In January 2015, the U.S. debt reached $18.1 trillion dollars,¹ forcing our total national debt to twice the amount it was in 2008. According to the 2012 Board of Trustees Report for Social Security and Medicare, the Social Security Trust Fund is expected to be exhausted in 2033 and the Medicare Trust Fund by 2026. Government spending, especially mandatory spending, continues to rise and our nation’s job creators should not be saddled with the burden of continuing to pay for Washington’s fiscal irresponsibility. Our nation’s small businesses are calling on Congress to fix this dangerous situation without damaging economic growth or raising taxes on job creators. NFIB members are greatly concerned about how this fiscal threat will affect their bottom line.
Small-business owners are also worried about the consequences of ignoring the nation’s fiscal trajectory. Future generations will be faced with higher debt and interest payments, increased tax rates and fewer investment opportunities if policy measures to address the debt are not taken immediately. Tomorrow’s entrepreneurs deserve an economy that provides them with every opportunity to grow.
•Based on the current projections for our fiscal outlook, business investment and capital formation—two components of a strong economy—will be significantly diminished.
•A vibrant small business sector cannot thrive in a business climate of high taxes and interest rates.