National Write Your Congressman Quarterly Index Finds Small Business Owners’ Satisfaction in Congress at Highest Levels Since Before 2016 Election
DALLAS – November 15, 2018 – National Write Your Congressman (NWYC), an organization that gives small businesses a voice in American government, finds in its Q4 2018 Quarterly Index trust, hope and satisfaction in U.S. Congress has more than doubled since before the 2016 election.
NWYC’s Quarterly Index, which has measured small business owner sentiment towards Congress, finds small business owners’ satisfaction is at its highest levels with the actions of Congress to address their business concerns over the last two years.
Reducing regulations, which was previously a concern for business owners, dropped to one of the least concerns for business owners. Business owners’ top concerns for the end of the year are hiring qualified workers, healthcare costs and taxes. Immigration, which was previously not in the top five, was ranked as a top business concern this quarter.
“Our business owner members have been extremely satisfied with Congressional action when it comes to regulation reductions and taxes to help their small business. Small business owners are looking for modifications to the current tax law and hoping the bills of Tax Reform 2.0 pass the Senate,” said Randy Ford, President and COO of National Write Your Congressman. “Since the passage of the new tax law and regulation rollbacks, business owner trust and hope are at an all-time high.”
The NWYC Index Score, which takes into account six factors measuring small business owners’ trust, hope and satisfaction towards Congress and government, doubled over the last two years.
Forty-five percent of business owners surveyed believe that their own members of Congress act according to their constituents’ opinion and approximately 60 percent of business owners surveyed agree their own elected members of Congress know their opinion on important issues.
NWYC’s Quarterly Index also measures small business owner opinions on legislation affecting their business. Out of the proposed additions to Tax Reform 2.0, business owners listed the bill that permanently cuts personal and pass-through business taxes as the most important action that would most benefit them. Other notable findings include trust in national government agencies doubled since Q3 2018 and business owners rank adding more business taxes credits for investments into their business as an action Congress can do to help their business.
“Our members are energized by the actions of Congress to work for them and their business,” said Ford. “We look forward to helping our members to continue using their voice to impact change in Washington.”
NWYC provides members with non-partisan information and research along with the tools they can use to connect with their representatives in Washington and advocate for the policies and actions that will help their small businesses be successful for their families, their employees and their communities.
For complete Q4 2018 Index findings, click here.
Methodology
NWYC’s Index on the Sentiment of Small Business Owners towards Congress is based on data collected using an online survey administered October 30-November 2, 2018. A total of 913 respondents participated. Respondents represent 46 of the 50 states in the U.S. Fifty-seven percent of business owners surveyed employ 1-9 employees and 38 percent employ 10-99 employees. The predominant industries represented are construction, services, automotive repair, health, legal, accounting, engineering, advertising, education, manufacturing, agriculture, and retail trade. View the full report.
About National Write Your Congressman
National Write Your Congressman (NWYC) is an organization that gives small businesses a voice in American government. As the nation’s largest, privately held, nonpartisan membership organization made up of small businesses, NWYC is dedicated to the delivery of constituent opinions to representatives in Washington. For 60 years, NWYC has provided small business owners and operators the tools necessary to connect with members of Congress and a platform to let their collective voice be heard. NWYC’s team of experts provides unbiased, nonpartisan information and research on top issues and pending legislation relevant to small business owners today. NWYC presents both sides of the issue so that members can form an educated opinion and let their opinions be heard.
