Issue Position: Small Business

Issue Position

I have tremendous respect for our small business owners. Every small business is different, and every small business owner faces his or her own unique challenges. By putting the big banks and big corporations ahead of small businesses, Washington makes it harder for our small businesses to succeed, thrive and grow. So what can we do?

- Jobs. There's an old saying: "we all do better when we all do better." We must start by putting Americans back to work. More Americans working means more customers for our small businesses, and more customers means more growth. That is why it is so important that we get people back to work right now. The three jobs bills introduced last fall that would have supported thousands of jobs here in the Commonwealth were also small business bills. When every Republican in the Senate voted against those bills, they also voted against every small business that needs more customers. We need to put people to work rebuilding our roads and bridges, upgrading our water systems, teaching our kids, and protecting our communities - earning paychecks and keeping Massachusetts growing.

- Simplifying Regulation. From Northampton to Gloucester, the small business owners I've met aren't looking for a special deal. They just want a level playing field - a fair shot at the chance to make it. I am glad Congress reauthorized the Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program last December, making funding more predictable to innovative small companies. But that's not enough. We need to streamline regulations so small business owners don't get tied up in red tape or strangled by hidden tricks and traps. We need to simplify the tax code, which is way too complicated - and rigged to create loopholes for big corporations with armies of lawyers to wiggle through. Washington works for those who can hire armies of lawyers and lobbyists, but we need for Washington to work for small businesses.

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