Small Business Majority Network Members Join President at White House to Talk Government Shutdown

Washington, DC̢??‰۝Small business owners in Small Business Majority̢??‰?s network joined President Obama at the White House today to discuss the ongoing government shutdown and how it is hurting small businesses and the economy.

Four entrepreneurs in Small Business Majority̢??‰?s network joined the president and six other small business owners to talk about the government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, because Congress could not come to and agreement on the budget. Small businesses are becoming increasingly concerned, because the government shutdown erodes consumer confidence and creates an enormous amount of uncertainty, which can harm their bottom lines. Not only that, but this is all happening in the fourth quarter̢??‰۝the most important time of the year for countless entrepreneurs.

̢???As a small business owner, it was frustrating to hear politicians threaten to shut down the government because they couldn̢??‰?t come to an agreement over the budget,̢???? said Mei Xu, owner of the Chesapeake Candle Company in Rockville, Md and one of the small business owners who met with the president. ̢???Now that it̢??‰?s been shut down for two weeks, I̢??‰?m downright frightened. What̢??‰?s more, we̢??‰?re getting perilously close to hitting the nation̢??‰?s debt ceiling. What politicians clearly don̢??‰?t realize is that a government shutdown or national default doesn̢??‰?t just impact the government. It impacts my customers, my employees and my business.̢????

As the government shutdown continues, there is another potentially dangerous situation for small businesses and the economy looming on the horizon. If Congress can̢??‰?t agree to raise the debt ceiling by Oct. 17, the country will default on our national debt. A recent national poll released by Small Business Majority found that by a 3:2 margin, the majority of entrepreneurs want a long-term solution to the recurring debt ceiling issue so the U.S. can pay its bills without this issue coming up for one political vote after another. A 55 percent majority agrees short-term shutdown tactics allow politicians to hold the economy hostage to their spending priorities and threaten the nation̢??‰?s credit rating. Additionally, a majority of small business owners said the most important job of Congress and the president is to focus on creating more jobs rather than reducing the deficit.

̢???It was great to meet with the president today and know that he understands how the shutdown is affecting small businesses like mine,̢???? said Nancy Hartman, co-owner of Bermo Inc. in Circle Pines, Minn. ̢???Many of the politicians who are playing politics with the debt ceiling and the national budget are the same ones who claim to support small businesses. Well, small businesses make up the backbone of our country, and this type of political gamesmanship hurts us. Lawmakers need to do what̢??‰?s right for our country and my business, not what̢??‰?s right for their party line, and find a solution to this shutdown now.̢????

Small business owners Jamal Lee, owner of Breasia Studios in Laurel, Md. and Hester Clark, owner of the Hester Group in Alexandria, Va. and Jacksonville, Fla., also met with President Obama. Small Business Majority launched a national sign-on campaign last week asking small business owners to let their representatives in Washington know a government shut down could adversely affect their bottom lines. Additionally, the letter urges Congress to be responsible and pay the country̢??‰?s bills by raising the debt ceiling because a default would undermine consumer confidence in what is the most important quarter of the year for many small firms.

̢???Much like the president, small employers across the country want Congress to come to an agreement and pass a bill to fund the government,̢???? said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority. ̢???Congress̢??‰?s failure to come to an agreement and pass a funding bill, resulting in a shutdown of government operations, was grossly irresponsible and is damaging our fragile economy. This shutdown diminishes consumer confidence and creates a huge amount of uncertainty, which can wreak havoc on small business owners̢??‰? bottom lines. In order for us to continue down the road to economic recovery, we need a lasting solution to our country̢??‰?s fiscal challenges so that small employers have the economic certainty they need to thrive. With a long-term funding agreement and debt ceiling solution in place, lawmakers will be able to focus on small businesses top priority̢??‰۝job creation.̢????

To read the ̢???Stop the Shutdown̢???? letter visit http://www.stoptheshutdown.com/.

To schedule an interview with a small business owner who attended the event or a representative from Small Business Majority, contact Allison Abney at [email protected] or (202) 289-0957.