- Vince Phillips and I visited the
Capitol on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Our purpose was to
visit the State Senate and introduce me as the new PAHU
Legislative Chairman. At the same time, of course, we hoped to
build relationships, and monitor issues of concern to the
Pennsylvania Association of Health Underwriters.
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- Although both Houses were in
session, the atmosphere was markedly different from our previous
visit in October. It was almost quiet. Gone were the throngs of
people. There was no line at the Cafeteria. Most folks
apparently were too busy with their holiday preparations to
bother visiting the legislature. There were a few small
demonstrations—one by a trade union group, another by a man
claiming to represent “Pennsylvanians Harmed by Coal”—but
no one paid much attention.
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- The absence of citizenry made it
easier to spot the lobbyists. Nicely tailored suits and
topcoats; all business; cruising the halls. They represented
groups such as the telecommunications industry, pharmaceutical
interests, Workmen’s Compensation Insurance, and so on. Of
course, your PAHU representatives were there!
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- Lobbyists do a great job of
representing their interest groups, but they can’t do it
alone. They need the support of their citizen constituencies to
get their message across with power.
Legislators respond to those voters who are interested
enough in issues to go to the legislature, visit the
Representatives and Senators in their offices, and express their
views in person. People who don’t stand up and speak for
themselves should not be surprised if laws are passed that are
harmful to their interests. They have only themselves to blame.
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- I
realize that PAHU members have businesses to run. But we owe it
to ourselves to speak out on issues of concern. Please join the
PAHU Board on February 18th for PAHU Day on the Hill.
It is one of the best investments in your business that you
could make. Ask any member of your chapter who has attended in
the past—they will verify how empowering, exhilarating, and
personally rewarding the Day on the Hill can be. Contact any
member of the Legislative Committee (Bill Carlton, Bill Daggett,
Bob Fountain, Tom Link, Tracy McCormick, Doug Moore, or Bill
Raab) for details. Then complete the ‘Day on the Hill’
registration form at www.PAHU.org,
or the one printed in this magazine. See you there.