After the large-scale failure of the taxpayer-financed so-called stimulus package, a disastrous proposal to force a national energy tax and an attempt to cut Medicare, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer questioned the credibility of  today’s job summit held by the same administration that pledged just a few months ago that their proposal would keep unemployment below 8 percent.

 

 

 

Luetkemeyer noted that the administration is more interested in staging a dog-and-pony show than creating jobs for American families. He noted that the administration neglected to invite the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to today’s job summit. NFIB is a strong voice for our nation’s small business owners. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.  More than 96 percent of U.S. Chamber members are small businesses with 100 employees or fewer. Small businesses are the number one job creators and will lead the way in our nation’s economic recovery, and these representatives must be at the table if any meaningful change on job creation is to be done.

Luetkemeyer was the lead sponsor of two successful pieces of bi-partisan legislation that expand opportunities for small businesses and help create jobs and spur the kind of economic activity we need to get our country going again. His Expanding Entrepreneurship Act of 2009, part of the Job Creation through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009, makes several changes to the SBA’s entrepreneurial development programs at no cost to taxpayers. The bill also will expand entrepreneurial job growth by pulling resources for duplicative government programs into a streamlined and effective program to help emphasize job creation and retention. The bill passed 406 to 15 in the House.

 

Luetkemeyer’s Small Business Investment Company Modernization and Improvement Act of 2009, part of the Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009, updates and streamlines the SBA’s largest investment program, the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program. The legislation aims to increase the number and size of investments made in small firms under the program. Perhaps equally important, the bill endeavors to halt the continued flight of SBICs that participate in the program by establishing an expedited licensing process. This would keep successful SBICs that are in good standing involved in the program. The bill passed 389 to 32 in the House.

Luetkemeyer also supported a bold energy alternative proposal known as the American Energy Act that would provide far more affordable energy for American families, create much-needed jobs, develop nuclear energy and help clean up the environment. He also believes that fiscal responsibility is key to economic recovery, and is a co-sponsor of a constitutional amendment to force Congress to balance the budget instead of burdening the economic prospects of future generations with trillions of dollars in debt.