Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/414216
19 Oil Prophets that is important to retailers, it won't have the effect it would have if they hear from 10 different owners plus a wholesaler or a jobber back in their district." The representation that P&CMA enjoys in Montgomery is valuable in order to stay abreast of legislation and to know what bills are favorable are good for business and the economy. Senator Orr believes it is important for the Association to alert members to weigh in. "You need that set of people watching very closely what's going on in the legislature and of course, Washington." To Senator Orr, our Association magazine is a very important tool to show legislators that we exist. He says, "It's important that the P&CMA be as visible as possible on a multitude of fronts. Your magazine puts your message in front of legislators and policy makers – they know you are out there and you have enough members to warrant a publication. It puts you on a different level than some other organizations." Steve Clouse, Representative from the 93rd District (Dale and Houston Counties) is a third generation jobber. His great grandfather purchased a Sinclair station in the late 1930s, and his father was President of Alabama Independent Oilman's Association in the late 1970s. The family experienced the trials and tribulations all oil jobbers experienced during the oil crunch of the 1970s. When Clouse was in high school, stations started moving towards self-serve, and it was his job to teach customers to pump their own gas. In the early 1980s, the family bought an Amoco distributorship and became an Amoco jobber, then became brokers of used oil in the transformer oil business. Representative Clouse vividly remembers the hardships suffered by small oil jobbers due to EPA mandatory requirements for underground storage tanks. As Chairman of the Ways & Means General Fund, Clouse is aware of the many challenges the petroleum industry faces. He speaks highly of P&CMA. Our Association enjoys a very good reputation at the state house, and we are very effective in what we do. Petroleum Marketers have traditionally been very active in their communities – in churches, civic clubs and local government, and are an integral part of the political process." "Legislators look at several things: what do the people back home need, what are the constituents saying, and how do they feel." Clouse believes that, because of our past history with the legislature, plus community involvement from so many of our members, legislators listen to our members when we call. The legislators know that we have our ears to the ground and know what the issues are in our communities and in our businesses. In addition to serving in the legislature, Clouse is still involved in the family business and serves as Vice President of Clouse Oil Company. "I'm keenly aware of the problems that oil jobbers face, and I have a pretty good background of knowing what the oil business is all about," says Clouse. He understands the many issues that small businesses face, dealing with regulations and employees. "Oil companies and convenience stores are so labor-intensive and have so many regulations put in to cover health and environmental issues." He believes that we risk going overboard and putting people out of business by over-regulating. "You end up defeating your purpose." Representative Clouse and Senator Orr are sometimes on opposite sides of an issue but often find themselves on the same side of issues dealing with our industry. As Representative Clouse says, "In the gas business we have so many challenges that hit from all different directions." He and Senator Orr are in constant communication with each other - particularly when the legislature is in session. "We work well with each other. We work to make sure one doesn't surprise the other with something unexpected. We can't always be on the same page, but we try to be pretty close."