All accross the country and right here in town, small businesses are struggling to stay afloat in one of the worst recessions we have experienced. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has given State Senator Tony Strickland a 100% rating on issues affecting small businesses in California. The flawless rating is a reflection of Senator Strickland’s voting record during the 2009 legislative session.

“Small businesses are the backbone of California’s economy and I am honored to receive this high rating from NFIB,” said Strickland. “With local businesses struggling to keep people employed and remain solvent, my voting record reflects both an effort to advance business-friendly laws as well as stand against burdensome, regulatory policies that are suffocating small businesses.”

NFIB was founded in 1943 to promote and protect the interests of small and independent businesses in America. Their efforts in California have included a study on the impacts of regulations in the state. The NFIB says compliance with California regulations cost each small business $134,122.48 and this figure does not include indirect costs such as lost wages and revenues. The NFIB study also found an average loss of one job per small business.

Senator Strickland stated, “With many Californians being employed by a small business we cannot continue to throw sand in the gears of the engine that runs our economy. Job creation and restoring our economy should be California’s first, second, and third priority.”

“Removing bureaucratic barriers to growing our economy is essential to solving our financial crisis and putting Californians back to work. I remain committed to helping small businesses thrive in California,” said Strickland.

In his effort to address the concerns of businesses, Senator Strickland, along with other area legislators, will hear testimony from local employers at a Legislative Business Forum in his district this Friday, March 5. For more information, please call (805) 306-8886.

Tony Strickland represents California Senate District 19, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.