New Survey on Politics of Small Business

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Jun 06, 2012, 12:01 ET

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Small Business Association today released a new survey, The Politics of Small Business, which evaluated the opinions of small-business owners on topics ranging from Congress' understanding of small business to which party best represents small-business issues. Conducted among more than 650 small businesses nationwide, the survey shows that, while the respondent's political persuasion influenced their responses, the overwhelming majority of small-business owners agreed that Congress and the administration don't really understand small business.

"The majority of small businesses do not think today's political system serves their business well," stated NSBA President Todd McCracken. "There are too many hurdles already facing America's small businesses, political gridlock and partisan bickering shouldn't be one of them."

Political affiliations notwithstanding, the majority of small businesses say they occasionally vote for a candidate in the opposing party or for an independent. Both Republican and Democratic small-business owners agree that economic and fiscal issues are paramount and that the federal government should level the playing field for small business.

In addition to the survey, NSBA has updated its Small Business: 70 Million Strong…And Voting campaign with new data, new resources and a comprehensive list of the issues that matter most to small business. Despite the many challenges thrown their way in the last five years, small businesses are still here, working to create new jobs and put America back to work.

The small-business community comprises one-third of the U.S. voting population and new survey data shows extremely high rates of small-business political activism, including voter turnout, financial contributions and interaction with elected officials. Together, these ought to cement the important role small business plays not just in the U.S. economy but in our overall political system.

"The 70 million people who work for or run a small business deserve leadership, bipartisanship and a true commitment to the economic and fiscal issues that matter most," stated NSBA Chair Chris Holman, CEO of Michigan Business Network.com and President of The Greater Lansing Business Monthly.

Please click here to download the survey.

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2012, NSBA continues to advocate on behalf of America's entrepreneurs. A staunchly nonpartisan organization, NSBA reaches more than 150,000 small businesses across the country and is proud to be the nation's first small-business advocacy organization. For more information, please visit www.nsba.biz.

SOURCE National Small Business Association