Pub. 14 2015-2016 Issue 3

N E W J E R S E Y C O A L I T I O N O F A U T O M O T I V E R E T A I L E R S 7 new jersey auto retailer W W W . N J C A R . O R G NADA Director’s MESSAGE | BY MARCY H. MAGUIRE The National Automobile Dealers Association was formed in 1917 when a small group of auto dealers came to Washington, D.C., and successfully lobbied Congress against a proposed luxury tax on automobiles. And for nearly 100 years, NADA has been advocating fiercely for new-car dealers on Capitol Hill. However, the work of NADA’s legislative and lobbying staff cannot be done alone. The nation’s 16,500 dealerships – which provide and support more than 2.2 million private-sector jobs totaling $144 billion in employee compensation – need to engage and support the auto retailing industry’s grassroots efforts in congressional districts across the country by building long-term relationships with elected officials. There are many members of Congress who do not understand how an auto dealership operates, despite purchasing vehicles for their families and their campaigns. When elected officials learn and understand the retail-auto industry, they become better informed about how their decisions in Washington affect the ability of dealers to invest and grow their businesses. And when future public policy issues arise, they can rely on those relationships to consult with local dealers. One of the most effective ways to build a re- lationship is to invite a member of Congress to the dealership and meet with employees to discuss the industry’s legislative priorities. To assist dealers in building these important relationships,NADApublished the brochure, “3 Easy Steps to Making the Grassroots Connection,”which provides quick and easy instructions on how to get started. One of the best times to schedule a dealer- ship visit is during congressional recess breaks when members of Congress are working in their home districts andmeeting with constituents. For more information about inviting a member of Congress to your dealership, contact Patrick Calpin, NADA Director of Grassroots Advocacy, at 202.547.5500 or pcalpin@nada.org or visit www.nada.org/grassroots. NewVideo: Dealer-AssistedFinancing Benefits Consumers To better inform elected officials and opin- ion leaders about the true economic value of dealer-assisted financing for consumers, NADA has produced a new video with stories of real car buyers who saved money by financing their new-vehicle purchases through local dealerships. To view the video with your elected officials, visit www.nada. org/autofinance. Grassroots Advocacy – Getting Involved Makes a Difference