Small Businesses Lobby On Health Care, Financial Consumer Protection

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) urges Chamber members to get involved in the political process during the Chamber’s Council on Small Business meeting on November 3.

Owners of 70 small- and medium-size companies were in Washington, D.C., on November 2-3 for briefings at the U.S. Chamber and visits to Capitol Hill to lobby their representatives on health care and financial consumer protection legislation.

Members of the Chamber’s Council on Small Business met at Chamber headquarters for briefings from Chamber policy experts and discussions on issues affecting their business. The annual meeting is an opportunity for council members to provide input into the development and implementation of the Chamber public policy agenda.

During visits with their elected representatives, including House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), council members voiced opposition to health care reform legislation that includes a public option and an employer mandate (The House on November 7 approved legislation containing those two provisions). Chamber members also asked lawmakers, including Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) and Ralph Hall (R-TX), to oppose the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA), a bill that would create a gigantic new regulatory agency that would pull in virtually every business that extends or accepts credit.

Learn more about the Council on Small Business.