NEWSRELEASE
For Release: May 14, 2003
Contact: John McDowell (202) 205-6941
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
SBA Number: 03-23 ADVO
Missouri Legislature Protects Small Business
Small Business Watchdog Urges Gov. Holden To Sign Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. The Missouri General Assembly has acted to protect Missouris small businesses by creating a small business regulatory fairness board. The board gives Missouris nearly 120,000 small businesses owners a voice in the states regulatory process.
"The Missouri General Assembly has taken a big step towards protection of Missouris job-generating small businesses," said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. "The small business regulatory fairness board will guarantee small business a seat at the table where government decisions are made. Small businesses can be thankful that they have strong champions in Sen. Anita Yeckel (St. Louis) and Rep. Brian Baker (Belton), the sponsors of the legislation," he said.
The legislation, Senate Bill 69, now heads to Governor Bob Holden for his signature. "I urge Gov. Holden to sign SB 69," said Sullivan, who traveled to Jefferson City in September to testify in favor of the bill. "Small business is the heart of Missouris economy. But sometimes its easy to overlook their importance and its easy to overlook how federal and state mandates are crushing them. This legislation will help to level the playing field and encourage entrepreneurship in Missouri," he said.
The Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board will provide state agencies with input on proposed rules which adversely affect small business; consider requests from small business owners for reviews of previously adopted rules; review rules which affect small business and make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the need for rules or legislation; and conduct hearings on the enforcement of rules by state agencies. The board will also issue an annual report to the governor and the General Assembly evaluating state agencies regulatory fairness for small business.
The Office of Advocacy, the "small business watchdog" of the federal government, examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to Congress and the President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats and it funds research into small business issues.
For more information, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo.
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Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC, support the Chief Counsels efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.