Influencing power | Forget the partisan bashing, Maine business leaders need to reach out to legislators
In September, I had the opportunity to attend the Conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers in Bar Harbor. For two days, leaders from across the region talked about emerging opportunities to grow our common economy. Important transportation and utilities projects were discussed and it was exciting to hear how close some of these projects are to fruition.
As the governors, premiers and their staffs worked together to advance the interests of the region, it occurred to me that in order to get these important projects built — projects that could cement Maine’s place as a leader in the trade and energy sectors — our state government must perform at its very best. Moreover, our government must do an exceptionally good job of bringing public and private interests to the table.
And while we often are quick to point out the shortcomings of our state government, there is something we can each do to improve the level of civic performance — get involved.
One necessary ingredient of good policymaking is the involvement of business leaders who are willing to invest their time in the legislative process. Our citizen legislators are from all walks of life and all backgrounds, and it is unrealistic to expect one or all of them to be an expert on transportation policy or electricity reliability.
Wanted: business expertise
There are thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in pending construction activity that will only get spent if our governor and the members of the 124th Maine Legislature are able to work together to craft policies to change our current economic reality. Just like the motorist who doesn’t distinguish between Republican potholes and Democrat potholes, investors typically don’t care which party is to blame for an uncompetitive business climate.
And so, as much as the Maine Legislature needs good candidates, it also needs your expertise in order to make good policy. Is it reasonable to assume that, in the midst of disposing of 2,000 bills in a 100-day legislative session, our legislators should also come up with those elegant policy solutions that will somehow make our businesses and our state more competitive? I think not.
I have often said that when a new law comes from Augusta that is harmful to our business climate, it is typically because the business community hasn’t adequately explained the adverse impact on the state or presented a workable alternative. I believe we have an obligation to share our expertise. We should not assume that policymakers know as much about our day jobs as we do.
You can begin the process of helping the Legislature succeed by being receptive to the candidates you see between now and Election Day. Take the time to communicate the impact of state and federal government policies on your business. Take it beyond the sound bites and tell them what you’re seeing in the field. (Hint: when the CEO of a Maine company tells a state Senate candidate about the 40 people he laid off that week, it gets noticed.)
At a crossroads
After two decades in Augusta, I have yet to see a candidate who ran on a platform of making it harder for businesses to turn a profit or to reduce employment. In fact, if you look at the campaign literature flooding your mailbox, you will see that most candidates say they want to help create a healthy Maine economy. What many of these policymakers lack is a relationship with someone in the business community who they trust can help them improve the economy and create jobs.
Good public policy is honed in a process that goes beyond simply showing up at a public hearing or press conference. It is built on a foundation of trust and personal relationships that transcend party lines and geography, and that is rooted in a common desire to improve our state. Your involvement in this process — whether through a professional trade association, chambers of commerce or through your business — makes all the difference in the quality of the product delivered by our lawmakers. By getting to know your legislator now, you will make a difference in the next session.
When business leaders invest their time and resources in the political process, they are well poised to set the standard for good performance without political gamesmanship. And if a policy discussion does devolve into bitter partisan politics, then Maine’s business community should strive to bring the focus back to the policy.
We are at a crossroads where changes in global markets, a tightening economy and compelling regional business opportunities require us to perform better than we have in the past. We need our state government to be successful. Maine’s business community should lead the way by bringing expertise and an expectation of civility to the table. We may be surprised at the outcome.
John O’Dea is executive director of Associated General Contractors of Maine. He can be reached at editorial@mainebiz.biz.
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