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FOCUS
COMMUNIQUÉ
SBAM’s Political Strategy
of Bi-Partisan Collaboration
Michigan Health and Hospital Association, but also the Michigan Education Association and the Michigan Association for Justice. We came together in a strong belief that we can help lawmakers stay true to their principles but also make a constructive difference for the constituents and their state by building relationships with their new legislative colleagues.
Our well-attended program helped the new lawmakers learn how to get the most out of their at-most six years of House service by understanding shared governance, learning to overcome legislative roadblocks, gaining perspective on the role of lobbyists and dealing with the executive branch. I believe the training the new lawmakers received at “Building Bridges,” and the relationships they formed with their fellow freshman lawmakers, will pay dividends in the years to come when SBAM seeks bi-partisan assistance in moving our agenda forward.
SBAM is different than the media stereotype of business organizations. We have a big-tent philosophy with room for lots of viewpoints. If we ever march in lockstep, it’s only toward a vision of small business prosperity and success. We are practical and pragmatic, not rigid and ideological. If you have ideas that you think can help shape our legislative and regulatory agenda, get involved. We want to hear from you. – SBAM
Rob Fowler is president and CEO of the Small Business Association
of Michigan.
By Rob Fowler
We just completed a contentious and closely-fought presidential election. SBAM does not endorse for President, and that proved to be a good policy because our membership included passionate advocates for both Trump and Clinton – with no clear consensus on who would be the best candidate to advance the prospects of the entrepreneurial community.
But in the wake of the election, it’s clear that President Trump, who will be working with Republican majorities in the House and Senate, has an opportunity to move forward on some key national measures that can help grow the small business economy (see this issue’s Your Voice column for details on these issues.)
On the state level, our Small Biz PAC purposefully pursued a bi-partisan election strategy of endorsing friends-of-small- business regardless of whether they were Republicans or Democrats. On Nov. 8, 62 of our 64 endorsed House candidates won, a terrific success rate that validates the importance voters place on an endorsement from small business.
How did we select the candidates to endorse? If an incumbent, we looked at their voting record on issues important to SBAM – and we were very transparent about the issues we considered crucial. Then, the small business owners on our PAC Board evaluated how the incumbents performed during their time in office. For both incumbents
and non-incumbents, we have an excellent questionnaire that we ask them to fill out that determines not only where they stand on our issues but also whether they run a small business. Additionally, SBAM personally met with many candidates to learn more about their background and experience.
This vetting and endorsement process resulted in the election of a strong bi-partisan group of legislators, including many new lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who believe in the importance of small business and entrepreneurship.
Collegiality and bi-partisan cooperation is really important to SBAM. This is so crucial to our legislative mission that late last year we participated in a very successful new legislator orientation program in Frankenmuth called “Building Bridges – Principles, Politics and Governing.” In the spirit of reaching across the aisle, we organized this event in cooperation with a broad and diverse coalition, which consisted not only of fellow business groups like Business Leaders for Michigan and the
Focus on Small Business, the official member publication of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), is dedicated to focusing the power of small business in order to provide useful information to Michigan entrepreneurs about issues and events specific to the success of their small business operations, including legislative advocacy, regulatory concerns and economic opportunities. Focus on Small Business is published six times a year.
The SBAM Strategic Communications Advisory Committee of Focus on Small Business advises the editors in the content and policy of the magazine, subject to the policies of the SBAM Board of Directors. Known Office of Publication: Small Business Association of Michigan, 120 N. Washington, Suite 1000, Lansing, Michigan 48933.
Neither the editor nor SBAM will accept responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed by any contributor in any article or feature published in the pages of the journal. The views expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily official positions of SBAM Focus on Small Business. SBAM Focus on Small Business reserves the right to accept or reject advertising copy. Products and services advertised in Focus on Small Business are neither endorsed nor warranted by SBAM.
Focus on Small Business (ISSN 1930-5257) is the official magazine of the Small Business Association of Michigan, published six times a year under the direction of the SBAM Strategic Communications Advisory Committee. Annual dues are $210, which includes $19.95 for a one year subscription to Focus on Small Business.
Postmaster – Please Send Address Changes – Focus on Small Business, 120 N. Washington Square, Suite 1000, Lansing, Michigan 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, MI and additional offices. Printed in USA. © 2017 Small Business Association of Michigan
4 January/February 2017