The 51st annual International Franchise Association (IFA) convention drew 2700 franchise executives yesterday (2/14/11) to the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas, NV. Representing small businesses and entrepreneurs in over 90 different categories, which support 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic activity, the gathering of business women and men and those involved with the industry via marketing, law, and development, were treated to a keynote speech delivered by Governor Mitt Romney. He spoke on the uphill battle many small businesses are dealing with in our present business environment and political circumstance:
Romney Cites Franchise Businesses as Key to Economic Recovery, Job Growth
[...]
The theme of this year’s IFA Convention is “Building the Future Together,” and Romney, a likely 2012 Republican presidential candidate, spent much of his 40-minute speech addressing issues that hinder the ability for franchise businesses to grow and create jobs, such as the lack of permanent tax certainty, a health care law that does not control costs for employers and overregulation by government agencies.“Growing small businesses are what get us out of economic downturns,” said Romney. “Instead of creating policies in Washington that help small businesses grow, we have seen the most anti-business agenda in a lifetime.”
“Franchise businesses need more long-term certainty on tax policy and have urged lawmakers to start over and fix the health care law so it does not impose excessive costs on the backs of franchise businesses still struggling to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression,” said IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira.
“Mitt Romney’s broad and proven experience in business, government and politics provided critical insight for IFA members seeking to position their franchise organizations for growth in a continually challenging financial climate, said Caldeira. “We appreciated Governor Romney’s unique insights and perspective on the state of the American economy and global affairs.
(my emphasis)
UPDATE from Real Clear Politics: According to an IFA spokesman, Romney didn’t speak from a prepared text and fielded questions from IFA’s chairman, Ken Walker. (Romney’s ability to speak off the cuff in an engaging, intelligent, cohesive manner is not a surprise to Mittheads!)
While in Vegas, Romney also had lunch with Nevadan GOP backers and friends. A hat tip to MRC reader, Makeli, who informed us he attended the luncheon with Governor Romney:
I was privileged enough to attend the lunch with Governor Romney. He was gracious with his time and insight. He allowed for everyone to give their input on what is on Nevadans’ minds which shouldn’t be a surprise, was the economy. Mitt is the fix-it man we need.
Given that the Silver State is slated to hold a GOP caucus a year from now – after Iowa and New Hampshire vote, and that the Nevada GOP caucus is binding for 2012 – meaning that the candidate who wins the delegates will be in possession of them all the way to the Republican Convention, Romney’s continuing strong presence in Nevada is a bonus. Nevadans’ hearty approval of Romney is reflected in a recent Public Policy Poll.
► Jayde Wyatt
I was privileged enough to attend the lunch with Governor Romney. He was gracious with his time and insight. He allowed for everyone to give their input on what is on Nevadans’ minds which shouldn’t be a surprise, was the economy. Mitt is the fix-it man we need.
Thanks for writing in, Makeli, and sharing your experience! Lucky you, to have the opportunity to lunch with Mitt. Please feel free to come back and keep us informed on what’s going on in Nevada!
Brilliant!
He can garner a lot of support and money speaking to an influential group like that. I got a really good email on our contact form from someone who attended this. I asked him if I could publish his comment, just waiting to hear back from him.
we sooooo need mitt as our prez at this time in american history….sure hope all conservatives wake up and get him elected!
IMPORTANT NOTE TO MRC:
Be very careful quoting anything or including any text from the Las Vegas Review Journal. There is a con group called Righthaven that is going through the web looking for anything taken from the LVRJ website and purchasing the rights to that content. Righthaven then sues the site that has posted the content. They will not accept a simple removal of the content. Once they give notice of a suit, they will only accept being paid off. Generally, they accept a settlement in the thousands of dollars after initiating the suit for tens of thousands of dollars. Their “business model” is pure extortion, but they’ve been very successful. I am urging people to boycott Las Vegas Review Journal for its willingness to go along with this scam. Whether you boycott or not, you need to be aware that reposting any content from lvrj.com with or without a citation, puts this website at risk.
Beyond the warning about LVRJ, the other important point about this article is that Mr. Romney is laying the groundwork to flip Nevada back into the Republican column in the 2012 general election. Obviously, a GOP candidate has to win back Ohio and Florida, but picking up other states would help. Nevada is one of those states that we should be able to take with the right candidate. No one currently on the radar for the GOP nomination would be better suited than Mr. Romney to win Nevada. He has traditionally done well in western states, and he’s visited Nevada numerous times.
@Bill
That’s a good reminder. I recall reading about those lawsuits. I think Jayde’s use of LVRJ text is within the parameters of the fair use clause. They did go very vigorously after people who copied whole stories from their site. We’ll look into it just to be sure.
I’ve got to make sure blogs on Planet Romney aren’t doing that too, or I could be liable.
I believe my referencing of the LVJ article was within fair usage rights. However, I just removed the piece and replaced it with Makeli’s comment because he’s a Mitt supporter who was actually at the luncheon!
Thanks, Makeli!
We had another meeting with Mitt yesterday which was amazing and insightful as well.
@Jayde Wyatt
Hey Jayde, what’s your email?
Hi Makeli. Check your email.