Business Better Get Political

Every other group wheels out a candidate to run for the state Legislature. Why shouldn’t business?

Media scrutiny and public cynicism have traditionally discouraged firms from allowing employees to seek state and county offices. There’s a fear of offending potential clients or fallout from self-serving legislation. It’s better to play it down the middle, goes the thinking, than risk a future deal.

But here’s the deal: business better wake up before the 2003 session or get left in the wake of some powerful bills that other political groups will press to a vote.

Arkansas’ educational system will be rebuilt, and business leaders should see that as their No. 1 issue, too. If property taxes are weakened, you can bet your stock options that corporate income taxes will be targeted to make up the difference. Another attack on workers’ compensation is also a given.

Who among Northwest Arkansas’ legislators will venture out on one of these limbs in the name of business? State office candidates who are elected solely on national hot-button issues, such as pro- or antiabortion rights and gun control, are of little use to their constituency. Ancillary points of Constitutional rights may be nitpicked, but state lawmakers can’t supersede the folks in Washington.

They can, however, be effective for employers in their districts. Term limits have given our cost-affective lobbyists virtual seniority over come-lately legislators. But when the actual votes are cast, business is still on the outside looking in.

We need more middle management candidates like Ron McDaniel of Sulphur Springs, the national poultry feed additives sales manager for Intervet Inc. His firm let the Republican run for the District 1 House seat in 2000, although he lost the race.

The legislature shouldn’t only be for retirees or those wealthy enough to camp out in Little Rock. We know local firms that have electable employees but can’t afford to salary someone who’s not around.

Business will continue to suffer until companies decide that having an employee plugged into the political system is an investment worth making. We need candidates who will fight for tax incentives for existing businesses to grow, a better-educated work force, tax incentives for firms that do in-house training, more school-to-work programs, more in-state venture capital and infrastructure projects that make it easier to do business here.

If we used these criteria to grade our legislators, what kind of report card would yours have?