FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 1, 2012
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
It’s Time to Reinvigorate Small Business
From The Fairfax Times
By George Allen
January 31, 2012
Traveling throughout Virginia I have had the privilege to listen to many true job creators – the small business owners of Virginia. They are our country’s innovators and the future of our economy and I have deep admiration for their courage and optimistic spirit.
But whether they are from Clarksville or Manassas, Bristol or Chesapeake, or Winchester to Virginia Beach have heard similar concerns that the federal government has become an obstacle to Virginia’s small businesses.
The three years since President Obama took office have not been good to the families and small businessmen and women of Virginia.
Washington’s explosive government spending and borrowing binge has swelled the national debt to a shocking $15.2 trillion. This irresponsible behavior undermines our economy and led to the downgraded creditworthiness of our country for the first time in U.S. history.
The President’s counterproductive energy policies have contributed to the high price of gasoline which has risen from an average of $1.85 in January 2009 to $3.39 today. That translates to an extra $25 to $30 out of the pocket of Virginia families each and every time they fill up their gas tank. And the higher gasoline prices are having a real impact on businesses engaged in tourism, the food industry, shipping, farming, and especially families that live in the suburbs and rural areas.
The Obama Administration has pushed thousands of costly regulations and imposed project labor agreements labor contract requirements that direct federal contracts to unionized companies, of which few are small businesses.
Washington’s most egregious over-reach is the new government-controlled health care law. Obamacare comes up in conversations everywhere I go.
Small business leaders say that the uncertainties and costs associated with Obamacare’s regulations and mandates are hampering or will impede their ability to hire and expand their businesses.
Given this record, it is not surprising that small businesses – which in good times create 70 percent of all jobs in America – has lost 2.5 million jobs under President Obama’s watch. Nor is it surprising that our nation has seen 35 consecutive months of unemployment above 8 percent since Mr. Obama became President. After all, American small business is the best job creation machine but the policies coming out of Washington have thrown up barriers and damaged their ability to create new jobs.
Small business is so crucial to our nation’s strength and prosperity. Therefore, I believe we must and can work together in Washington to get America creating jobs again.
By focusing on the vitality of small business, we can reinvigorate the entrepreneurial spirit of America. Gone will be obstacles, interference, and crippling costs. In their place, we will have positive tax, reasonable regulatory, productive energy, and empowering education policies that will give Americans a competitive advantage for jobs, investment, and prosperity. …
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