Owners of Main Street enterprises in Idaho received a big dose of good news following the May 19 Primary Election, and that is the candidates for state and federal offices who have demonstrable records of pro-small-business support look like safe bets to return to those state and federal offices after November.

It’s seldom polled for, because it doesn’t need to be, so fundamental is the desire for predictability among small business owners. Knowing that laws, rules, regulations, taxes, and those who make them will remain the same from one year to the next is the key ingredient in making decisions on whether or not to buy new equipment, upgrade old machines, hire a new employee or two, give raises, add or enhance benefits.

One of the more pro-small-business governors in the nation, Gov. Brad Little, won his primary election and looks set to also prevail in the General Election. So, too, did Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, Secretary of State Phil McGrane, State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth, Attorney General Raul Labrador, and State Controller Brandon Woolf.

It was a bit of surprise to see nine incumbents lose their state legislative seats, but the Senate and House will remain dependably pro-small-business.

Equally important, U.S. Sen. Jim Risch and U.S. Reps. Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson all won their party’s nomination and should also prevail in the General Election. The importance of this cannot be overstated. All three were instrumental in preventing the 20% Small Business Deduction from expiring at the end of last year and making the deduction a permanent feature of the tax code. This accomplishment was nothing less than monumental.

All in all, Idaho will remain a beacon for small businesses everywhere, and the beneficiaries of a healthy small business economy are whole families, entire communities, and even civilization itself.