Capitol Hill

A frustrating feature of this Congress is legislation vital to the roofing industry getting stuck in the Senate. Clearly, more pro-business senators must be elected in 2004 to move asbestos-litigation reform and energy legislation, to name just two bills, out of the Senate. NRCA's political action committee, ROOFPAC, has been active in key Senate races that could transform the Senate into a more business-friendly chamber. One of those races is taking place in South Dakota.

Team Thune

Former Congressman John Thune (R) once again is running for the U.S. Senate in South Dakota. Thune ran in 2002 against incumbent Sen. Tim Johnson (D) and lost by only 524 votes. He now is challenging Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D) in what could be the second most high-profile race in the United States behind that for the White House.

ROOFPAC supported Thune in 2002 and is supporting him in his race against Daschle. Thune has a better record on issues of importance to the business community than Daschle, and independent polling in South Dakota indicates the race will be close.

Rarely are Senate leaders defeated in their re-election bids, and Daschle has been a senator for three six-year terms. He has spent more than $7 million advertising in South Dakota this past year but has been unable to gain a statistically significant point spread against Thune, who has spent only a fraction of that amount. Also, President Bush carried South Dakota by more than 20 points in 2000 and is expected to win by a similar margin this year.

While in office, Thune consistently maintained a strong pro-business voting record with groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Business and, of course, NRCA, but Daschle has maintained a poor business voting record. Nonetheless, some business organizations are staying out of this race or supporting Daschle because of his seniority.

To encourage support for Thune, NRCA and 19 other business lobbying groups formed "Team Thune" to raise $500,000 for him.

A Washington Post article specifically mentions NRCA's involvement in Team Thune and reported Team Thune's first fund-raiser, which featured White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card, raised $149,000. Thune will be the featured guest at a ROOFPAC reception and dinner on July 14 during NRCA's Midyear Meetings in Chicago.

GOP convention

NRCA once again will be represented at the Republican National Convention by its officers and Washington, D.C., staff. This year's convention will be held in New York City in Madison Square Garden from Aug. 30-Sept. 2.

NRCA has participated in the Republican National Convention since it was held in Houston in 1992 and generated significant visibility for the roofing industry, which has been of great value when forging working relationships with decision makers in the White House and on Capitol Hill. NRCA will be involved in a variety of programs with other lobbying organizations that will take place outside Madison Square Garden and will attend official convention sessions in the arena each evening.

Share group

In April, NRCA joined dozens of other interested associations in a meeting at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to discuss and share get-out-the-vote best practices. The meeting was nonpartisan, and representatives from the Bush-Cheney and Kerry presidential campaigns dropped by to share their views.

As the presidential election of 2000 proved, a handful of votes can determine who wins. Businesses can help boost turnout by providing information to employees about how and where to register and how to obtain absentee ballots. Businesses also can play a crucial role by explaining how policy issues affect their abilities to make a profit.

For more information about how you can communicate the importance of voting or to register to vote, click on the "VoteForBusiness" banner at the top of NRCA's home page at www.nrca.net.

Craig S. Brightup is NRCA's vice president of government relations.