Maine congressional delegation ranks poor 38th in supporting small business

Washington, D.C.—The Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC) has released its annual scorecard which rates how members of Congress voted during 2001 on key small business issues.

SBSC’s scorecard rates lawmakers based on 12 key votes in the U.S. House of Representatives and 12 votes in the U.S. Senate impacting small businesses. Included in this years ratings are votes on issues such as reducing taxes and regulations, death tax elimination, capital gains tax relief, expanding U.S. markets overseas, reducing dependence on foreign energy, and making health care more affordable.

Lawmakers who voted in favor of small businesses at least 80% of the time are recognized by SBSC as "Champions of Small Business."

In Maine, Reps. Thomas Allen and John Baldacci each scored 0%. Meanwhile, U.S. Senators Susan Collins scored 75% and Senator Olympia Snowe scored 58%. Maine’s delegation claimed an average score of 33%, which ranked 38th out of the 50 states’ congressional delegations.

"With small businesses responsible for creating 75% of all new jobs, the public needs to know who is standing up for small businesses and who is standing in the way," said SBSC President Darrell McKigney. "We all have a stake in a strong small business climate."

SBSC chief economist Raymond J. Keating added: "Our elected officials need to remember that small business is the backbone of the U.S. economy. These enterprises provide the bulk of innovations, goods, services, and jobs."

SBSC’s Congressional Scorecard can be downloaded from SBSC’s website at www.sbsc.org
SBSC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit small business advocacy group with more than 70,000 members across the nation. For more information, please call SBSC at 202-785-0238.