September 21, 2003

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls on President to be More of a Friend to Small Business Owners

Votes for 50th Anniversary Resolution for Small Business Administration

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) today spoke out about the need to provide more support for American small business owners. Lee, who voted for a resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Small Business Administration, said today that, particularly at a time when the economy is in a downward spiral, small businesses and small business owners need the support of the Bush Administration.

“Small businesses are one of the great engines of our economy,” said Lee. “Small business owners represent 99 percent of all American employers, and their output makes up more than half of this country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Small businesses create approximately 75 percent of all new jobs.”

Lee expressed concern that the Bush Administration had not done enough to help small business owners. The Administration claimed that its $350 billion tax package was targeted at small business owners, but in reality, the tax cut contained only a small percentage for small business relief. Under the President’s plan, over half of small businesses will receive less than $500 and almost a third will receive less than $100.

“Even though this administration’s rhetoric is small business-friendly, its policies are not,” Lee said. “This President has shown once again that he is friends with big corporations, not small business owners. He has demonstrated that he is friends with Wall Street, not Main Street. I call on him to rethink his focus.”

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