Press Statement

March 20, 2016

Contact: David Levine, 917-359-9623
Frank Knapp Jr., 803-600-6874

The NFIB does not represent all small businesses says the American Sustainable Business Council

Today on Fox News Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is quoted as saying, “I can’t imagine that a Republican majority in the United States Senate would want to confirm, in a lame duck session, a nominee opposed by the National Rifle Association, the National Federation of Independent Business that represents small businesses.”

In a joint statement David Levine, CEO of the American Sustainable Business Council, and Frank Knapp Jr., co-chair of the American Sustainable Business Council, gives the following comment.

“The time has come for all politicians to stop using the National Federation of Independent Business as the only representative of small business. Hundreds of thousands of small business leaders believe that we must move beyond partisan politics and appoint the next Supreme Court judge now.  When a business loses a CEO, we move quickly to replace him or her. Too many important issues for business and the economy rest on having a full Supreme Court, so we implore Congress to act now.”

An earlier statement from the American Sustainable Business Council is below.

“America faces a number of structural challenges, from rising inequality to falling productivity, from climate change to dysfunctional political and civic institutions. These questions need to be answered so we can preserve what is best about the power of markets while addressing the growing problems in our current system. Many of those questions are coming to the Supreme Court, and it is essential that we have a court that can make decisions that will stand as precedent.

“Our view is that the American people, in electing Senators and a President, have made their views known. We believe they can – and should – continue to do so during the nomination process. But for the sake of solving these pressing issues facing the business community, we call on the Senate to begin the nomination process required under the Constitution, give the President’s nominee a fair hearing, and ultimately, cast an up-or-down vote.

 

“At this time we do not take a position on Judge Garland as a nominee. As with many other observers, we hope to learn more about his positions on crucial issues like the environment, campaign finance, and others in open, public hearings. However, it is clear to us that the Constitution requires action from the President and the Senate when a seat on any court is vacant. A seat on the Supreme Court is vacant. It must be filled.”