New Survey on Politics of Small Business

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Sep 26, 2018, 07:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Small Business Association (NSBA) today released its 2018 Politics of Small Business Survey which showed that, despite very high levels of engagement, small-business owners' political involvement has dropped in nearly every category. From rates of voting to interacting with lawmakers to making financial contributions, small-business owners are less engaged than just two years ago.

"Small-business owners' political positions are wildly diverse and they are not beholden to any one political party," stated NSBA President Todd McCracken. "Unfortunately, one thing they all agree on, regardless of party affiliation, is that policymakers don't really understand small business."

The survey found that small-business owners of all political persuasions place a higher level of importance on economic and fiscal issues than they do on national security and social issues. When it comes to specific policies, small-business owners agree that controlling health care costs is paramount, and it is the number one policy about which they have contacted their elected officials.

In rating policymakers, small-business owners had somewhat higher marks for their own elected Senators and Representatives but expressed less-than stellar marks for the collective bodies. Forty-seven percent of small businesses said they do not believe the U.S. House of Representatives or Senate represents them well.

"More and more, small-business owners think the political system is broken," stated NSBA Chair Cynthia Kay of Cynthia Kay and Co. "Eighty-three percent say politics have become more partisan in the last ten years and the majority support limiting corporate campaign contributions."

In addition to releasing the survey, NSBA is launching its Small Business Pledge, urging candidates and lawmakers to underscore their commitment to small business by signing the pledge to support pro-small-business policies.

Please click here to download the full report.

Celebrating 80 years in operation, NSBA is a staunchly nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of America's entrepreneurs. NSBA's 65,000 members represent every state and every industry in the U.S. Please visit www.nsba.biz or follow us at @NSBAAdvocate.

SOURCE National Small Business Association