Small Business
I have supported measures to repeal duplicative and unnecessary regulations, to provide relief from job-killing taxes and fees, and work to advance common sense policies that address the challenges facing business owners including expanding access to needed capital.
As a small business owner, I signed the front of a paycheck for 30 years. I would write my business plans years out in order to ensure that I would be able to continue to pay my current employees in addition to hiring new employees for expansion, and having the capital saved to invest in repairs and equipment upgrades. Business owners, me included, plan based on an expectation of the future economic climate. When that forecast is unpredictable because of looming tax increases, fees or regulations, then businesses hesitate to expand, hire additional workers, or spend any capital until certainty returns.
Since coming to Washington I have worked to improve the economic climate by getting government out of the way so that small businesses can do what they do best, create jobs and generate economic growth. I have supported measures to repeal duplicative and unnecessary regulations, to provide relief from job-killing taxes and fees, and work to advance common sense policies that address the challenges facing business owners including expanding access to needed capital.
Read More on My Work for Small Business:
- Ending the Death Tax
- Fighting for America’s Job Creators
- Increasing Access to Capital
- Standing Up for Rural Jobs
- Reducing Bureaucracy, Encouraging Job Creation
- Fighting for Small Businesses
- Increasing Trade Opportunities for Colorado Products
- Standing up for Women Owned Businesses
- Jobs Events
- Floor and Committee Activity
- Media Highlights
Ending the Death Tax
As our nation continues to struggle with the burden of a stagnant economy, and the threat of massive tax increases on every American family looms, we have the responsibility to protect America’s small businesses and family farms.
As family farms and businesses pass from one generation to the next, the economic toll of the estate tax threatens the very existence of these important employers. With the goal of protecting businesses and farms, I have introduced the Family Farm and Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2012, which will remove one of the considerable obstructions to continued company success. The value of a family farm is tied to land, and when a farm is passed from one generation to the next following the passing of a family member, it is extremely difficult for many family farms to come up with the capital to pay punitive estate taxes while also trying to continue operations and paying employees. It is my belief that families that intend to maintain the family business following the passing of the former owner should be rewarded a reprieve from the crippling effects of the estate tax. My bill prevents the federal government from taxing family farms and small businesses when those assets are transferred from decedents to heirs at death, provided those assets continue to operate as farms or small businesses.
By modifying the tax burden, the Family Farm and Small Business Tax Relief Act encourages families to continue farming or operating the family business and provides relief from the current ‘death tax’ so that farming operations can continue to move forward, providing valuable jobs.
Fighting for America’s Job Creators
According to some, including the President, in order to reduce the deficit and begin paying back our more than $15.8 trillion in debt, we need to raise taxes on America’s job creators. What’s not often considered is that tax increases those that make over $250,000 would actually impact 923,000 small businesses according to the Treasury Department. This is bad policy.
During a tough economy the last thing Washington should do is raise taxes or impose new fees on small businesses that are already struggling to make ends meet and keep employees on the pay-roll. Many of these taxpayers use this income to build savings for slow years when revenue is down and they still have to cover operating costs. Not to mention investing those dollars to grow the business and create jobs.
I will continue to oppose these massive tax increases on our nation’s jobs creators, and instead advocate for common sense spending reform and policies that encourage economic growth and entrepreneurship, so that we can get Americans back to work and expand the number of taxpayers.
Increasing Access to Capital
One of the primary challenges facing small businesses is accessing capital to expand, invest and make upgrades to equipment and hire new employees. I have co-sponsored the Capital Access on Main Street Act (H.R. 1356) with Reps. Ed Perlmutter and Mike Coffman to increase access to lending capital for small businesses through community banks, providing the opportunities for businesses to invest, expand, and create new jobs.
Standing Up for Rural Jobs
Agriculture has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise struggling U.S. economy. Washington should be encouraging this type of growth rather than looking for new ways to impose unnecessary regulations and rules that hinder it. I was able to play a direct role in stopping one such rule—the Department of Labor’s proposed rule that would have prohibited youth from receiving on the job training and doing chores on family farms, additionally prohibiting them from participating in 4-H programs. I was one of the first in Congress to speak out on this proposed rule, and shortly after noticing a hearing in the House Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade (The Future of the Family Farm: The Effect of Proposed DOL Regulations on Small Business Producers), the DOL announced they would delay the proposed rule, eventually abandoning it altogether. This effort helped prevent a job-killing rule from going into effect that would have hurt family farms.
Furthermore, I took a stand for private property rights, rural jobs and Colorado water by urging the USDA to reconsider implementing a permit condition to require the transfer of privately held water rights to the federal government as a condition to utilize National Forest System lands. Ski areas and ranchers rely on these privately held water rights for their livelihoods—in the case of ranchers the rights are used for grazing, while ski areas use them to produce snow. Oftentimes these businesses have invested large sums of private capital into developing the water rights, and use them as collateral for loans to expand and create jobs. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Vilsak, I urged that this job-killing permit condition be reconsidered, as well as requesting and participating in a Natural Resources Water and Power subcommittee hearing on the issue.
Water is the lifeblood of rural communities, and reliable access to water is critical for agriculture producers, families and communities. To that end, I amended the 2012 Farm Bill (H.R. 6083) to direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to “encourage, to the maximum extent practicable, private or cooperative lenders to finance rural water and waste disposal facilities” by utilizing loan guarantees. This would help the USDA to better meet the water system needs of rural communities, creating local construction jobs and improving the safety of drinking water for rural Colorado families.
Reducing Bureaucracy, Encouraging Job Creation
With thousands of pages of new regulations added to the books every year, small businesses are forced to devote precious limited resources toward compliance with bureaucratic red tape, instead of adding new jobs and expanding. I was an original co-sponsor of H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011 (signed into law). This bill repealed the burdensome 1099 paperwork mandate that would have harmed small businesses and hampered job creation. I also co-sponsored H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, a piece of bi-partisan legislation that removes duplicative regulatory requirements on agricultural producers, protecting critical jobs in our farming and ranching communities (passed the House). I am pushing for more extensive cost-benefit analyses of proposed regulations that may adversely affect small businesses. I have co-sponsored the REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act) to require congressional approval of rules that would have an economic impact of more than $100 million or cause a significant increase in costs or prices (passed the House). In addition to these measures, I have supported dozens of other efforts to repeal duplicative or unnecessary regulations that hurt job creation and economic growth.
Fighting for Small Businesses
As Chairman of the Agriculture, Energy and Trade House Small Business Subcommittee, I have held a number of hearings to uncover the drivers of our country’s economic challenges and find solutions to encourage job creation.
I have held the following hearings in the Agriculture, Energy and Trade House Small Business Subcommittee:
- The Impact of U.S. Trade Policies on Small Businesses and Manufacturing.
- Are Excessive Energy Regulations and Policies Limiting Energy Independence, Killing Jobs and Increasing Prices for Consumers? This hearing was held in Grand Junction, CO.
- Regulatory Injury: How USDA’s Proposed GIPSA Rule Hurts America’s Small Businesses.
- Drilling for a Solution: Finding Ways to Curtail the Crushing Effect of High Gas Prices on Small Business.
Increasing Trade Opportunities for Colorado Products
Increased trade opportunities translate to new jobs for much of rural Colorado. On October 12, 2011, I joined my House colleagues in passing three pending free trade agreements. The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that the three trade agreements combined would increase U.S. exports by $13 billion — and for every $1 billion in U.S. exports; an estimated 6,000 jobs are created, including 500 in Colorado.
Along with my staff, I continue to work with the Mexican Consulate to increase Colorado agriculture exports, most notably potatoes, into Mexico, which could lead to new jobs for Colorado. I have held a number of Trade Expo events in the 3rd District to help Colorado small businesses navigate complex trade rules and regulations and increase exports, creating new job opportunities.
Additionally I have introduced legislation to simplify the exporting process for small businesses. Navigating the export process can be complex and confusing for small businesses, and many simply do not have the time and resources to deal with it. Like the United States, foreign countries have a variety of rules, many of whom are not transparent or easy to understand. These rules and regulations can change daily, making it difficult for a small business to stay up-to-date on the current compliance regulations. In an effort to help small firms increase their exports, the TRADE for Small Businesses and Jobs Act would direct the pertinent agencies to monitor and collect up-to-date information on tariff and non-tariff laws, regulations, and practices. It will then be presented in a clear and easy-to-read format, and will serve as a resource for businesses looking to enter a new market. Read more.
Standing up for Women Owned Businesses
Some of our country’s brightest and most promising entrepreneurs are women, and women-owned businesses significantly contribute to our economy, playing a critical role in job creation and growth in this country. By creating a level playing field in the federal contracting process, we can empower women-owned businesses to expand and create new American jobs. This is why I supported the common sense Women’s Procurement Program Improvement Act (H.R. 4203), which streamlines the contracting process for WOSB—which account for 7.2 million, or 30 percent, of businesses in this country—by creating an equal and consistent process so that WOSB follow the same rules as other small business procurement programs such as HUBZone and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. Additionally, the bill changes the certification requirements so that WOSB—currently certified by third parties or by contracting officers—are certified the Small Business Administration or by third parties, strengthening the contracting process. This legislation does not create any new spending.
Jobs Events
In addition to legislative efforts, I have sponsored ten pro-jobs events in the 3rd District, and held more than 49 town hall meetings.
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On Friday, August 10, 2012, Congressman Tipton and members from Colorado's U.S. Export Assistance Center as well as other trade specialists held an Export 101 event in Southwestern Colorado (Durango) so businesses could learn how to increase their exports and also assisting with developing the necessary partnerships.
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May 24, 2012: Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Congressman Tipton held a small business roundtable in Pueblo, CO.
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May 3, 2012: Congressman Tipton and members from Colorado's U.S. Export Assistance Center as well as other trade specialists held an Export 101 event in Western Colorado (Grand Junction) so businesses could learn how to increase their exports and also assisting with developing the necessary partnerships.
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April 11, 2012: Congressman Scott Tipton and the Alamosa Workforce Center teamed up to put on a premier employer resource fair and roundtable in Alamosa.
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April 4, 2012: Congressman Scott Tipton and the Southwest Colorado Workforce Center teamed up to put on a job fair and small business roundtable in Durango.
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February 24, 2012: Congressman Tipton and members from Colorado's U.S. Export Assistance Center as well as other trade specialists held an Export 101 event in Southern Colorado (Pueblo) so businesses could learn how to increase their exports and also assisting with developing the necessary partnerships.
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November 22, 2011: Congressman Tipton was the main sponsor of a Manufacturing Roundtable at the Pueblo Workforce Center.
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November 21, 2011: Congressman Tipton was the main sponsor of the Pueblo is Open for Business Job Fair at the Pueblo Convention Center.
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October 21, 2011: Congressman Tipton was the main sponsor of a Job Fair in Glenwood Springs in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Labor.
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October 22, 2011: Congressman Tipton was the main sponsor of a Job Fair in Steamboat Springs in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Labor.
Floor and Committee Activity
- Rep. Scott Tipton questions FCC Chairman during Small Business Committee hearing
- Rep. Scott Tipton Questions SBA Administrator During Small Business Committee Hearing
- Rep. Scott Tipton at Small Business Committee Subcommittee hearing on trucking regulations
- Rep. Scott Tipton at Small Business Committee Hearing on Free Trade Agreements
Media Highlights
- Fox Business: House Republicans seek to bolster small business exports
- Agri-pulse: Small Business Committee wants regulatory reform for agriculture
- Forbes: Can 26 U.S. Congressmen Really Help Small Business? Or Is it Politics As Usual?
- Pueblo Chieftain: Less regulation called small business salve
- Alamosa Valley Courier: Tipton meets with business leaders
- Fox Business: Help wanted: Small businesses search for skilled workers
- KJCT Channel 8 Grand Junction: Rep. Scott Tipton Raises Small Business Concerns
- KJCT Channel 8 Grand Junction: Rep. Scott Tipton on gas prices and small business
- KREX Channel 5 Grand Junction: Rep. Scott Tipton tours small businesses
- KJCT Channel 8 Grand Junction: Tipton Leads Small Business Subcommittee Field Hearing in GJ
- Reps. Tipton and Perlmutter Discuss their Bill to Free Up Capital for Small Business on FOX News
- KREX Channel 5 Grand Junction: Congressman Scott Tipton talks jobs during recess tour
For more information concerning my work and views on Small Business issues , please contact my Washington, DC office.