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Representative Mary Bono Speaks to Alliance Members
Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-CA 45th) is a member of the prominent House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over issues such as energy, telecommunications and health care. A strong advocate for small business and continued economic growth, Congresswoman Bono has received numerous awards from multiple organizations.
Small businesses have long been the backbone of our nation’s economy. Keeping these businesses competitive demands a framework conducive to business – one that provides sound tax policy, incentives, and the freedom American business owners need. A healthy environment for the self-employed and small-business owners includes extended tax relief measures, affordable health care options and incentives to increase productivity and development.
It is worth noting that small businesses employ about half of the American workforce and create two out of every three new jobs. Women and minorities are especially making enormous headway in business. In fact, women own over a quarter of all businesses, a number that is continually growing. It is critical that Congress recognizes this and works to foster an environment that encourages Americans to start, build and expand their businesses.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND TAX RELIEF
When it comes to government regulations and taxes, small businesses pay more than their fair share. This simply must change. Firms with fewer than 20 employees spend 67 percent more per employee on tax compliance than their larger counterparts, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Reducing these unnecessary burdens would give entrepreneurs an edge in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
American tax policy should promote economic growth by allowing Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money. For this reason, I support legislation that would permanently eliminate the death tax; repeal the alternative minimum tax (AMT); ban state and local taxation of Internet and discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce; provide tax deductions for dependent care; and assist individuals facing barriers to the workforce through tax credits – all issues that I have worked hard on since coming to Congress.
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
Access to affordable health care continues to be one of the top concerns facing small businesses and their employees. A startling 45 million Americans are uninsured, and nearly 60 percent of those are employed by small businesses. High premiums and excessive administrative costs tend to thwart small businesses from providing health insurance to their employees. For this reason, I support legislation to help employers consolidate their resources to bring affordable health care to their employees through association health care plans.
Additionally, I joined my colleagues in introducing the Healthy Workforce Act, which will provide tax incentives to businesses for offering onsite health and wellness programs for their employees. This legislation targets primarily smaller and mid-sized companies that would otherwise have difficulty making the initial investment needed to support such programs. Employer spending on health promotion and chronic disease prevention is a good investment for our nation's economy and our nation's health. By keeping workers healthy in the first place, employers and employees benefit from reduced health care costs and increased quality of life.
The continued success of small businesses is essential to the future growth of the American economy.
In a healthy business environment, more Americans can start new businesses, develop their ideas and create more jobs. This is critical to ensure a bright economic future for our small businesses and, ultimately, our nation.
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Representative Duncan Hunter Speaks to Alliance Members
Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA), a Republican candidate for President, is well-known for his efforts to strengthen our nation’s defenses, enforce our borders and promote the best interests of American taxpayers.
After being elected to Congress in 1980, Congressman Hunter committed himself to advancing a fiscally conservative agenda, including lower taxes and greater economic freedom for American families.
As we celebrate the start of a new year, we often look back on the events of the past year and create hopes and expectations for the future. As we reflect on the 110th Congress and its decisions over the last year, we can only hope that the new year will bring a new direction and with it, the leadership the American people deserve.
Advancing policies that promote economic security and freedom must remain one of our top legislative priorities over the next year. While Republican pro-growth policies have been successful in strengthening and moving our economy forward, American families are still having difficulties managing the increased costs of education and health care, in addition to keeping pace with rising gasoline and home-heating prices.
This is particularly difficult to understand when we are experiencing one of the longest periods of job growth on record, wages and income continue rising, and the unemployment rate remains low. To put it simply, the agenda of taxation and regulation is having a harmful effect on American families, the competitiveness of our workforce and the vitality of small businesses across the country.
One of the first legislative initiatives proposed by the 110th Congress in 2007 was an increase in the minimum wage. While a wage increase for qualified workers is easily justified, it should not come at the expense of small-business owners and existing employees. It was only at the persistence of House Republicans that the minimum wage measure enacted into law included some relief and protections for small-business owners. Our proposed alternative would have rightfully offset any wage increase with tax and regulatory relief for small businesses, while also allowing employers to voluntarily join together to offer health care coverage at lower costs.
Congress also missed the opportunity to provide small-business owners greater protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All across the country, business owners are being targeted with frivolous and costly lawsuits by predatory lawyers and plaintiffs for personal gain. Although many business owners are continuously upgrading their facilities in order to comply with ADA standards, they usually don’t learn about their non-compliance until a lawsuit is filed. It is important that we reform the ADA over the next year, to ensure compliance is stressed over punishment and business owners are afforded sufficient opportunities to meet these ever-changing requirements.
The future and promise of the Republican Party, as well as the future of our nation, rests with honest, hardworking Americans and small businesses. As President, I will aggressively work to protect the economic interests of American families and the small-business community, fighting against harmful and unnecessary tax increases, and burdensome regulations. This is a commitment I have maintained as a member of Congress for more than 25 years and one that I will continue to uphold as President.
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