Two Southwest Michigan Legislators and the leaders of both the Michigan House and Senate chambers are among the handful of lawmakers identified this afternoon as winners of the National Federation of Independent Business — NFIB — “Guardian of Small Business” awards for 2020. Only 10 members of the State House and 4 from the State Senate garnered the award for their record of small-business support in the current session.
The NFIB is one of the state’s leading small business organizations, and they have placed State Senator Aric Nesbitt and State Representative Beth Griffin among those winners, along with Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey. In addition to other criteria set by the NFIB Michigan Leadership Council, all the recipients scored 100-percent on the Michigan’s NFIB Voting Record for the 2019-2020 session.
Charlie Owens, State Director of NFIB in Michigan, says, “We are delighted to recognize these lawmakers for going above and beyond the call of duty in their support of Michigan’s small business,” and adds, “Clearly they understand the important role that small business plays in providing jobs and economic development in their community.”
The NFIB Voting Record grades lawmakers on a 100-percent scale based on votes on issues deemed important to small business. Those issues range from tax and budget bills to regulatory and labor legislation.
While she’s not on the list of the Guardians, the NFIB Michigan Political Action Committee today gave State Rep. Pauline Wendzel’s campaign a boost by endorsing her re-election to the State House in the 79th House District.
Owens says, “As a legislator, Pauline Wendzel has done an outstanding job showing our members that she understands the challenges facing Michigan’s small businesses,” and adds, “She is committed to making this state a better place to raise a family and own a business, and her 100-percent small-business voting record in the last session proves that.”
This year’s election endorsements were made by the NFIB MI PAC and are based on the incumbent lawmakers’ 2019 – 2020 Voting Record. Owens says, “These endorsements have an impact because small-business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for actively recruiting friends, family members, and acquaintances to go to the polls,” adding, “NFIB will encourage its members to help turn out the small-business vote for endorsed candidates this year in the Primary and General Elections.”
Owens also notes, “Lawmakers voting to rein in state government overreach and give much-needed tax and regulatory relief during these uncertain times received high marks,” plus, he adds, “Other issues considered in the Vote Record include efforts to restrict the governor’s abuse of emergency orders and important no-fault auto insurance reforms.”
Owens indicated that the 2019-2020 NFIB Voting Record would be posted to the NFIB website as well as mailed to members in August. Click the link below to view more information on the votes that were considered. Here’s the link: NFIB-Voting-Issues-2020
2020 Michigan Guardian Award Winners
House
Chatfield, Lee / R / 107
Cole, Triston / R / 105
Wentworth, Jason / R / 97
Hernandez, Shane / R / 83
Meerman, Luke / R/ 88
Hoitenga, Michele / R / 102
Hornberger, Pamela / R / 32
Griffin, Beth / R / 66
Leutheuser, Eric / R / 58
Kahle, Bronna / R / (57)
Senate
Shirkey, Mike / R / 16
Nesbitt, Aric / R / 26
Horn, Ken / R / 32
McBroom, Ed / R / 38
