Letter to Santa: I want members of Congress willing to help small business
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Dear Santa,
I've been good all year. My list is different this year; I don't need more toys or dolls. I need your help with big things for small business.
First, I want members of Congress who remember they work for us. They seem like they don't listen anymore. When the SMC Business Councils went to Washington last spring and visited members of the Pennsylvania delegation, we asked for help to unleash the power of small business. Small business can create the jobs needed to solve soaring unemployment if only they would give us a hand. Instead we are threatened with the prospects of job-killing policies. Can you please ask them to listen to us?
Second, small businesses are having a very difficult time borrowing money. Creditworthy small businesses are closing every day. Members of Congress helped Wall Street, which caused all the problems in the first place, but when it comes to Main Street all they seem to do is pat us on the back and thank us very nicely for being the engine of job growth. Help with our credit and financing needs is desperately needed so we can hire workers and stay afloat. Maybe you can look into this for me.
Third, I don't know what they are doing with health-care reform. Have they lost sight of the goal? I thought the purpose was to make health care more affordable since rising costs make it difficult for small employers to provide coverage to employees. The Congressional Budget Office analysis of the Senate bill predicted little effect on premium costs for those in the small-group market. Will health care be more expensive for small businesses and will we be buried by paperwork, new taxes and "play or pay" mandates? Could you please ask Sen. Harry Reid about all of this when you get a chance?
Fourth, I am concerned about several pieces of labor legislation. The inappropriately named Employee Free Choice Act baffles me. Doing away with the secret ballot in forming unions has to be one of the most outrageous acts since the British Parliament slapped a tax on tea in 1767. Why would they want to let federal negotiators come into a company to work out an employee contract? That's my job. See what you can find out about this.
Now Congress wants to have five to seven days of mandatory paid sick leave for small companies. In this economy many small businesses are working just to keep the doors open. Mandates like this create a whole new set of administrative burdens and make it that much harder to operate and earn a profit. Don't they think I know how to run my business?
Santa, I hope you can get me a few answers to the items on my list. I can't wait to hear from you.
Merry Christmas, Eileen
First Published December 22, 2009 12:00 am
