Small Businesses Deserve a Bigger Voice in Congress

The comedian Rodney Dangerfield was famous for complaining, “I don’t get no respect.” The same could be said for small business owners.

Small businesses are the largest sector of the U.S. economy, responsible for 55 percent of our Gross Domestic Product. Here in the Third Congressional District of Illinois, they make up the overwhelming majority of local businesses.

Yet, most of the focus in Washington is on helping large corporations – probably because small businesses lack the campaign money and lobbyists to influence legislators. During his 12 years in Congress, our own representative has largely ignored them.

As a small businesswoman, I know the struggles facing this vital part of our economy. That’s why I’ve authored a 3-point plan for how Washington can help.

First, we need to loosen current constraints on how much our community banks can lend to small businesses, so they can obtain the capital they need to scale up their operations.

Second, we need to reduce the tax burden on small businesses, paid for by closing loopholes that Congress hands out to giant corporations in response to their lobbyists and millions in campaign money.

Third, we need to promote programs and curriculums in our community colleges and training centers that teach entrepreneurship and how to create and grow small businesses. A modest federal investment in such programs will be more than paid for through the increased tax revenues generated by the higher wages that successful small businesses can pay their employees.

If we can implement these simple ideas, we will help communities grow and small business will be enabled to increase wages.

Too often, government responds to big corporations with clout and connections instead of the startups and small businesses that provide most of our new jobs. It’s time that the little guys (and gals) had a much bigger voice in Washington.

Please share your thoughts and ideas with me at: marienewmanforcongress.com.