Linda Stender for Congress

U.S. WOMEN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GIVES
FERGUSON ZERO PERCENT ON SMALL BUSINESS PRIORITIES
Small Business Rating Shows Ferguson Voted To Support Small Businesses
Zero Percent Of The Time During Past Two Years

Scotch Plains, NJ -- A recently released report by a coalition of small business groups revealed that during the 109th Congress the needs of New Jersey entrepreneurs were either left untouched, or outright opposed by the majority of the Members of Congress. This has left small businesses without the tools they need to grow their ventures and create much needed jobs for the local economy.

"What this report shows is that not only did very little get done during the 109th Congress for small businesses, but many in Congress, including Mike Ferguson, were outright hostile to entrepreneurs by opposing several common sense proposals to help local small businesses," said Linda Stender for Congress campaign manager Ed Oatman. Entrepreneurs play an important role in the economy, creating up to 80 percent of all new jobs and representing 99.7 of employers. This sector also makes up 50 percent of GDP, serving as the main economic driver at both the local and national level.

"Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy," said Oatman. "If we want to create jobs and spur economic growth, then it just makes sense to pursue an approach which supports the growth of this valuable sector of the economy. It is unfortunate that when given a chance to do this, Mike Ferguson chose to vote against these priorities."

The report issued by the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with 5 other small business groups, the Latino American Management Association, Small Business Majority, American Small Business League, National Procurement Council and Business and Professional Women, representing the nation's 24 million small businesses and a membership upward of 1 million small firms. The congressional scorecard looked at 9 votes over the 109th Congress; out of these votes, three passed the House but were not included in the final legislative package and six were outright rejected. Mike Ferguson opposed all of these initiatives, receiving a score of zero percent.

Small businesses face an array of challenges today when it comes to starting and expanding their ventures from access to capital, breaking into the federal marketplace and accessing initiatives that will assist in their development. Mike Ferguson voted against a number of legislative initiatives that would have lowered the cost of capital for small firms, opened up contracting opportunities, and expanded disaster assistance for small businesses throughout the nation.

The majority of Members also failed to increase opportunities for women and minority owned businesses -- the two largest growing sectors of small businesses -- showing a lack of commitment to improving the environment for entrepreneurs in New Jersey and throughout the United States.

"What we are in need of today is a new direction, one that will allow small businesses to flourish," said Oatman. "While Mike Ferguson talks about his work for entrepreneurs, this report shows the real story -- that the rhetoric is not being backed up with action. We need to do away with the empty promises, and start formulating a new agenda that will enable small businesses to do what they do best -- create jobs and stimulate the economy."

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