Small Business Majority
Encyclopedia
Small Business Majority is a non-partisan small business
advocacy
organization in the United States
founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing small businesses today and ensuring small businesses' success as a way to rebuild the economy. It is based in Sausalito, California
, with offices in Washington, D.C.
, Sacramento
and New York
.
Small Business Majority conducts scientific research and studies to illuminate key questions and opinions on issues affecting small businesses. It uses the information to provide small business owners with information on how law
s affect their bottom line, and to educate policymakers on and advocate for a diverse set of issues, including healthcare reform, clean energy, access to capital and job creation
.
s and policymakers work together on key issues that affect America's 28 million small businesses.
.
During the push for passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
, Small Business Majority publicized the voices of small business owners to highlight support of the legislation. Policy papers and materials the organization developed were used by healthcare reform advocates and small business groups. Small Business Majority organized small business forums at the White House
with cabinet members and with the US Senate Small Business Committee, along with House committees and caucus
es on healthcare issues. The National Journal
noted that Small Business Majority's work on this issue "gained prominence on Capitol Hill and at the White House during the health care debate." Small Business Majority continues to inform lawmakers, employers and the public on key provisions of the law, and on the various aspects of its implementation—including the establishment of state health insurance exchange
s.
of four national organizations to bring more than 130 small business owners from 24 states who traveled to Washington, DC, to bring a message of support for healthcare reform to White House
officials and members of the United States Congress
. Small employers
in its network have been featured in news outlets on issues and policies supported by Small Business Majority.
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
organization in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing small businesses today and ensuring small businesses' success as a way to rebuild the economy. It is based in Sausalito, California
Sausalito, California
Sausalito is a San Francisco Bay Area city, in Marin County, California, United States. Sausalito is south-southeast of San Rafael, at an elevation of 13 feet . The population was 7,061 as of the 2010 census. The community is situated near the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, and prior to...
, with offices in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Small Business Majority conducts scientific research and studies to illuminate key questions and opinions on issues affecting small businesses. It uses the information to provide small business owners with information on how law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
s affect their bottom line, and to educate policymakers on and advocate for a diverse set of issues, including healthcare reform, clean energy, access to capital and job creation
Job creation program
Job Creation Programs are programs or projects undertaken by a government of a nation to assist unemployed members of the population in securing employment. A cornerstone of Keynesian economics, they are especially common during time of high unemployment...
.
History
Believing that the leading small business organizations were stifling diverse voices in favor of ideological rigidity, CEO John Arensmeyer founded Small Business Majority in 2005 to help entrepreneurEntrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
s and policymakers work together on key issues that affect America's 28 million small businesses.
Healthcare reform
Small Business Majority conducts scientific research on how the healthcare system affects small businesses, and uses the findings to influence the national debate on healthcare reformHealth care reform in the United States
Health care reform in the United States has a long history, of which the most recent results were two federal statutes enacted in 2010: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , signed March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which amended the PPACA and...
.
During the push for passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
, Small Business Majority publicized the voices of small business owners to highlight support of the legislation. Policy papers and materials the organization developed were used by healthcare reform advocates and small business groups. Small Business Majority organized small business forums at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
with cabinet members and with the US Senate Small Business Committee, along with House committees and caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
es on healthcare issues. The National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
noted that Small Business Majority's work on this issue "gained prominence on Capitol Hill and at the White House during the health care debate." Small Business Majority continues to inform lawmakers, employers and the public on key provisions of the law, and on the various aspects of its implementation—including the establishment of state health insurance exchange
Health insurance exchange
A health insurance exchange is a set of state-regulated and standardized health care plans in the United States, from which individuals may purchase health insurance that is eligible for Federal subsidies...
s.
Research
Small Business Majority has conducted in-depth research on two key policy areas: healthcare reform and clean energy policy. Some of the organization's research includes:- In 2008-9, Small Business Majority commissioned scientific surveys of thousands of randomly selected small business owners in 20 states. The surveys showed that small businesses are overly burdened by healthcare costs, and employers want reform and are open to a variety of solutions, including many of the policy changes that ended up in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that was signed into law on March 23, 2010.
- Small Business Majority turned to MIT economist Dr. Jonathan Gruber to project the effects of healthcare reform on small business profits, jobs and wages. The analysis found that compared with no reform, healthcare reform would dramatically improve the situation for small businesses—holding down healthcare cost increases, saving jobs, preserving wages and bolstering profits.
- In March 2010, Small Business Majority sponsored a bipartisan study on small businesses and clean energy/climate policy. The survey, which polled 800 small business owners nationwide, found that small business owners see the clean energy economy as key to their economic success, support climate legislationClimate legislationClimate legislation is legislation dealing with the laws and regulations of greenhouse gas emissions. Many different pieces of climate legislation have been introduced and are being considered by legislatures around the world....
to move clean energy polices forward and are looking to a partnership with government to help them compete. - Families USAFamilies USAFamilies USA is an American non-profit consumer health-care advocacy organization. It was co-founded by attorney Ronald Pollack, its current executive director, and Philippe Villers, the organization's current President....
and Small Business Majority partnered together in July 2010 to collaborate on research that shows how many small businesses in every state are likely to benefit from the new healthcare tax credit. The report found that 4 million small businesses are eligible for tax credits in 2010 and beyond.
- Small Business Majority released an in-depth report on October 18, 2010, that focused on the opportunities AB 32, California's Global Warming Solutions Act, provides to the state's small businesses. The findings showed that the increased investments, energy savings and innovation prompted by the law's requirements will boost small businesses' bottom lines and stimulate job creation. The report concluded that the economic potential AB 32 creates for small businesses is substantial.
- In January 2011, Small Business Majority released a survey of 619 small business owners nationwide to determine how they view two key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care ActThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
: healthcare tax creditTax creditA tax credit is a sum deducted from the total amount a taxpayer owes to the state. A tax credit may be granted for various types of taxes, such as an income tax, property tax, or VAT. It may be granted in recognition of taxes already paid, as a subsidy, or to encourage investment or other behaviors...
s and insurance exchanges. The survey found that although many respondents were not very familiar with these two components of the healthcare law, once informed, one-third said they are more likely to provide healthcare benefits to their employees because of them.
Small Business Network
Small Business Majority has built a network of small business owners across the country who work with the group in various ways to educate other business owners, convey their perspectives to policymakers and ensure that small business voices continue to be heard on a local, regional and national level. In November 2009, Small Business Majority was part of a coalitionCoalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
of four national organizations to bring more than 130 small business owners from 24 states who traveled to Washington, DC, to bring a message of support for healthcare reform to White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
officials and members of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. Small employers
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
in its network have been featured in news outlets on issues and policies supported by Small Business Majority.