Colorado Small Business Owners Go to the Polls

Nov. 2 wasn’t the last big election, NFIB members are voting their other ballots now

DENVER, Colo., Nov. 16, 2010 – All the big political issues weren’t decided on Nov. 2. Right now, Colorado small business owners are marking their ballots on five questions that will serve as the official lobbying position of their leading representative group in the State Capitol, the National Federation of Independent Business.

NFIB is one of the few associations that bases its state legislative and congressional advocacy on what its members tell it are the major concerns about the survivability of their enterprises. Each year, NFIB sends out a state and federal ballot to its members asking their opinion on issues expected to surface in the next session. On this year’s Colorado member ballot, NFIB is asking small business owners five questions:

• Should Colorado impose penalties on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants?
• Should Colorado establish its own Health Insurance Exchange or defer to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services?
• Should the Legislature repeal the state sales tax imposed on energy used in manufacturing?
• Do you support legislation that provides tax incentives and the use of public monies for low-interest loans or grants to businesses to promote economic development and job growth?
• Should Colorado lease some functions of state government and form more public/private partnerships to create greater efficiencies and reduce state expenditures?

Small business is the indisputable engine of economies worldly, nationally, and locally. What policymakers, however, consistently forget to grasp is that small businesses aren’t smaller versions of bigger businesses but instead have different difficulties in remaining solvent. Results from the NFIB-member state ballots help lawmakers realize this and are considered by many legislators to be the true voice of Main Street businesses.

“It’s important for elected officials to know that our evaluations of them are based upon results, not party,” said Tony Gagliardi, Colorado state director for NFIB. “The issues of most concern to small business owners are nonpartisan, such as affordable healthcare, low taxes, and sensible regulation. Our ballot results give them guideposts to follow and give us a start on grading their performance.”

NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information about NFIB is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.