As I traveled across the fifth district last week, I spoke with many small business leaders throughout Central and Southside Virginia about ways to promote a pro-growth agenda that will stimulate our economy and provide new job opportunities for hard-working fifth district Virginians. The overarching theme of so many of the conversations was that government red tape and overregulation are hurting our small businesses and stifling their ability to grow and create jobs.
I was particularly concerned by the sentiment expressed by so many small business owners and family farmers that the government is not only their primary obstacle to success, but it is actually taking actions that harm jobs and the economy. Overreaching regulations are causing a lack of access to capital, unstable energy prices, and uncertainty regarding health care costs.
I heard about how the excessive regulation of utilities is driving up costs for energy-intensive businesses like manufacturing and agriculture. The president’s healthcare law is also piling on additional costs that are hampering the ability of small businesses to create jobs for our stagnant economy. It is forcing these vital employers to cut employee hours and trim their workforces at a time when we cannot afford to be doing so. Business owners and farmers also told me that their lack of access to capital is hampering their success. A healthy economy should provide numerous avenues for capital formation for businesses and farms, but excessively burdensome regulations like those put forth by the Dodd-Frank Act are preventing these businesses from obtaining the capital they need to invest in their enterprises and create jobs.
With the unemployment rate in many Central and Southside Virginia localities still exceeding the national rate, government-created obstacles to economic growth are unacceptable. Freeing our main street businesses and family farms from the burdens of unnecessary government regulations continues to be a top priority, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in this effort so that we may allow these small businesses and family farms to create much-needed jobs and stimulate economic growth.
If you need any additional information, please visit my website at hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, Danville office: (434) 791-2596, or Farmville office: (434) 395-0120.
robert hurt represents the fifth district in Congress.
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