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500 Franchise Leaders Arrive in Washington to Demonstrate that Franchising Counts to the U.S. Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 13, 2010—The International Franchise Association today named Sen. Blanche Lincoln, (D-Ark.) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) 

2010 Legislators of the Year

 during the IFA 11th Annual Public Affairs Conference.

“We are pleased to award this honor to these two outstanding members of Congress,” said IFA Chairman Ken Walker, chairman & CEO of Driven Brands.  “They have both demonstrated their commitment to policies that create a sound business environment for franchising, especially during these tough economic times.”

The annual IFA Public Affairs Conference brings over 500 franchisors, franchisees and suppliers to Washington to lobby Congress on issues important to franchising such as access to credit, tax laws, health care and labor policies.

“During visits to over 200 congressional offices, IFA members will urge policy makers to take action on key legislation that will help franchise businesses do what they do best—create jobs,” Walker said.  “As members of Congress work to strengthen and renew our economy, they should remember that franchising counts in local communities all across the country.  With available credit and sound regulatory policies, franchise businesses will create the jobs necessary for sustained economic recovery and growth.”

Walker said that Sen. Lincoln is a leader on a wide range of issues, including farm policy, nutrition, social security, health care, tax policy, international trade, energy policy, aging issues and veterans. She has been a stalwart supporter of eliminating the burdensome and unnecessary estate tax and she has been an outspoken opponent of the Employee Free Choice Act, or “Card Check.” 

Sen. Lincoln made history when she became the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate at the age of 38. Blanche Lincoln’s Senate tenure has been marked by a willingness to seek bipartisan solutions.  She helped form the Moderate Democrats Working Group, a new coalition of moderate Senate Democrats who work with Senate leadership and the new administration to craft common-sense solutions to the country’s most-pressing priorities. Elected in 1998, Lincoln chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee and is a ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee.

Walker said that during the debate over the health care reform legislation, Rep. Ryan provided incisive analysis into the complex budget estimates in order to shine a clear light on the new law’s long-term impact on the economy, the deficit, and small businesses.  He also crafted a comprehensive vision of how to tackle our looming fiscal crisis, and contain the explosion of entitlement spending.
Rep. Ryan is currently serving his sixth term as a member of Congress.  He is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, where he works to bring fiscal discipline and accountability to the federal government. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, Social Security, health care and trade laws.

According to a study conducted for the IFA Educational Foundation by PricewaterhouseCoopers on the economic impact of franchising, there are more than 900,000 franchised businesses in operation across the country which are indirectly responsible for providing 21 million jobs and generating $2.3 trillion in economic output. 

The IFA’s Public Affairs Conference is supported by ADP Small Business Services, a founding sponsor.

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About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising through government relations, public relations and educational programs.  Through its awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the 21 million jobs and $2.3 trillion of economic activity generated by franchising. IFA members include franchise companies in over 90 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.      

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