The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation’s and Virginia’s leading small business association, has endorsed Ed Gillespie for governor. The endorsement comes from the NFIB Virginia PAC, which is comprised exclusively of NFIB members and is based on the candidate’s position on small-business issues.
“Ed Gillespie is the obvious choice for Virginia’s small businesses,” said Nicole Riley, NFIB state director. “His campaign has been centered on one issue: economic growth. His plan to cut taxes for individuals as well as employers would make it easier for small businesses to expand and create jobs.”
“Our members also are encouraged by his promise to reform Virginia’s onerous local business, professional, and occupational license (BPOL) and machinery and tool tax,” Riley said. “These antiquated taxes are based on gross receipts, not profit. That means, even if a business is losing money, it’s still forced to pay these taxes. That makes it even harder for these businesses to succeed.
“He’s also a staunch defender of Virginia’s status as a right-to-work state and embraces traditional and renewable resources to ensure sustainable and affordable energy,” Riley said.
“Ed Gillespie’s parents were small-business owners, and he’s been a small-business owner himself. He clearly understands that to create jobs and improve Virginia’s economy, you must support the commonwealth’s true job creators, its small businesses,” she said. “That makes Ed Gillespie the only choice for Virginia’s small business owners, their employees, and their families.”
Today’s endorsement puts the considerable grassroots support of the state’s small businesses behind Gillespie’s campaign. Small business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to vote. NFIB will encourage its members to help turn out the influential small business voting bloc on Election Day.
To learn more about NFIB in Virginia, visit www.NFIB.com/VA and follow @NFIB_VA on Twitter.
