National Write Your Congressman Inaugural Index Shows Small Business Community’s Dissatisfaction with Government
NWYC small business members site government regulations and healthcare as top
issues hurting their businesses
Dallas – Nov. 1, 2016 – National Write Your Congressman (NWYC), an organization that gives
small businesses a voice in American government, announces the results of its inaugural
quarterly index measuring small business owners and operators’ sentiment towards federal,
state and local government. Please click on the following link to view the results of the index:
NWYC’s poll represents the opinions of more than 1,100 NWYC members across 47 states in
the services, construction, retail, manufacturing and agriculture industries. Findings from the
index include:
? 87 percent of respondents report that Congress has not helped accomplish their
business objectives over the third quarter.
? Small business owners show more than twice the trust in their local government than
federal government.
? Federal action in healthcare and government regulations are perceived as the most
harmful to small business owners and in fact, business owners felt a lack of action in
other areas hurt their business.
“Small business is the engine driving the U.S. economy and their voices must be heard. What
our index shows is that in this divisive election year, small business owners across America are
dissatisfied with the actions of federal government,” said Randy Ford, president of National
Write Your Congressman. “Small business owners believe there is much room for improvement,
and in many respects have felt neglected by Washington.”
The 28 million small businesses across the country make up more than half of the U.S.
economy (54 percent). Mirroring the groundswell of a grassroots call for change in the U.S.
during this election season, NWYC’s index reveals small business owners are most concerned
in improving healthcare, regulation, immigration and tax reform.
According to research from the Congressional Management Foundation, effective
communications and interactions between citizens and elected officials are essential to the
democratic process, both to sustain the credibility of government and to maintain a free flow of
ideas which can be integrated into policy decisions
.
“NWYC presents both sides of the issue so that members can form an educated opinion and let
their opinions be heard,” said Ford.
NWYC exists to provide members with non-partisan information and research along with the
tools they can use to connect with their representatives in Washington and advocate for the
policies and actions that will help their small business be successful for their families, their
employees and their communities.
Demographic Profile
NWYC’s inaugural Index on the Sentiments of Small Business Towards Congress,
conducted between October 14 - 24, 2016, is based on data collected from 1,177 respondents
within NWYC’s membership. Respondents represented individuals from 47 U.S. states. Ninety
eight (98%) percent of respondents identify as small business owner/operators. Sixty one
percent (61%) of respondents employ between one and nine people and thirty six (36%) percent
of respondents employ between 10-99 people. Predominant industries represented included:
services (21.1%), construction (20.5%), retail trade (14.0%), manufacturing (13.5%), and
agriculture (10.6%). Sixty six percent (66%) of respondents are ages 45-64.
