OUTSIDE THE BIG BOX

[...]the erosion of traditional, employer-provided health care makes government subsidies for health benefits more essential than ever. The United States, with its two-party system, lacks both a dedicated business party to unify diverse corporate interests and a strong labor movement in opposition to which industries might be motivated to resolve their differences. In 2004, NFIB endorsed 265 Republican candidates and only 4 Democrats, and 95 percent of its political action committee's substantial donations went to the Republicans. Because of this alliance with the Republican Party, support for more active state policies is risky, although the recent shift of power in Congress-as well as a change in the leadership of NFIB itself-has led the organization to pursue alliances with moderate Democrats. [...]NFIB obtains political clout by relying on members' expressed preferences: policy positions are based on national member ballots and state surveys, which are made available to legislators.