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AWMA Launches State Government Affairs Initiative
Elizabeth Louise Hatt
January 1, 2018
2 Min Read
The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) has launched an initiative to provide members with information and the ability to take action on state governmental developments that affect their businesses and the convenience distribution industry. The initiative has two key components, explained Anne Holloway, vice president of government affairs:
The appointment of Dirk Smith as the AWMA’s first-ever director of state government affairs. A veteran government relations professional, Smith is founder of Campaign Finance Solutions Group and has expertise in lobbying and federal election compliance, political action committee management and government relations.
The launching of a new online AWMA State Advocacy Center on the AWMA website, www.awmanet.org, which tracks key legislation in all 50 states and includes a State Action Center, where AWMA members can stay abreast of major developments and quickly and easily communicate with the appropriate public officials.
"This new, interactive website portal allows AWMA to better promote our grassroots efforts in the states where our industry is facing so many challenges,” says Holloway. “This new initiative will go a long way towards furthering distributors interests across the country." She said that Smith, with his expertise and in-depth knowledge of government relations issues “will be a tremendous asset” to AWMA’s government affairs program. Smith has held a variety of positions on and off Capitol Hill, including work as executive director for Sen. Trent Lott’s campaign and leadership PAC. While the portal tracks scores of issues important to convenience distributors, it highlights four that are especially critical to member companies:
State efforts to increase the minimum wage.
Proposed excise tobacco taxes.
Legislation regulating and restricting e-cigarettes and related products.
The need for uniform reporting standards for distributors through the Federation of Tax Administrators.
“AWMA’s State Advocacy Center will be a powerful tool for our members to track legislation and issues at the state level,” says Smith. “The Center also gives us a dynamic platform to engage our governors and state legislators on the issues of importance to our industry, and I look forward to using its capabilities to assist our members.”
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