Fighting for Small Business Owners in a Difficult Economy

Congressman Ron Klein (D–FL 22nd) has been serving the people of South Florida for more than fifteen years, first in the state legislature, and now, in the U.S. Congress. He is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a moderate group of U.S. Representatives which maintain a focus on business development and economic growth.

In today’s difficult economic climate, our small business owners are critical to keeping South Florida moving.

We in Congress are fighting hard for real relief for those who have been affected by the economic downturn, and we successfully passed a bipartisan economic stimulus package that eases the tax burden on small business owners who invest in equipment this year, doubling the amount they can immediately write off their taxes for these investments from $125,000 to $250,000.

The economic stimulus package was an important first step, but there is still much more to be done. This week, the Financial Services Committee, on which I sit, will meet to discuss a variety of proposals to strengthen our economy. We will, of course, address the crisis facing homeowners across the country, but we will also look for common-sense solutions for small-business owners feeling the pinch.

We have to get our economy back on track. Skyrocketing prices for everyday items, from gasoline to groceries, are a tremendous burden on small-business owners, and in today’s economy, any extra expense can be make-or-break for families and businesses.

The entrepreneurs who run small businesses are not looking for handouts, and it is not the role of government to provide a massive bailout. But if Washington is willing to consider assistance for large Wall Street companies, they must also be willing to work for real solutions for small-business owners.

It was a pleasure to participate in last month’s Alliance Legislative Event, the Small Business Symposium, along with my colleague Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and I am grateful to the Alliance for Affordable Services for hosting that event. I look forward to working with the Alliance, and its members, in the coming weeks as we fight to get our economy moving again.