National Write Your Congressman Quarterly Index Finds Small Business Owners’ Satisfaction in Congress at Lowest Level Since 2016 Election

DALLAS – March 28, 2019 – National Write Your Congressman (NWYC), an organization that gives small businesses a voice in American government, finds in its Q1 2019 Quarterly Index trust, hope and satisfaction in U.S. Congress has decreased to its lowest levels since the 2016 election. 

NWYC’s Quarterly Index, which has measured small business owner sentiment towards Congress, finds small business owners remain hopeful and satisfied in the president but less hopeful in Congress, state and local government and national government agencies as the House’s agenda has introduced new bills and legislation affecting business owners. 

“The first quarter of 2019 started out with the government shut down, a battle between Congress and the president over the border wall and Congressional hearings. Our business owner members remain concerned about issues affecting their business, and this quarter, have become less satisfied with Congressional action,” said Randy Ford, President and COO of National Write Your Congressman. “With Congress’ (the House) introduction of a new agenda including Medicare for All and The Green New Deal, small businesses owners are anticipating change in their business that potentially could not be as favorable as previous quarters.” 

The NWYC Index Score, which takes into account six factors measuring small business owners’ trust, hope and satisfaction towards Congress and government, has decreased since the election but has remained higher than before the 2016 election. 

For all of 2018, top business concerns for small business owners remained taxes, health insurance expenses, and hiring qualified workers. For 2019, regulations and paying down debt emerged as a top five concern. Immigration, which was previously a concern for business owners, dropped from a top concern in the last quarter of 2018, as 89 percent of those surveyed support the president declaring that the U.S.’s border is in a state of emergency. 

Thirty-four percent of business owners surveyed believe that their own members of Congress act according to their constituents’ opinion and more than half of business owners surveyed agree their own elected members of Congress know their opinion on important issues.

“While hope and satisfaction in Congress shifts depending on the current economic environment, our members consistently know their own member of Congress knows their opinion and works for them and their business,” said Ford. “Despite what is happening in our country, our members will continue using their voice in Washington and are hopeful they are impacting change.”

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.

Methodology

NWYC’s Index on the Sentiment of Small Business Owners towards Congress is based on data collected using an online survey administered February 28- March 6, 2019. A total of 1,218 respondents participated. Respondents represent 47 of the 50 states in the U.S. Fifty-eight 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. To view the full report, visit https://www.nwyc.com/publication/small_business_quarterly_index/articles. 

 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.