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| Date: | October 31, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Peter Winiecki | | Contact Phone: | 651-297-8077 | | Contact Email: | peter.winiecki@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATOR ORTMAN RECIEVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESSES |
(St. Paul) – State Senator Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) is recognized as a “Guardian of Small Business” by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Mike Hickey, the Minnesota NFIB Director, cited Sen. Ortman’s support for low taxes, her advancement of innovative lawsuit reform and the successful implementation of estate tax conformity as prime examples of small business-friendly legislation.
“The fact is, more Minnesotans are employed by small businesses than large corporations. The NFIB has always been a strong voice in promoting the interests of small businesses in Minnesota. I am hopeful my colleagues in the legislature will work with the NFIB to advance the interests of the small businesses in our state,” said Ortman.
“Sen. Ortman authored a major tax bill that contained two significant provisions to help small business; conforming to the federal exemption on the estate tax law and a provision to significantly reduce commercial property taxes in Minnesota by eliminating the statewide portion of that tax. She also authored three of the four major tort reform bills that were considered during the 2011 session,” said Mike Hickey “Senator Ortman’s leadership and support for small business is unprecedented and we are very grateful to her for all the effort she made during the 2011 session. She is very deserving of this award.”
Hickey noted that all the legal reform bills that Sen. Ortman authored passed the Senate and await action in the House; the estate tax conformity piece, which she took a leadership role on, was signed into law in 2011.
Since she was elected to the legislature in 2002, Sen. Ortman, Chair of the Senate Tax Committee, has championed efforts to keep taxes low for all taxpayers, and make the state more competitive for small businesses and job providers. “If we are committed to new jobs and new businesses, we have to understand that high tax rates will only make matters worse. In order to climb out of this recession, we must take positive steps forward that make Minnesota a more attractive place to own, operate and grow a business.”
During the 2011 regular legislative session, Sen. Ortman was the chief author of a package of bills designed to reform Minnesota’s legal system, save taxpayers money, and encourage economic development. Many of these measures received bipartisan support in the Senate and were well-received by a wide cross section of business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs. “Last session, we took a bold step forward by offering these reforms to our civil justice system to provide less expensive litigation, and to eliminate incentives for delay that add significant costs for all litigants--- both plaintiffs and defendants. These simple reforms will streamline our processes, save costs in our courts, and save Minnesotans the opportunity costs of participating in lengthy and expensive lawsuits.”
Sen. Ortman added: “Minnesota is a great place to do business; but we can do more legislatively to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation, and expansion, all to encourage growth in our state’s economy.”
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