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Morris Daily Herald: Kinzinger helps lead initiative
12/14/11Morris Daily Herald
Congressmen seek ideas from small business owners
“Clearly this Administration’s economic policies have failed and we need an immediate change in direction,” said Hultgren (IL-14). “That’s why the One More Job Initiative is so important. We are going to reach out to our small businesses, find out exactly what they need to create one single job, and take those responses back to the White House and the leadership in the Senate to show them exactly what they can do to enable the private sector to create thousands of new jobs right here in Illinois.”
“Parts of Illinois’ 10th District are facing an unemployment rate of over 20 percent,” said Dold (IL-11). “There is no reason that Congress cannot come together and find ways to create an environment in which small businesses can thrive and grow. As I have said for the last two years, if half of the small business in the nation were able to hire one more worker we’d be able to get our nation back to work. It’s time for both sides of the aisle to work together and find common ground.”
“As I have traveled throughout the 17th District, the number one issue folks want addressed is jobs,” said Schilling (IL-17). “I know from my experience as a small business owner the challenges of creating jobs and meeting a payroll in the face of overwhelming government regulations and paperwork. But as a member of the House Small Business Committee and House Armed Services Committee Panel on Business Challenges in the Defense Industry, I want to hear from other job creators what government can do to encourage them to hire. I look forward to seeing their suggestions, bringing them with me to Washington, and using them to help get our economy back on track and Americans back to work.”
“As Chairman of the Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access, I know firsthand that we need to get big government out of the way and let small businesses grow and create jobs,” said Walsh (IL-8). “The Obama Administration needs to get out of the beltway and start talking to real American small businesses and entrepreneurs, not just Washington insiders.”
On Monday, Dec. 12 the five freshmen congressmen will seek out ideas from small business owners in each of their districts via mail, email, phone and other means. Business owners will be asked to take a moment and send their congressman an email or letter to let them know what action Washington must take in order for their business to be able to create one more job.
Small business owners in the 11th District can email IllinoisJobs11@mail.house.gov or send a letter to the Joliet Office (2701 Black Rd, Joliet, IL 60435) by Jan. 6, 2012 and tell him what it will take for their business to create one more job.
Once all of the ideas and suggestions are collected, the congressmen will take them directly to Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Harry Reid and the President.
“Here in Illinois unemployment is above 10 percent,” Kinzinger began. “We constantly hear about a company that is looking to leave or is already on its way out the door — including the Sears Holding Corporation and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. And what are some of the reasons for business leaving? Taxes are too high and regulations are too burdensome.
“Since coming to Congress in January, my freshmen colleagues and I from Illinois have taken a direct approach to change the ‘Washington knows best’ agenda, to talking to those who actually do know best about what it will take to get Americans back to work and our economy moving: small business owners.
“I’m not a small business owner. So if I went to Washington, D.C. and acted like an expert in small business but never talked to small business owners, then I would be disingenuous. In order for me to know how to advocate for exactly what needs to be done, I need to hear from them. Today we are here to offer a new approach — one that a fellow freshman colleague began in Colorado - we are asking small businesses to tell us what Washington must do to empower their business to create one more job.”