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| SENATOR CARLA NELSON RECOGNIZED AS GUARDIAN OF SMALL BUSINESS | ||||||||
(St. Paul) – The state’s largest small business association, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), recently awarded Sen. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) the prestigious Guardian of Small Business Award.
Senator Nelson said, “Small businesses in Minnesota account for ninety-seven percent of all businesses and employ nearly half of the private workforce. During the period 2005-2008, small businesses accounted for forty-six percent of net new private sector jobs. Due to their significant impact on our economy, it is the responsibility of the Minnesota Legislature to measure any action it takes by the effect it will have on our small businesses.”
During the 2012 legislative session Senator Nelson championed several small business friendly bills. Included among these was a bill to expand the Angel Investor Tax Credit for Greater Minnesota, chief authored by Senator Nelson (SF 2355). The bill passed out of the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee and was included in the omnibus tax bill. The bill would have been advantageous for the greater Rochester area, which has become a center for biomedical and technological startup companies.
“As a small business owner, I understand the daunting challenges faced by those starting a business. The expansion of the Angel Investor Tax Credit to Greater Minnesota would have allowed for further growth and development of small businesses in and around Rochester. Given our region’s place at the cutting edge of the technological and biomedical communities, this provision would have allowed for increased investment in our local small businesses. I am disappointed that the governor chose to veto this bill,” said Senator Nelson.
Mike Hickey, NFIB State Director, said “Senator Nelson cast many strong votes in support of small business during the 2011-2012 legislative session. This included voting for critical tax reductions and reforms that will make Minnesota more competitive. She gave her support to a critical measure that requires the legislature to review and approve new rules and regulations that small businesses are required to comply with. This new safe guard will help to protect small businesses from new regulations that could be potentially burdensome and expensive, before they are put into effect. Senator Nelson is a true friend of small business, and we are happy to announce that she has earned the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award.”
To win a Guardian of Small Business Award, legislators had to demonstrate a pro-small-business voting record during the 87th session of the Minnesota Legislature. Lawmakers were scored on 10 votes taken in the Senate. The National Federation of Independent Business has more than 12,000 members in Minnesota, making it the largest business group of its kind in the state.
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