"Imagine this situation: A Washington, D.C., hotel meeting room is filled with hundreds of women business owners who've gathered for a public policy briefing and lobbying their Congressional delegations. A woman steps to the microphone and says, "Get involved in politics or get out of business." To say I was taken aback by this pronouncement is an understatement. But the longer I've been a business owner, the more I agree with her.
Most people who own or run a business will say they are too busy running their businesses to get involved in what goes on in Frankfort or D.C. That's a mistake. We spend time and money on marketing but overlook major political issues that could hurt the bottom line. Much of what goes on in the political arena affects business in numerous ways. Whether the issue is health care, workers' compensation or taxes, those of us in business need to be involved in the decision-making process. Here are few ways to do that.
1. Join an association. There are many groups that support business, such as local and state chambers of commerce. These organizations have public policy committees and need input from business owners as they set the legislative agenda for each session.
"We have about 30 to 40 people on the committee and they represent a diverse group of interests," Chad Harpole, vice president for public policy at Commerce Lexington, said. "One of the greatest benefits we offer members is our public policy information and updates."
To view Commerce Lexington's 2008 legislative agenda, visit www.lexchamber.com.
There also are groups like the Small Business Caucus, a group of Kentucky associations that meets regularly and lobbies as a group; National Federation of Independent Businesses, which surveys members and lobbies on their behalf; and specific professional groups like Kentucky Society for CPAs and Kentucky Grocers Association, which lobby for issues affecting those businesses. All of these groups have lobbyists and organized campaigns for specific legislation that you can be a part of for very little effort.
Because of the diligence of associations and other groups, legislation has been passed, revised or stopped. Legislators know that chambers of commerce and associations represent large numbers of voters, and they listen to these powerful voices.
2. Write a letter, call or send an e-mail. Contacting legislators does make a difference. Be very specific about what you want them to do and include the bill number of your issue.
To help you keep up with specific bills during the state's legislative session, visit www.kentuckyvotes.org. It's free and offers information about legislators' voting records as well as legislation by category or bill number and links to related sites.
Many of the groups and associations mentioned previously have Web sites that make it easy to contact legislators. If you aren't sure who your representatives are, you usually can find them on these sites and e-mail them directly.
One caution about mailing letters to Congress: since the Anthrax scare, all mail is scanned and sometimes does not make it to members. E-mails are safer.
3. Meet with legislators or their staff members. It's not as hard as you might think to meet with a legislator or staff member. Don't be discouraged if you meet with a staffer instead of a legislator. The staff serves as the eyes and ears of elected officials and what they say carries a lot of weight with their bosses.
One of the easiest ways to meet with your U.S. Senator or Representative is to schedule an appointment with the local office when the legislator is going to be in the district. Congress takes breaks at Easter, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Jim Musser, a Virginia legislative consultant who lobbies Congress, offers suggestions about meeting with federal legislators.
"Members of Congress are always glad to talk with constituents, but their time is usually quite limited, especially if you want to meet them in D.C.," Musser said. "Wherever the meeting takes place, the rule of thumb is do not waste time. Quickly get to the point and be specific about what you want the member to do. Also, be polite. A meeting with your Congressman or Senator is no time for partisan sniping."
4. Hire a lobbyist. If you can afford to do it, one of the best ways to get your voice heard in the political arena is to hire a lobbyist who works for you on your issue. Although some people have negative opinions about lobbyists, the truth is most are hard-working, ethical folks. They know legislators, staff members and committee staffers. They are in Frankfort or Washington, D.C., regularly, so it's easy for them to get in front of the right people at the right time. They are persistent spokespeople for your issue and provide credible information to politicians and their staffs.
One last bit of perspective: You spend a lot of time marketing products or services, developing budgets and business plans and training staff, but it's just as important to keep an eye on legislative issues that could derail your business. So take some time during the upcoming state legislative session to get involved.
Mary Hemlepp, APR, is co-owner of Wiser, Hemlepp & Associates, a Lexington public relations, marketing and opinion research firm.