Stacy Mitchell is with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. She has an opinion editorial in the last edition of Business week dealing with an issue that I have blogged about many times. The U.S. Chamber and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) are not representing the interests of small businesses on many issues.
For six years, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has tried to give a tax cut to businesses in his state. And year after year the Democratic governor’s proposal has been stymied by a surprising foe: the state’s business lobby.
Both the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry and the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) have opposed Rendell’s plan to slash the business income-tax rate. Why? The plan would close a loophole that allows certain multi-state companies—mainly retail chains and banks—to shield profits earned in Pennsylvania from state taxes. In other words, for the Chamber and NFIB, ensuring that a handful of corporations continue to enjoy a tax break is worth denying thousands of small businesses a tax cut. (Read more)
Stacy interviewed me for her piece but she tells me that my quotes ended up on the cutting room floor as they say in the film industry.
Nevertheless, there is growing awareness in Congress and the national media that the U.S. Chamber and NFIB are not what they pretend to be when it comes to small business. On September 13 and 14 I will join 15 or more small business organizations from across the country in Washington for an American Sustainable Business Council meeting.
On our agenda will be increasing the real voice of America’s small businesses and collectively setting an agenda uncorrupted by big business interests.