Clinton: Small business owners deserve health care, energy costs to be cut
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Health care and energy costs are two of the biggest burdens for small business owners, said Presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton in a conference call Tuesday.
"Small businesses have been responsible for the most job growth in the last 20 years," Clinton said. "You can look at the burdens on small businesses and some of the biggest costs are health care costs and energy costs, and I have committed to achieving quality affordable health care for everyone without burdening small businesses."
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton signed autographs and posed for pictures with supporters after a rally Saturday, Feb. 23, at Wayne High School in Huber Heights.
Democratic presidnetial candidate Sen. Clinton at a rally Saturday, Feb. 23, at Wayne High School in Huber Heights. She holds mailings sent out by Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and health care that she says are false and misleading.Clinton spoke with weekly newspaper reporters from around the state Tuesday afternoon fielding a few questions in an 18-minute conference call.
Fairfield Economic Development Manager Greg Kathman agrees with Clinton's assessment in terms of the biggest burdens facing small business owners.
"In my experience in talking with small business owners, that is an absolutely true statement," Kathman said. "The reason that it has become such a concern is because the prices for those two commodities have greatly increased over the inflation rate in the last few years."
Kathman said he is pleased the small business owner is on the federal government's radar, and presidential candidates are talking about the issue. There are about 1,500 businesses in Fairfield, and Kathman said about 1,400 could classify as a small business, and employ about half of the workers in the city.
"The pressures on small businesses are not a sustainable situation, and something needs to be done," said Kathman, although he was not certain what that something could be.
Clinton said having small businesses, and every American, able to buy into the congressional health care plan is a start, and something the New York Democrat has campaigned on. She also said improving energy standards can also reduce costs for small businesses.
"Because of transportation and manufacturing needs, I would be moving toward clean, renewable energy and get more efficiency out of our energy," Clinton said. "I think I can help small businesses ... really lower their energy costs."
She also said manufacturing jobs are important to the country's strength.
"I believe strongly that a country that doesn't make anything will not remain a strong country with a strong economy, so I am committed to the manufacturing sector," Clinton said.
Clinton is battling Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, the nomination to run on the Democratic ticket for President. Obama leads Clinton in the delegate count to win the nomination 1,365 to 1,265, according to www.CBS.com.
Ohio's primary election is March 4.
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.
