News From Congresswoman
Nydia M. Velázquez
Representing New York's 12th Congressional District - Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens
Ranking Democratic Member, House Small Business Committee

For Immediate Release
October 22, 2003

CONTACT: Wendy Belzer, Kate Davis, 202-225-4038

Velázquez: Here are the Small Business Facts
There is a growing gap between the Bush administration's rhetoric and reality

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Ranking Democratic Member of the House Small Business Committee, pointed to the ever-increasing gap between the rhetoric of the Bush administration and the reality relating to policies that affect this nation's 23 million small businesses.

PERMANENT SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF:
RHETORIC - "You see, when we passed tax relief, I know most Americans did not expect to see higher taxes come back through the back door…and so if Congress is really interested in job creation, they will make the tax cuts we passed permanent." (President Bush in Portsmouth, NH, 10/9/03)

REALITY - The Bush administration refused to make these provisions permanent because doing so would have compromised the dividend tax cut - the cornerstone of Bush's 2003 tax plan - which benefits Corporate America, and drives investment away from small businesses.

LESSENING THE REGULATORY BURDEN FOR SMALL BUSINESS:
RHETORIC - "..we need less regulation on small businesses. Regulation ties up all kinds of time that could be used for productive uses for meeting demand. We're working on it at the federal level." (President Bush in Milwaukee, WI, 10/3/03)

REALITY - The Bush administration holds the all-time record for the number of regulations submitted and issued under any president - and he still has a year to go.

HELPING SMALL BUSINESS AFFORD HEALTH CARE:
RHETORIC - "Businesses are more likely to hire people if health care for workers is affordable. One way to help our small business owners is to allow association health care plans, where small business can pool risk and gain the same bargaining power as big businesses." (President Bush in San Bernardino, CA, 10/16/03)

REALITY - The AHP legislation is being held up by Bush's own party in the Senate, which has not even held hearings or a mark-up on this proposal.

OPENING UP THE FEDERAL MARKETPLACE TO SMALL ENTEPRISE:
RHETORIC - "…government contracting must be open and more fair to small businesses." (President Bush in Washington DC, 3/19/02)

REALITY - The Bush administration has failed to meet any of its small business federal contracting goals - including those targeted to women and minorities - which has resulted in $13.8 billion in lost opportunities for small firms in 2002 alone.
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