FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2004
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Senator John Rafferty for 100-percent Support on Key Small-Business Issues

Small-business owners and local members of NFIB – Pennsylvania State's largest small business advocacy group – today presented state Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) with a Guardian of Small Business award and praised him for his 100-percent voting record on key small-business issues. Sen. Rafferty's record for the 2003-04 legislative session will be reported in NFIB's Legislative Voting Record to be released later this month.

"Sen. Rafferty is one lawmaker small-business owners can count on in the clutch," said NFIB State Director Kevin Shivers. "In fact, the upcoming edition of NFIB's voting record shows Sen. Rafferty supported small business 100-percent of the time on key issues during the current session. That's a record small-business owners can be proud of.

"Simply put, Sen. Rafferty is one of small business' strongest allies in Harrisburg. He recognizes that small businesses are the driving force behind Pennsylvania state's economy. He understands the challenges small-business owners face in running their businesses. And he knows how the actions of lawmakers in Harrisburg affect small businesses at home. Many politicians claim to support small business. Sen. Rafferty's got the record to back it up."

Shivers noted this year's NFIB voting record includes roll call votes on lawsuit abuse reform (SB 9), property tax reform (SB 100), higher small-business taxes (HB 200), workers compensation reform (HB 88), phase-out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax (SB 1155) and fair competition for small business in government contracting (HB 1996).

Each legislative session, NFIB reports on roll call votes taken by members of the state House and Senate on key small-business issues.The voting record includes only the lawmakers' votes on small-business issues, not all of the votes cast during the session. Small-business members of NFIB can use the voting record as a guide to measure their lawmaker's attitude toward small business.

Small businesses are the driving force behind the Pennsylvania and national economies. According to the state Labor Department, 98 percent of all Pennsylvania businesses employ fewer than 100 workers. These businesses account for 52 percent of all jobs in the state.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is the nation's largest small-business advocacy group. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its 600,000 members in Washington and all 50 state capitals. For more information on NFIB/Pennsylvania, visit www.NFIB.com/PA.