Press Releases

President Obama Kicks Off White House Main Street Tour While Continuing His Anti-Business Agenda

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Washington, D.C., December 3, 2009 | Angela Landers ((202) 226-1581) | comments

Tomorrow, President Obama will visit Allentown, Pennsylvania to kick off a White House Main Street Tour that will take him across the country to speak about ideas for economic recovery.  Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) of the House Small Business Committee released the following statement: 

I appreciate the President’s attempt to reach out to business owners on Main Street.  However, after ten months of his anti-business agenda, small business owners do not have confidence to hire workers and are unable to get the capital they need.  A recent survey found that small business owners’ confidence has plummeted and they expect economic conditions for them to get worse in the next six months.  If President Obama is serious about helping small businesses, then he should veto any health care bill that adds more taxes and mandates on Main Street, refuse to sign any cap and trade bill that kills jobs, and encourage Congress to act on the three long-pending trade agreements.

By the Numbers – Job Loss and the Current Small Businesses Climate in Pennsylvania:

236,775

Pennsylvania relies on more than 236,775 small businesses to provide employment. (Source: Small Business Administration 2008 Pennsylvania Profile)

10,300

In September alone, Pennsylvania lost 10,300 jobs according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

9.1%

Allentown presently has a 9.1% unemployment rate. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

8.8%

Pennsylvania currently has an 8.8 % unemployment rate, almost double the unemployment rate at the start of the recession in December 2007. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

62.2%

 According to the 2009 Keystone Business Climate Survey, when small business owners were asked if they thought business conditions in Pennsylvania were better, the same, or worse than they were six months ago, 62.2% said worse. (Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc)

81.2%       

In the same survey, 81.2% of Pennsylvania small business owners said they had a negative view of President Obama. (Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc)

88.2%

88.2% of Pennsylvania’s small business owners do not feel that the economy has recovered to the point where they plan to hire over the coming three months. (Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc)

 

Recommendations from Ranking Member Graves to Help Small Business Owners:

 Repeal the estate tax so small businesses can continue to grow from generation to generation.

 Make the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent to enable small companies to purchase equipment and hire workers.  Failure to do so would result in a massive tax increase for small businesses.

 Cut government spending.  Ballooning federal deficits have negative long-term implications by driving up interest rates and increasing taxes on small firms.

 Pass a health care bill that does not increase taxes or impose new mandates on small businesses. Legislation that allows firms to pool together would increase competition, reduce costs and expand access.

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