08/27/2008
CONTACT: Troy Nichols, 360-786-8675 or Tony Malandra, 415-664-9685
State legislators use NFIB honor as a top political credential
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- It is the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval from the small business owners of Washington and America, a political credential that tells the world a lawmaker put the care and feeding of the nation's mom-and-pop enterprises ahead of those of giant corporations, big business, big labor and big government. Today, the Guardian of Small Business award winners were announced by the Washington office of America's leading small business association, the National Federation of Independent Business.
"Small businesses employ more working Americans and generate more jobs than any combination of big companies, big labor unions or governments," said Troy Nichols, NFIB/Washington state director. "Yet the inverse attention paid the big boys over the needs of the real economic engine of the state and nation is mind boggling. We are proud to honor those lawmakers who have demonstrated in measurable actions their commitment to the health and well being of the state's small business owners with our Guardian of Small Business award."
Two of the bigger distinctions between a small and big business, according to Nichols, can be found in healthcare and regulatory compliance. While almost 99 percent of big companies offer health care for their employees, less than half of America's small business owners can afford to do so, mainly because state and federal laws conspire to make it nearly impossible. Additionally, small business owners paid nearly twice as much as their big business counterparts to comply with the same regulations.
NFIB/Washington's Guardian of Small Business awards were based on support or opposition to 15 bills in the 2007 and 2008 sessions of the Washington Legislature that were important to small business. A pro-small business voting record of 90 percent or higher was required for an award.
State senators with 100 percent voting records were Jerome Delvin, Linda Evans Parlette, Janéa Holmquist, Jim Honeyford, Curtis King, Bob McCaslin, Bob Morton, Cheryl Pflug, Pam Roach, Mark Schoesler, Tim Sheldon, Val Stevens, Dan Swecker and Joseph Zarelli
Other state senators with over 90 percent voting records were Dale Brandland, Mike Carrell and Mike Hewitt.
State representatives with 100 percent voting records were John Ahern, Gary Alexander, Barbara Bailey, Bruce Chandler, Larry Crouse, Richard DeBolt, Steve Hailey, Shirley Hankins, Jaime Herrera, Bill Hinkle, Joel Kretz, Dan Newhouse, Ed Orcutt, Dan Roach, Jay Rodne, Charles Ross, Joe Schmick, Mary Skinner, Norma Smith, Maureen Walsh and Judy Warnick.
Other state representatives with over 90 percent voting records were Glenn Anderson, Mike Armstrong, Cary Condotta, Jim Dunn, Doug Ericksen, Larry Haler, Dan Kristiansen, Jim McCune and Kirk Pearson.
