National

Scientific opinion polling found small business owners think predatory lending practices are a problem, and they overwhelmingly support stronger regulations on alternative lenders to ensure they have safe, responsible access to capital.

Recent scientific opinion polling found women small business owners believe access to reproductive health is critical to their economic success. The poll also found women entrepreneurs of color and younger business owners especially feel that access to birth control has been important to their ability to start their business and advance in their career

Recent scientific opinion polling found small business owners overwhelmingly believe Congress should pass legislation requiring businesses to list their true identity when forming. Such legislation is being considered to fight fraud committed by anonymous shell companies, including when larger companies use these entities to unfairly compete for government small business set-asides. Additionally, the poll found small business owners think such legislation would benefit, rather than burden, their business by protecting them from fraud and allowing them to compete fairly for government contracts.

Small business owners are strongly opposed to the FCC’s recent move to repeal rules enforcing net neutrality, according to recent scientific opinion polling. Specifically, the poll found that 56% of small business owners oppose the repeal of the rules, with nearly 4 in 10 (39%) strongly opposed.

A new scientific opinion poll found small business owners support commonsense business regulations and do not feel current levels of regulation are a top business concern. The poll also found current levels of regulation are not a top concern for our nation’s small business owners, and they do not support rolling back all federal regulations on businesses. 

Recent scientific opinion polling reveals small business and freelancers need more flexible retirement options. The poll found small employers struggle to offer retirement benefits, and are increasingly turning to independent workers to meet their needs. Additionally, small employers overwhelmingly support state-administered retirement savings plans and other policies that would make it easier for them to offer retirement benefits.

Recent scientific opinion polling found small business owners are broadly supportive of a range of policies that would support responsible lending. Specifically, the poll found 77% of small business owners support a policy that would lift a cap on credit union lending and an overwhelming 87% support a “truth in lending” act for small business loans to increase transparency, among support for other policies.

As small business owners prepare to close the books on 2012, our country is fast approaching the edge of what’s been dubbed the “fiscal cliff.” This critical situation—created by a host of tax cuts set to expire at the end of 2012, coupled with billions of dollars in automatic spending cuts that will be triggered if Congress and the president can’t agree on a way to reduce the deficit by year’s end—has dire consequences for small businesses. Many of the tax provisions set to expire benefit small businesses and the middle class, small businesses’ core customer base.

New scientific opinion polling found small business owners believe investing in infrastructure is important to their business, and they feel the federal government should play a significant role in funding infrastructure projects. Additionally, small business owners strongly support high-speed broadband infrastructure projects, especially in rural areas.

Small Business Majority published a report that assesses the impact of the Affordable Care Act on small business owners, their employees and self-employed individuals. The report shows uninsured rates have dramatically decreased among small business owners and employees and small business healthcare costs have stabilized under the ACA.