Inside Look: IFA 2012 Public Affairs Conference Day 2

By BEN HEINEMANN The second day of the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Political Affairs Conference had an early start today as IFA President and CEO Steve Caldeira introduced Mary Kennedy Thompson, president of Mr. Rooter, chair of The Dwyer Group and one of the key forces behind the IFA’s VetFran Committee. On the 11^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the impact of being in Washington D.C. today was not lost on Thompson or the conference’s attendees, as Thompson read a letter from Joe Baker, a friend who served in the Marine Corps. Baker was in the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2001, when suddenly the floor dropped and the ceiling fell. After reading Baker’s letter, Thompson asked everyone in attendance to thank a veteran today while also underlining the important work that VetFran has done for both veterans and franchises. “It’s now our turn to return the favor and offer them opportunities in franchising,” Thompson said. “We must not fail our nation.” After remarks from Valpak’s Joe Bourdow, sponsor of the morning’s breakfast, Caldeira introduced Minnesota Representative John Kline. Kline’s speech focused on rules and regulations, particularly in regards to the National Labor Regulation Board (NLRB), calling the board’s recent decisions “shocking and unbelievable.” “We’ve never seen a board as active and aggressive and as dangerous,” Kline said of the NLRB, before going on to decry unions and his views on the damage more unions could do to small business. “Imagine trying to deal with 10, 12 or even 20 unions in your operation. It’s crushing.” Kline urged attendees to tell their stories and speak with their representatives, neighbors and friends so their particular situations could be heard. “Go to the hill and tell your stories and your concerns,” said Kline, in advance of an afternoon filled with Congressional meetings scheduled by the IFA for those in attendance. Keynote speakers Ed Gillespie, former counselor for President George W. Bush and former chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and former chairman of Hilary Clinton for President, then shared their views on the current political landscape. Gillespie stated President Obama is “very unlikely to be re-elected,” which elicited head nodding from the crowd, before McAuliffe drew a laugh by joking, “this is not a Republican fundraiser!” McAuliffe then asked to see a show of hands for how many in the audience voted for Obama in the last election, with less than 15 hands going up, clearly demonstrating the sympathetic views conference attendees have to the Republican Party. McAuliffe then went on to predict an Obama victory before attendees were allowed to ask both men questions relating to small business and what the outcome of the election would mean for them. After the conclusion of the morning’s general session, the afternoon of the conference will be spent on Capitol Hill, where attendees get to meet with their representatives of Congress and Senators to discuss the issues that matter most to them and share their personal stories. Later, a reception honoring veterans will be held in the Cannon House Office Building, before the conference concludes with the FranPAC Congressional Dinner.