BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : DECEMBER 4, 2000 ISSUE
FRONTIER -- 2000 ELECTION Small Business, Big Spender The National Federation of Independent Business, the No. 1 small-biz lobby, spent a record $8 million on congressional races. What kind of return did it get? Of the 30 candidates it backed (all GOP), 12 captured House seats and 3 won in the Senate. That's $530,000 per victory. Was it worth it? National political director Tony Likins notes that both chambers remain Republican. But he admits that Democrats' gains will make passing pro-small-biz legislation harder. ''Is it going to be a little tougher this time, without some of our good friends?'' he asks. ''Absolutely.'' Among the key losses: Senators William V. Roth Jr. (Del.) and Spencer Abraham (Mich.). But with congressional districts scheduled to be redrawn, Likins sees gains in 2002. ''You're going to see heated battles,'' he says. And, no doubt, even more lavish spending. By JULIE FIELDS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _					Contents for Dec. 4, 2000 issue RELATED ITEMS Commentary: Washington Wish List Small Business, Big Spender CHART: Americans First INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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