Caption: Bob Friedman, Dearborn Wholesale Grocers, Inc., Jon Burklund, Burklund Distributors, and Ricky Jones, Andalusia Distributing Co., at last night's Day on the Hill dinner.
A determined group of AWMA distributors, committed to defending their companies and industry against unfair government interference and union organizational tactics, head for Capitol Hill today to take their case to members of the House and Senate and key members of their staffs.
“We want our legislators to hear our side of the story,” said AWMA chairman Sherwin Herring, Southco Distributing Co. “We strongly oppose legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration the right to regulate tobacco, and we oppose the so-called card check bill and any compromise.”
Herring’s comments came before a kickoff dinner last night for the annual AWMA “Day on the Hill” program, which will send convenience store distributors from across the nation into the offices of Congressmen and Senators to discuss these key issues of concern:
- Opposition to legislation introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), HR 1256, which gives FDA broad regulatory authority over virtually every aspect of tobacco production, manufacture, distribution, sales, and advertising.
- Support of a more reasonable tobacco regulation measure sponsored by Rep. Steve Buyer(R-IN), which would establish a separate Tobacco Harm Reduction Agency in the Department of Health and Human Services instead of placing tobacco under FDA rule.
- Opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, the “card check” bill, which would replace the current private ballot in the workplace with a process that allows a union to organize if a majority of workers simply sign a card, rather than voting by secret ballot.
“The Waxman bill could set up a ‘back door’ ban on a legal product – tobacco – through onerous restrictions on the approval, sale, distribution, advertising and production of these products, which are legally distributed by AWMA member companies,” said AWMA President & CEO Scott Ramminger.
“If Congress passes the ‘card check’ bill, it will strip away federally protected private ballots from the hands of American workers and expose these workers to intimidation and threats of coercion. The bill would mandate compulsory binding arbitration on the employer and employees as part of the collective bargaining process, putting labor contract decisions in the hands of a government official. The result would mean that business owners, who provide jobs, would have no real voice in his or her own operation, nor would newly unionized employees have the opportunity to vote on their new contract. This proposal is dead wrong and merely a tactic by organized labor to fatten their membership rolls,” he said.
Former AWMA Chairman Ricky Jones, Andalusia Distributing Co., Inc. was blunt in his opposition to both initiatives. “I want to see my Senators and Congressman and tell them how these proposals would hurt my business and our employees,” he said. “We are not going to mince words, I can tell you that.”
“I’m here to tell our side of the story,” commented Steve Stomel, Tax-Right, L.L.C. “Unfortunately, the attitude of many in Washington is anti-tobacco and anti-industry. Somebody needs to stand up for our industry because our opponents are out there working every day.”
That’s the whole idea behind AWMA’s Day on the Hill, said Ramminger. “We have a good crew here, and I can tell you this does make a difference to have business owners and executives like you go up there and tell them what is going on in the real world – your world – and how their actions will affect, not only your companies, but your employees as well. Then, when we go back as lobbyists to provide additional information, the reception is much different, that’s for certain.”
During the course of the day today, AWMA members and staff will participate in at least 60 separate meetings with members of the House of Representatives and Senate and their key aides. The busy day kicks off with a breakfast meeting at the Capitol Hill Club featuring Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY).
