Franchising World, February 2006

In November and December, the International Franchise Association participated in two important state legislative conferences: the State Government Affairs Council Leaders’ Policy Conference in Miami and the American Legislative Exchange Council’s States and Nation Policy Summit in Washington, D.C.

The SGAC meeting was attended by legislative leaders such as house speakers, senate presidents, majority and minority leaders and key committee chairs from legislatures from around the country.  In all, nearly 60 legislators attended along with 60 government affairs professionals.  Agenda items included discussions about health care policy and identity theft.  There were also several opportunities for social interaction and IFA co-sponsored a dinner attended by several legislators and lobbyists.

In December, IFA participated in the ALEC conference, which was attended by nearly 600 legislators, policy experts and lobbyists.  The agenda included appearances by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.  ALEC’s Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force, of which IFA is a member, also met and featured a presentation concerning state employer health care mandates and ballot initiatives. 

For information about IFA’s State Government Relations program, contact Jessica Bonanno, manager of government relations and political education, at 202-662-0775 or jbonanno@franchise.org.