OPINION:
Small businesses expect direct decisions and actions from Congress this year. We expect Congress to carry out the people’s business in an orderly fashion. On the surface, this seems peripheral to business, and that specific bills or budgets should be the order of the day; however, those bills that come up to Congress and seem to be socially weighted dramatically affect small businesses.
Should the government act on banning assault rifles? Maybe, but more than the gun industry is affected by this decision. Many school districts are scrambling to find budgets for additional private security. One issue facing them is imminent need, and with the assault rifle being viewed as a direct threat, you can bet local authorities are developing budgets and asking for federal assistance to hire security companies.
Access to capital remains an issue for small businesses and entrepreneurs. With the recent financial debacle came financial-institution pullback we hadn’t seen in a long time. While the federal government has made more money accessible to financial institutions, those same institutions have decided to channel those funds into other uses rather than lend to small-business owners. Congress should recognize this fact and realize that short of mandating those institutions to circulate those funds, it simply won’t happen. Our country suffers from basic infrastructure dilapidation, with poor roads and schools. Each of these local projects would do much to spur small-business growth, a vital part of our economy. Investing in our infrastructure may well be the only way we get firmly on the road to recovery. It will touch every facet of our economy from loans to manufacturing, design to finishing, and all the ancillary businesses that would both support and benefit the effort.
GREG HOLLIS
CEO, president
Trinity Protection Services
Largo, Md.
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