We're spending lots of time and energy on health reform. It's a big story. This month's cover gives you an inside look at how your interests are represented and advanced up on Capitol Hill. This is your team. You own it. But do you support it?
Do you know the players? Do you go to the games? Do you track the stats?
Some of you do, undoubtedly. But many more of you don't. Maybe you're not worried about health reform. Maybe you just object to lobbying. Then again, maybe you need to take a look at your priorities, bumping industry preservation up a notch or two.
While not surprising, it's still heartening to hear that the industry's major trade groups meet weekly to coordinate activities, schedules and messages. There's not enough time, talent and money to duplicate efforts. To that end, the four groups - CIAB, NAHU, the Big "I", and AHIA - are jointly sponsoring a fly-in on July 15. Brokers and advisers from all across the country are being asked, nay exhorted, to scale the Capitol steps and let lawmakers know what American workers need in order to be more productive, healthier and more financially secure.
A quick word of warning. It's damn near impossible to avoid feeling patriotism's pull when you do something like that. Embrace it. I live in the city and every time I do a lap on the national mall or climb Lincoln's steps I get the bumps. I get the sense that I'm part of something great and I can contribute to its health and vitality. That is, if I choose to.
But I'm no benefits adviser. That's a group that can really move the needle. It's their job, if they're progressive enough to see it this way, to improve the physical and financial standing of working Americans. By doing that they are simply fixing America.
The American worker needs help with its waist line and its bottom line. Fortunately, there is a class of trained and qualified professionals ready to lend a hand. One question remains though, will they?
I'm going to stop, hopefully before I turn mawkish. I do have two requests. Borrowing from NAHU's HIU Magazine, I'm offering a special prize to the first person that e-mails a picture of a benefits adviser reading this issue as they make their way to D.C. for the fly-in. Second request, look us up while you're in town. Call or just stop by. We want to see you.
