WHO WE ARE

Together We Can Make A Difference In Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.

Now more than ever, your bottom line is affected by the actions of government. Since 1944, SMC has been the Voice of Small Business in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. We have sought adoption of public policies at the local, state and federal levels that spur economic growth and encourage entrepreneurial success.

SMC Business Councils, formerly the Smaller Manufacturers Council, is a private, non-profit, non-partisan association of small businesses who have combined their experience, knowledge and energies to improve the business climate in which they operate.

As an association, SMC is able to accomplish what no individual member company can do alone by enabling those engaged in small business to take common action for their mutual benefits. In a game where votes count, our impact is measured by our member companies who employ more than 100,000 people.

We invite you to join with us, stay informed, and be a part of our push for a better business climate. Your level of involvement is totally up to you; it can be as simple as staying informed or as active as meeting legislators face-to-face in Harrisburg or Washington, D.C.

HOW WE DO IT  -  ACTION! …NOT JUST TALK

The feature that most distinguishes SMC from other organizations is our strong grassroots activity. Many members are politically active and SMC gives them multiple opportunities to become involved in government.

Our Government Relations committee monitors legislation that affects small business on the local, state and federal levels. With member input, the committee determines the legislative agenda, develops positions, and communicates with elected officials. When necessary committee members are prepared to testify on issues of importance to small business.

SMC members are invited  to attend legislative receptions, meetings with lawmakers,  and grassroots lobbying trips to Harrisburg and Washington D.C.

SMC & Members in Action

Small Businesses are Stifled by Regulation

1099 Legislation News Release

SMC’s Post-Holiday Reception with Elected Officials

“We need to get small business moving again so we can grow and create jobs.”

         

SMC is unique in our number of active members. That was apparent Thursday, January 14, at the Sheraton Station Square when more than 90 members turned out to meet federal and state legislators. Maybe voters are feeling rebellious due to the frenetic pace of change at the federal level or the contrasting lack of change in a state capitol plagued by annual budget gridlock and criminal prosecutions of legislators. Whatever the reason, members came in droves and there was a “buzz” in the air as they got the message out to lawmakers …”We need to get small business moving again so we can grow and create jobs.”

Among the issues taken to legislators were health care overhaul legislation and its  numerous impacts on small business - employer mandates, financing and increased taxes, new 1099 Corporate Information reporting requirements, and the need for tax equity for the self-employed on health care premiums. The lack of small business credit was also a hot topic along with labor law - the misnamed “Employee Free Choice Act”, the estate tax, and rising energy costs in the form of HB 80 - Amending the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act.



Many of you have been extremely active with legislative issues and we thank you for your hard work and assure you it is making a difference. It’s part of our ongoing effort to “Seize the playing field”: small businesses must speak up if we are to have a seat at the table. See you May 3 in Harrisburg for Grassroots Lobbying Day and May 26-27 in D.C. for our Washington Presentation to Congress.



Eileen Anderson is Vice President of Red Clay Tile Works and SMC's Government Relations Manager. She can be reached at eileenanderson@smc.org or 412-342-1606

Small Business Letter to Santa - Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette article

SMC in Action: Committee Meeting with Rep. Jason Altmire was "Standing Room Only".

Monday is usually the hardest day to get business owners to meetings. That certainly wasn't the case on November 16th, when Rep. Jason Altmire was the guest speaker at SMC's Government Relations committee. The turnout of fifty concerned business owners was a clear indication of members' level of interest about what is going in Washington, D.C.

Members clearly had his attention; Altmire was scheduled to speak for 1 hour but stretched his visit to nearly 2 hours. Altmire, one of the most knowledgeable members of the US House of Representatives on health care reform, gave a brief overview of health care reform legislation and then opened the floor to questions. He didn’t miss a beat as members peppered him with a multitude of questions about health care, trade, taxes, climate change legislation, the stimulus, and so forth.

The Congressman, a fiscally conservative "Blue Dog" Democrat, was one of only 39 Democrats to cast a "NO" vote against the House's health reform bill. HB 3962 passed by a narrow margin of 220-215.

When queried specifically about his "NO" vote...

For the rest of the article click here.