Short-term DHS Funding Bill Doesn't Do Small Businesses Any Favors
Statement by Small Business Majority Founder & CEO John Arensmeyer about the short-term agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security for seven days
A short-term agreement to keep the Department of Homeland Security open for another seven days doesn't do small businesses or the economy any favors. Just the threat of entire government agencies closing up shop diminishes consumer confidence and creates uncertainty, which wreaks havoc on small businesses' bottom lines.
Holding the Department of Homeland Security's budget hostage is political gamesmanship at its worst and is exactly what small businesses dislike about the current state of politics in Washington. This is not a game to small businesses. Congress needs to stop playing politics and start working together for the good of our economy. Doing otherwise puts small businesses in jeopardy.
Small Business Majority's opinion polling found 55 percent of small business owners believe short-term shutdown tactics allow politicians to hold the economy hostage to their spending priorities.
It's time for lawmakers to end this game now and come to a long-term agreement on funding the Department of Homeland Security.
About Small Business Majority
Small Business Majority is a national small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing America's 28 million small businesses today. Since 2005, we have actively engaged small business owners and policymakers in support of public policy solutions, and have delivered information and resources to entrepreneurs that promote small business growth and drive a strong, sustainable economy. We are a team of more than 30 working from our 11 offices in Washington, D.C. and 9 states, with a network of more than 45,000 small business owners and more than 2,000 business organizations, along with a formal strategic partnership program of more than 125 business organizations, enabling us to reach more than 500,000 entrepreneurs. Our extensive scientific polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about issues including taxes, healthcare, access to capital, entrepreneurship, workforce development, clean energy and immigration. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.