Hurt gets small business backing
| State Sen. Robert Hurt, the Republican contender for the 5th District congressional seat currently held by Rep. Tom Perriello, announced Tuesday the National Federation of Independent Business has endorsed his campaign.
The announcement was made at Office Plus Business Centre on Memorial Drive in Danville. Former state Sen. Charles Hawkins and Delegates Danny Marshall and Don Merricks spoke in praise of the NFIB and against current government spending before Hurt spoke to a small crowd of about 25 supporters, staff and news media. Hurt said the NFIB helps small businesses grow and that the current spending, taxes and programs like the federal healthcare plan hurt small businesses. “The federal government thinks it knows better (than business owners) how to run their business, how to treat their employees,” Hurt said, calling current government spending “unrestrained fiscal irresponsibility.” Hurt said small businesses are suffering now, but the people who have to pay the bill for that fiscal irresponsibility will be “our children and grandchildren.” Marshall noted that a vote for Hurt would be a move toward getting the country “back in step,” and asked supporters to make sure all their family and friends get out and vote on Nov. 2. He reminded people that Virgil Goode lost to Perriello by 727 votes, and that “no votes can go unrecorded.” Hurt noted in a news release that it is important for elected officials to support small businesses. “I believe that small businesses, not the government, will create the sustainable private sector jobs that we need to get out economy back on track,” Hurt said. “It is imperative tht we have people in Washington who will support, protect and work with small businesses.” Hurt also said that, if elected to Congress, he pledged not to raise taxes, and would prefer to see them reduced so small businesses will be able to expand their start hiring again. “…I believe the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts should be made permanent, I will work to lower the corporate income tax rate and my limited government philosophy will drive my decisions to ensure that government does not over-regulate or over-burden out job creators,” Hurt said. The NFIB said it supports Hurt as “one of their own,” noting that he is one of Virginia’s 150,000 small business owners and an NFIB member. “…he has a voting record to show he is able to translate his own perspective as a business owner into policies that let small business do what it does best, which is grow the economy and create jobs,” Lisa Goeas, NFIB’s vice president for political operations, said in a news release. Thibodeau is a staff writer for the Danville Register & Bee. |