WASHINGTON – The NACS Government Relations Conference kicked off yesterday, with a full day of prep for retailers and suppliers who are hitting Capitol Hill this morning to meet with their senators and representatives on issues important to the convenience industry.
The event featured several important panels, including a session on “Refreshing Our Image” presented by Jeff Lenard, NACS vice president of strategic industry initiatives, and a 2016 election briefing by political analyst Jim Ellis. Three members of Congress also addressed attendees and helped drive home the importance of raising the c-store industry’s voice for today’s meetings:
Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), the former Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, focused his remarks on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the depth of stock compromise that was reached during the 2014 Farm Bill.
“The Farm Bill was one of the pieces of legislation in the last five or six years that represents the old way—we built a consensus,” Lucas said.
Lucas discussed the recently published SNAP proposal that alters the depth of stock provisions laid out in the Farm Bill. He acknowledged that the proposed rule goes beyond what Congress intended and he encouraged attendees to raise their concerns with the rule during meetings with their legislators. “You need to make sure that every member you interact with understands that this is detrimental to their constituents. There’s no rule that’s ever been created that can’t be reeled back in and fixed,” he said.
Lucas said the biggest philosophical issue facing America today is whether or not people can be trusted to make the best choices for themselves. “I still believe that people have the capacity to make good decisions in their own best interest,” he said. “Our goal should be to make it easier, not to dictate how people conduct their [business] on a day to day basis.”
He advised attendees to make their voices heard on SNAP at their Hill meetings. “You need to make sure that every member you interact with understands that this is detrimental to their constituents. There’s no rule that’s ever been created that can’t be reeled back in and fixed,” he said.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told attendees that this is a serious time in America. “Our role is to try to balance the contending interests in our country and come out with a view that makes some sense,” he said. “A view that enhances the economy, and enhances our quality of life.”
Hoyer also emphasized the importance of not passing tax cuts that aren’t in turn being paid for, as well as bringing jobs back home to American workers. The c-store employers in the room were not lost on him: “Thank you for what all of you in this room do every day to create jobs and foster economic stability,” he said.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) was among the legislators who helped pass the menu-labeling bill. He told attendees that under current market conditions the middle class is getting pushed out.
“You probably wake up every day and think, ‘What is some federal agency in Washington dreaming up today that’s going to affect my business?’” Scalise said. “If a federal agency comes out with a [bad rule], shouldn’t they have to come out and answer for themselves?”
He added that small operators within the convenience channel often get hit even harder by new regulations. But he summed up with a vote of confidence for conference attendees who have taken the big step this week of coming to Washington to meet with their representatives.
“Y’all are getting ready to storm the Hill tomorrow. You’ve got your questions ready and your talking points ready. You either get involved in politics or you get out of the business,” he said.
Look for more coverage of this week’s NACS Government Relations Conference tomorrow in NACS Daily and in upcoming issues of NACS Magazine.