NFIB

President Bush Talks to Local NFIB Members About Economic Growth
06/16/2003

NEW JERSEY, June 16, 2003 -- Today, NFIB/New Jersey members Gary Hough, John M. Taylor, M.D., and John and Lois Hargreaves heard from President George W. Bush concerning economic growth and the state of the economy. The four members of the nation's largest small-business advocacy group attended the president's speech in the Garden State, which focused on small business' role in putting the nation's economy back on track.

Hough is the owner of Hough Petroleum in Ewing, Taylor is a doctor in Highlands, and the Hargreaves are the owners of Eastern Cross Polled Herefords, which is in White House Station.

"I want to herald the entrepreneurs," said Bush, talking about the importance of small businesses. "I want to say thanks to those who have taken risks. And I want to remind our fellow citizens that in order for our economy to recover we must remember the strength and the importance of the small-business owner in America.

"So I want to thank all the small-business owners who are here today. Thank you for taking risks, thank you for employing a lot of our fellow Americans," added the president, who noted that "small businesses provide most of the new jobs created in America."

The speech to Main Street business owners, which took place at the Wyndham Newark Airport Hotel, allowed President Bush to speak directly to our nation's job creators about the economy and his economic growth policy. The president delivered his remarks after visiting the Andrea Foods pasta factory, a family business in Orange.

"The president's tax stimulus and economics plan will allow small-business owners to invest more money into their businesses and create new jobs, which will improve our economy and sustain a meaningful recovery," said NFIB/New Jersey State Director Rob Tartaglia. "Our members strongly support the president's policies to strengthen the economy and empower small-business owners, and we welcome the opportunity to hear from him and receive his support."

Just a few weeks ago, 11 NFIB members joined President Bush at the White House as he signed into law the $350 billion, "Jobs and Growth Tax Act of 2003." While including provisions to help families, such as increasing the child tax credit and ending the marriage penalty, it is the acceleration of the income tax relief from his 2001 tax cut and the substantial increase in the amount small-business owners can "expense" for equipment that will really help Main Street businesses.

CONTACT: Rob Tartaglia 609.989.8777
or Mike Donohue 202.554.9000