Turner And Queens Business Owners Discuss Economic Opportunities And Challenges

New York – Congressman Bob Turner (NY-09) hosted a Queens small business roundtable with the Queens Chamber of Commerce and local small business owners at Shalimar Diner, located on Austin Street, in Rego Park, Queens this morning.

“Small businesses are the engines of our economy. If we wish to revitalize the American economy to its former strength, we must provide small businesses the means to grow and thrive,” Congressman Turner said.

The Congressman worked in conjunction with the Queens Chamber of Commerce to coordinate the event. The Queens Chamber of Commerce and local business owners alike appreciated the Congressman’s clear cut stance to support small business.

Queens Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Jack Friedman, said, “We appreciate Congressman Turner taking the time to share with us his initiatives and ideas of how federal policy can better help small business. Further, inviting our Queens Chamber member businesses to share their thoughts and challenges on Washington was a great opportunity. The meeting was useful, thought provoking, and showed the concern and respect the Congressman has for the Chamber and the importance of the small businesses to the nation's economy."

During the breakfast, the Congressman noted his own personal business background and how he knows firsthand the challenges of creating a business, trying to grow a business, and managing a business from employee healthcare plans to access to capital.

“I understand just how hard it can be to gain access to capital, manage employee benefits, and try to expand your business all the while fighting off overly stringent government regulations and over-taxation,” Turner said.

The conversation took specific note of the burden healthcare and its expense puts on employers and the taxes on small businesses that prevent them from hiring. A recent Gallup/Wells Fargo poll released last week shows that 85% of small businesses said they are not looking for new workers, while 48% said it was due to concerns about rising health care costs and 46% say they are worried about new regulations.

“Being a small business owner your profit margins aren’t astronomical. If you want to expand, at a certain point, you have to hire new employees; but recent polls have shown that small businesses are wary of hiring new employees because of the economic policies of the current administration. We need to help restore Americans’ confidence in our economy by eliminating uncertainties like those we have seen with Obamacare,” Turner said. “Less regulation and lower taxes help all businesses, whether they are just starting up or looking to expand.”

Other attendees included  local leaders in the business community such as Joshua Bienstock, Director, Resolve It, Inc., Forest Hills; Kenneth Trupin, Chief Executive Officer, Lynn Staffing Agency, Inc. Kew Gardens; Christine Baumann, Christine Baumann Interiors, Howard Beach; Arthur Miller, Attorney, Rego Park; and Sher Sparano, President, Benefits Advisory Service, Forest Hills.
 

To view photos from the event click here.

Congressman Bob Turner represents New York’s 9th Congressional district and serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and House Committee on Homeland Security.

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