The National
Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) today announced its support for businessman
and former Randolph Mayor Tom MacArthur
in the hotly contested 3rd Congressional District race.
“Tom MacArthur started and grew a
successful small business and like so many of our members in New Jersey, he believes
that Washington is causing more problems that it’s solving,” said NFIB/New Jersey State Director Laurie
Ehlbeck.
NFIB is the
country’s leading advocate for small business owners representing thousands of members in New Jersey. The group endorses candidates based on their
positions on key issues affecting small businesses.
MacArthur supports major changes to the
highly unpopular Affordable Care Act, which he said has failed to reduce
premiums for average New Jersey families and small businesses. He is calling for tort reform that would
reduce frivolous lawsuits that drive up costs for businesses and
consumers. And he supports a balanced budget
amendment to the US Constitution that would force the federal government to
live within its means.
“His positions
are perfectly in tune with our membership in New Jersey and we believe that he
is the clear choice in this race,” said Ehlbeck.
MacArthur is
running against former Burlington County Freeholder Aimee Belgard, who failed
to return the NFIB candidate questionnaire.
She hasn’t been clear on whether she supports the Affordable Care Act or
other controversial policies imposed by the Obama administration. She does, however, support raising the
federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, which is substantially higher than New
Jersey’s current rate and which small business owners believe will hurt the economy
and kill jobs.
“This is a very important
race for the country and unfortunately only one candidate appears to have made
small business a priority,” said NFIB
Vice President Lisa Goeas, who heads the organization’s political and
grassroots operation.
Goeas said
federal candidates too often claim to support small business owners in order to
win an election and then vote for policies that make their lives harder once
they get to Washington.
“Small business
owners are tired of being stage props for politicians,” she said. “Tom MacArthur is a businessman and he shares
our members’ frustration with Washington.
They know he’ll make a difference and that’s why we’re proud to endorse
his candidacy.”
MacArthur’s endorsement was made by the NFIB SAFE Trust, the organization’s
political action committee. Surveys show
that small business owners are influential in their communities and NFIB
members in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional
District will work hard this year to send Tom MacArthur to Washington.
