I’ve said many times that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I witness it every time I travel through Northwest Missouri and have the opportunity to meet the working men and women in our restaurants, storefronts, offices and other places of business. In fact, small businesses are responsible for creating 2/3rds of the seven million new jobs created in the last three and a half years.
 
That's why I'm concerned that many in Congress wanted to raise the minimum wage without a thought about our small businesses and how it may affect them.
 
I will always support an increase in the minimum wage as long as it includes provisions to help small businesses.  The last thing I want is for small businesses to be forced to lay off employees.  An arbitrary increase in the minimum wage without important tax and regulatory relief for small businesses will result in thousands of workers loosing their jobs.
 
One measure I think should go hand-in-hand with a minimum wage increase is Small Business Healthcare Plans.  Small business employees deserve access to quality and affordable healthcare.

Small Business Healthcare Plans would allow companies to band together through an existing trade association and purchase health insurance as a large group. By negotiating as a large company, rather than many small ones, healthcare costs can be dramatically reduced.
 
 Small business owners face enough hurdles today just trying to meet their payroll.   Affordable wages and affordable healthcare - Congress has to do its part to make both a reality. I believe our economy is healthy when Main Street is healthy.