Small Business Majority Releases Economic Agenda Policymakers Should Follow to Help Small Businesses, Economy Thrive

Sept. 16, Washington, D.C.̢??‰?? Today, Small Business Majority released its Economic Agenda for America̢??‰?s Future, a set of short and long-term policy recommendations government leaders can follow to ensure an environment where entrepreneurs, and our economy, can thrive. The Agenda outlines things Washington can do to bolster small business ̢??‰?? including simple actions that can be taken during the next few months.

The recommendations range from action on taxes, access to capital, infrastructure, healthcare, immigration, minimum wage, workforce training, clean energy and exports, and are all tied to creating economic opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

̢???We hear a lot about how small business is the backbone of the economy, but lately that saying has become a feel-good bromide lawmakers use to check a box on the campaign trail̢??‰۝not something guiding their economic agendas,̢???? said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority. ̢???The truth is small businesses aren̢??‰?t just the backbone of our economy, they̢??‰?re its foundation, and to put our economy back on track we need policies that put small business at the center. The Economic Agenda for America̢??‰?s Future outlines policies that will strengthen the economy and its base, small businesses.̢????

Small businesses represent 99 percent of employer firms, employ half of all private sector employees and pay around 40 percent of U.S. private sector payroll. Small businesses and entrepreneurs have long been America̢??‰?s engine for job growth and today more jobs are created by small businesses and the self-employed than any other way in America.

̢???Nonetheless, Washington, when it̢??‰?s able to get anything done at all, persists with policies that favor large corporations over Main Street. And, too often small business is perceived as just another interest group, not the key to our long-term economic success and security,̢???? Arensmeyer said. ̢???Worse, small business is often hijacked to justify policies that have no benefit to, and in some cases actually harm, the real needs of America̢??‰?s entrepreneurs. This is made even worse by a Washington so paralyzed by partisanship that even those trying to enact pragmatic policies are thwarted by the oppression of inaction.̢????

The Agenda outlines things Washington can do over the next couple months that will create greater opportunity for entrepreneurs, which include:

• The president can take executive action to allow more legal immigrants into the United States to ensure small businesses have access to skilled workers, at both the high and low skill level.
• The Securities and Exchange Commission can release final rules for crowdfunding (after having spent more than two years deliberating on them) to provide small businesses more opportunities to get capital and investment in the growth of their businesses.
• Health and Human Services can make sure the online small business insurance marketplaces work on Nov. 15 (after being delayed for a year) so small business owners and their employees have greater access to affordable coverage.
• Congress can pass a long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, not an extension of a few months, to ensure small businesses (for whom nearly 90 percent of its transactions were for in 2013) have the ability to compete for customers in the global market.

The list of things Washington can do to help small business over the next two years is even greater. To read the full agenda visit http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/economic-agenda/.

For an executive summary of the report, visit http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/economic-agenda/downloads/Economic-Agenda-2014-Executive-Summary.pdf.