Small business—and owners' important issues—played a big role in the third Republican presidential debate. Here's what they had to say.
With fewer than 100 days until the first ballots are cast, 10 Republican hopefuls spent Oct. 28 debating important small business issues, including everything from healthcare and taxes to the economy and fantasy football. (Well, the latter might not be exactly pressing to owners.) Ultimately, the night was a critical test for many hopefuls reaching the make-or-break point of their campaigns.
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Here’s what the Republican candidates said about top small business issues during the debate:
Small business spotlight: Small businesses got lots of attention, “not from CNBC questioners, but from the candidates themselves,” Denver Business Journal reported. Sen. Marco Rubio highlighted that “for the first time in 35 years, we have more businesses closing than starting,” and that now is the time to act.
Healthcare: GOP hopefuls had a lot to say about the current state of American healthcare regulations. Gov. Mike Huckabee argued that “we don’t have a healthcare crisis in America, we have a health crisis.” Sen. Ted Cruz said he was “proud to lead the fight” against Obamacare.
Taxes: Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina promised that she would “reduce the U.S. tax code to just three pages.” Several candidates, including Ben Carson, proposed a flat tax plan where every American would pay the same percentage of their income, and deductions and exemptions would be eliminated. Donald Trump’s plan to lower rates also came into view after pivoting away from receiving what he thought was a “not very nicely asked question.”
Minimum wage: The GOP candidates barely talked about minimum wage during the debate, which is surprising, since they all displayed such passion about reforming the economy, Bustle reported. However, when Fiorina was asked about a 401(k) plan for businesses, she responded, “there is no constitutional role for the federal government to be setting minimum wages.” There was also no mention of paid or family leave.
*Note: This news coverage does not equate to an endorsement of any candidate by NFIB.
