After a few lighthearted comments about the virtues of fly-fishing in Colorado and the perspective of the fish–catch and release is his preference—Gov. Bill Ritter, dropping by a suburban Denver tackle shop today, touted the virtues of small business. The governor was on hand to congratulate Arvada small-business owner Charlie Craven for receiving the Angler of the Year Award in 2009 from American Angler magazine.
Craven’s business, Charlie’s Fly Box, located in Olde Towne Arvada, specializes in hand-tied flies and is packed with a massive assortment of fly-fishing gear. Craven said he has also received affirmation in the form of customers, such as the governor, who have frequented his 5 ½ year-old retail shop even throughout the economic downturn. Craven said business is better than ever.
“Last year was our best year yet even in the down economy, and this year is shaping up to be better than last year,” said Craven.
Today’s event was attended by Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, Sen. Moe Keller, D-Wheat Ridge, and local officials as well as friends and family members of Craven. Ritter began his remarks with an observation made by Gagliardi.
“Sara Gagliardi was right when she said this state is a poster child for small businesses. Over 50 percent of people in Colorado work for what is defined as a small business,” said Ritter. “We know we’ve been in a downturn–this has been a very tough time and we’ve tried every way we can in state government to try and assist small businesses through this downturn.”
The governor’s remarks on small business, delivered to the folks gathered at the small retailer’s storefront this morning, contrasted sharply with what some members of the business community had to say just days after the 2010 legislative session adjourned.
“The business community believes that this is the worst legislative session that we have ever seen for small business and for business in general,” said Tony Gagliardi (no relation to Sara Gagliardi), state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, last May. That sentiment was echoed by Dan Pilcher, Senior Vice President of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, who observed, “Without a doubt this has been the most difficult session in the last 12 years.”
Their remarks were aimed at efforts by ruling Democrats to balance the state’s budget through the elimination of tax credits and exemptions for businesses —a total of $231 million over the next two years–which Ritter signed into law.
Ritter, when asked today about the contrast, said that NFIB and CACI were simply engaging in partisan politics.
“They have a disconnect from reality, and they’re very partisan. We’ve tried to work with CACI and the NFIB but, quite frankly, they’ve been difficult to partner with,” said Ritter.
Reached for a response, Gagliardi said he finds the governor’s comments offensive and perplexing, especially in light of times when his organization has worked in tandem with the governor’s office.
“I take offense to the fact that he is calling us partisan. It’s very unfortunate that the governor would choose those words. A year ago he was complimenting the NFIB on our partnership,” said Gagliardi. “I find it interesting that when an organization disagrees with the administration, they’re accused of being partisan, non-cooperative, and unwilling to look at alternatives. It’s really unfortunate that the administration has allowed that tone to surface,” said Gagliardi.
Ritter maintains that his policy decisions are grounded in a desire to create a business environment conducive to long-term viability and that he takes the NFIB and CACI assessments of his policies with a grain of salt.
“From my perspective, what we have done has been about driving policy that can make businesses sustainable in the 21st century,” said Ritter. “They (the NFIB and CACI) want to elect someone that will always do their bidding and have no real intellectual curiosity about what we need to do to move this state forward and what we really need to do for small businesses that is progressive,” said Ritter.
Ritter said that he found more common ground with Colorado Concern and chambers of commerce from around the state, saying, “There are many instances where I think they allowed substance to trump any kind of partisan politics and just try and do the right thing.”
Gagliardi says he is doing the right thing—for his members, who, Gagliardi says, are ultimately responsible for a healthy economy.
“My role as state director is to represent my membership–not carry water for an administration or one party or the other,” said Gagliardi. “Governments do not make businesses sustainable, the market does.”
Craven, for his part, says he doesn’t really have a dog in the fight.
“All the stuff that may have affected small business is well up above us. We’re a very small business. A lot of that just didn’t affect us,” said Craven. “As a business owner, I don’t really worry about what everyone else does, I worry about what I do. There’s always something to complain about. I don’t really pay any attention to it.”