Small Business Owners Shared Concerns About Burdensome Regulations, Finding Qualified Workers
Small business owners from around Oklahoma gathered at the capitol on President’s Day, February 17th, for their annual small business day. Sen. James Lankford stopped by to support and thank NFIB members for creating jobs and helping keep Oklahoma’s economy strong. Sen. Lankford talked about his efforts in Washington D.C. to reduce some of the many and burdensome rules and regulations they face every day. According to a recent NFIB survey, unreasonable government rules and regulations is the number two concern for small business owners. Sen. Lankford pledged to help small business owners, including a bill that would waive the penalty for first time paperwork violations. Oftentimes, there are so many rules and regulations that small business owners have no idea they aren’t in compliance.
Sen. James Lankford poses with NFIB Oklahoma small business owners.
Legislative session started on February 3rd and lawmakers are just getting started working on legislation that could impact small business owners. The last few years, Oklahoma lawmakers have brought up efforts to impose employer mandates such as paid family leave on small business owners. NFIB is also keeping a close eye on other bills that would hard small business, including one that would increase the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour.
“Small Business Day is the perfect opportunity for our small business owners to share their concerns with lawmakers and tell them how proposed legislation would impact them. Small business owners are busy creating jobs and keeping Oklahoma’s economy running. They don’t have time to keep up to date with what’s happening at the Capitol in D.C. and Oklahoma City. Small Business Day is the chance to express their concerns and roadblocks keeping them from expanding and growing their business in Oklahoma,” said Jerrod Shouse, NFIB State Director in Oklahoma.
Senator Lankford explains how he’s helping reduce burdensome government regulations for small business owners.
Shouse shared NFIB’s legislative priorities with lawmakers, including Senator Julie Daniels and Rep. Tom Gann, who stopped by to talk with small business owners. You can read more about NFIB’s legislative priorities here. Before the day wrapped up, small business owners visited their local lawmakers to share their small business stories.
Sen. Lankford and wife Cindy chat with NFIB members Glenn Pappas of Main Automotive Supply in Stillwater, right, and Mark Detherage of Mr. D’s One Stop in Fairland, left.
