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News
Release
For more
information contact:
John Satagaj, President & General Counsel
(202) 639-8500 or
email@sblc.org
December 12, 2008
SMALL BUSINESS WILL
LEAD THE WAY TO OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY
WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Small businesses will lead the nation
back to a healthy economy if we give them the opportunity to
do so,” said Steve Slagle (President and CEO of the
Promotional Products Association International), Chairman of
the Board of the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC).
“The SBLC Board of Directors has identified our priorities
for 2009 and at the top of the list are stimulus
recommendations that will allow small businesses to do what
they do best –create jobs.”
Slagle continued, “SBLC supports an immediate significant
investment in infrastructure as the cornerstone of a
stimulus package. This has been a long time priority for
SBLC and we believe it is a win-win situation; jobs in the
short term and needed improvements to our infrastructure,
upon which small businesses rely, for the long term.
Second, we would support the expansion of the first-time
homebuyers’ tax credit to include all homebuyers, to
increase the amount of the credit and to make mortgages
available at low rates. Significant segments of the small
business sector rely on a vibrant home-ownership policy.
Finally, we think a policy of encouraging small businesses
to invest in their futures by increasing and making
permanent the direct expensing allowance for new equipment
and machinery, known as Section 179, will help.”
“Our second priority is to make certain tax policies help
and not harm small businesses. To that end, it is time to
make estate tax relief permanent. We support the adoption
of the highest exemption possible, indexed for inflation.
Second, small businesses that do business as sole
proprietorships, partnerships or S Corporations, should not
be assessed any more than the current 35 percent rate on
their business income. Third, we believe, notwithstanding
the current economic difficulties, that we should not
abandon the principles of the private pension incentive
system. Fourth, we remain committed to ensuring efforts to
close the “tax gap” are not unfairly burdensome on small
business. Finally, we believe independent contractors are
an important segment of the small business community and we
should not penalize the entrepreneurial spirit of America,”
Slagle stated.
Slagle continued, “Our third priority is health care
reform. We look forward to working with President-elect
Obama and the new Congress to find solutions that will allow
small business owners to obtain health care coverage for
themselves and their employees at affordable prices.”
Slagle concluded, “We have been surprised by the fact that
notably absent from much of the discussion to date
surrounding economic recovery are the words ‘small
business.’ Time and time again throughout our economic
history, small business has proven its worth as job creator,
innovator, and local economy stabilizer. If we want to get
the economy going, it is time to think small business.”
The Small Business Legislative Council is a
permanent, independent coalition of over 60 trade and
professional associations that share a common commitment to
the future of small business. Our members represent the
interests of small businesses in such diverse economic sectors
as manufacturing, retailing, distribution, professional and
technical services, construction, transportation, and
agriculture. Our policies are developed through a consensus
among our membership. Individual associations may express
their own views.
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