Small and medium-sized business owners have joined forces to host a series of town hall teleconferences featuring leading presidential candidates.
Members from the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Restaurant Association and Associated Builders and Contractors listened Tuesday to Sen. John McCain talk about issues from tax cuts and health care to immigration and union-related topics.
This is the first time multiple organizations have held such a forum via conference call; permission for the forums had to be granted by the Federal Election Committee, according to Gerry Fritz, communications director of the Associated Builders and Contractors.
Three other Republican presidential candidates former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, and former Sen. Fred Thompson will hold teleconferences over a six-week period ending Nov. 13.
Democratic candidates were invited, but so far Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards have declined, and Sen. Hillary Clinton and Gov. Bill Richardson have not yet given a definitive answer, according to Chris Singerling, director of political affairs for the ABC.
Issues important to the ABC include card check legislation, which would allow unions to form if a majority of employees signed cards instead of voting in secret ballot elections; tax policies; and health care, Singerling said.
The ABC plans to endorse a candidate for president, but not until later in 2008.
The NFIB, whose members generally have fewer than 50 employees each, is concerned about health care costs and policies. “Small-business owners want wide availability of health care products and want affordability in providing health care, said NFIB spokesperson Mike Donohue, who added there was “opposition to government-mandated, government-run proposals.”
Donohue cited this as the No. 1 issue, followed by tax policies such as the personal income tax.
A majority of NFIB members pay taxes as part of personal income taxes, as well as the estate tax.
National Restaurant Association representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
