01/23/2007
NFIB member and employee attend State of the Union events as small-business representatives
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Dan Jones, employee of NFIB member Joe Balsarotti, usually watches the State of the Union address from the comfort of his couch. This year, he will watch from the comfort of the first lady’s viewing box at the U.S. Capitol as a guest of first lady Laura Bush. Jones is accompanied to Washington by his boss and Missouri small-business owner Joe Balsarotti, who will also attend State of the Union activities.
“Not many people get to meet the president and attend the State of the Union in their lifetime, much less their first visit to Washington, D.C.,” said 23-year-old Dan Jones of Affton, Mo. “I am proud to be a representative of all small-business employees. It shows just how important the ‘little guy’ is to President Bush and our leaders in Congress.”
As an employee of Software to Go, based in St. Peters, Mo., Jones has been a service engineer with the company for two years, acting as a technician and consultant for clients needing technology solutions. Software to Go was founded in 1983 and is owned Joe Balsarotti, who has seen continued success as a full-service technology provider because of his ability to adapt and adjust to the ever-changing technology environment. Balsarotti cites high health-care costs as one of his top concerns however, and was forced to drop insurance coverage for his employees, because of continued premium increases.
In his much-anticipated State of the Union, President Bush is expected to focus on many important small-business issues, including rising health-care costs, which has been the No. 1 issue facing small-business owners since 1986. “As someone without health insurance and currently no help available making it more accessible or affordable, this is a major problem for me,” said Jones. “I can’t afford it, but I can’t afford to live without it.” As has been reported, President Bush is expected to suggest a change in the tax code that would make it easier for individuals to purchase insurance for themselves.
“Small businesses like Software to Go look forward to real debate on these and other issues vital to their ability to continue to keep the economy growing, and making the small-business track smoother and easier to navigate,” said NFIB President and CEO Todd Stottlemyer. “Small-business issues directly impact both employers and employees, and NFIB is proud to have the needs of the small-business community represented by an NFIB member business at tonight’s State of the Union.”
Biographical Info:
Joe Balsarotti is the owner of Software to Go. He is a 21-year NFIB member who continues to be involved in state and federal advocacy efforts on behalf of small business. He is a member of the Federal Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board and is responsible for hearing small-business concerns on regulatory and compliance burdens.
Dan Jones has been with Software to Go for two years as a service engineer. He is a graduate of Gateway Institute of Technology in St. Louis, Mo. and resides in Affton, Mo.
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NFIB is the nation’s leading small-business advocacy association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small- and independent-business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system.
NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information about NFIB is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.
