Nov. 14, 2014—For the second straight year, members of the National Independent Automotive Dealers Association (NIADA) took to Capitol Hill on Thursday as part of its National Leadership Conference and Legislative Summit.
NIADA dealers and other industry representatives met with 36 members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, or their legislative staff members, to make “sure the voice of the independent dealer and small business is heard on Capitol Hill,” according to an NIADA release.
Among the offices visited by NIADA members were those of the entire Congressional leadership – Senate majority and minority leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner and House majority and minority leaders Kevin McCarthy and Nancy Pelosi.
The dealers were also addressed by Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who were featured speakers at National Leadership Conference events.
Scott told the group that the new republican Senate majority will push for simpler tax laws and less restrictive regulations on business.
Scott, speaking at the Hart Senate Building, said the "robust agenda" would allow small businesses like those owned by NIADA members to flourish.
"Dealing with higher taxes and higher regulations makes it more difficult to hire more people," Scott said, according to the release. "My formula for success is simple: Can we get government out of your way? The answer is yes. Should we? The answer is absolutely yes."
Scott made headlines on election night when he became the first African-American elected to the Senate from a Southern state since Reconstruction. The South Carolina republican had been appointed to the Senate by Gov. Nikki Haley after former Sen. Jim DeMint stepped down to become president of the the Heritage Foundation in November 2012.
Scott is a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over many of the issues affecting the used vehicle industry, as well as the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.
