In Red Tape

Red Tape Inhibits Success

Voters are on Your Side!!!!

BUT - Other Groups are in the Arena

• Beyond Coal/Beyond Gas/Beyond Oil• 2.4 million members• Dirty Dozen

AFL-CIO: 7.4 million private sector union members - 6% of workforce

Extensive Activities!!!

• Public Education campaigns• 504 activities• PACS• 527 organizations• Canvassing• Voter turnout efforts• Social Media• Public relations campaigns

NRA: 5 million members

• ----

There is strength in numbers

• 28 million small businesses in US• Small businesses with fewer than

500 employees• 50 percent of private sector

employment• 64 percent of all new jobs

MY POINT?

• Other groups OVER represented in political process

• Chambers UNDER represented in Political process

• Local chambers (and their members) are FAR more important than State or National Chamber offices in persuading legislators

Help Your Members Tell Their Story

• They are the experts• They have the facts• They have the numbers• They have an important perspective• They are respected• They have influence

Personal Testimonials• Nursing Home regulations • Environmental Regulations • Labor Negotiations• Eminent Domain • Worker’s Compensation

Who/How to Engage

Political engagement

It Starts with Staff/Employees

• Company meetings• Company publications/newsletters

It Includes Their Clients/Customers

• Company publications/newsletters• Company advertisements• Open House events• Community affairs/functions

It Requires Educating Voters

Letter to the Editor:

Letters to editor – good and bad

If You Can’t Convince Neighbors, You Can’t Convince Legislators

• Op-Eds

Op-Ed Example

How Best To Educate Legislators?

• Letter to editor – mention their name• Letter to them - be specific – be informative• Attend events – and hand them a letter• Host them at your facility and show them how

government regulation affects your business• Visit them at the right time in the legislative

session• Make it personal – get to know them

Chambers Provide Legislative Resources

Capitol Hill Day

Groundbreakings

Ribbon Cuttings

Legislative Issue Breakfasts

Show up when legislators are in town

Invite Your Legislator to Visit

Align With Businesses Trade Associations As Needed

Other Political Activities???

•Scorecards•PACs•527s•Being Bipartisan

Local Chambers Speak for Business

Businesses Cannot Afford To Sit It Out