01/11/2008
CONTACT: Charles Owens, 517-485-3409 or Jason Brewer, 202-406-4435
LANSING, Mich. -- All or part of the following may be attributed to Charlie Owens, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business/Michigan, regarding the upcoming Michigan primary.
Small businesses are the drivers of our state's economy, with 190,000 small businesses employing more than 52 percent of the state's workforce in Michigan. Small employers create about two-thirds of all net new jobs, making the small-business community even more important in Michigan as many of our state's oldest and largest companies continue to struggle. To get our economy growing again and, it's vital that we have a thriving small-business sector to fuel a recovery.
For that reason, NFIB urges voters to take a hard look at all the presidential candidates' positions on issues that are crucial to Michigan's job creators.
Small-business owners' number one wish is for affordable health insurance. We continue to hear from entrepreneurs about the difficulties they have finding health plans that they can afford -- for themselves, as well as their employees. In this highly competitive market for qualified workers, health plans are an important benefit offering for owners seeking to fill all those jobs they're creating.
The second need is for comprehensive tax reform, including a simplified tax code. Small businesses need stability for financial planning. The wrong tax policies will stifle job creation and economic growth.
For more information about the small-business issues and the election, go to www.NFIB.com/politics.
