Why Small Business Matters

Despite what we have been led to believe, Texas has been taking the time to make it as difficult as possible to open or maintain that small business. Small business regulations and taxes can be transformed into a positive influence on entrepreneurship with one word: simplification.

Saving Main Street

Small businesses in Texas are abused. We must take steps to be friendly to both small businesses and hiring.

1. One of our top priorities should be to lower the cost of healthcare which will help keep small businesses’ employment expenses down. They will be able to improve the economy through increased hiring and also have greater potential to grow and thrive alongside larger businesses and corporations.
2. Worker’s compensation laws must be overhauled. While it is critical that these protections for workers not be diminished in any way, I suggest introducing a plan that integrates elements of worker’s compensation programs from around the country in order to lower the costs associated with this program. This will also allow a high-deductible worker’s compensation plan which allows the employer to pay out of pocket until their deductible is reached. Any business choosing this option must still provide proof of their ability to pay to make it impossible for an employer to neglect their accident and injury compensation responsibilities.
3. We must quit placing so many restrictions on new and developing industries including vape shops, hemp / cannabis businesses and cryptocurrency and instead allow them to innovate and flourish.
4. We need to encourage small businesses to help with rehabilitation of felons after they’ve been released from prison. To help with this, employers will receive payroll tax waivers for these individuals during the first two years of their employment. The returns to taxpayers are two fold because we are encouraging economic growth for this population of individuals, as well as reducing the likelihood of them returning to prison (recidivism).
5. Many of the occupational licenses required by the government do very little to actually improve the quality or safety of the work being performed. Any licensing requirements for goods and services that people would generally be comfortable asking someone if they know to provide or perform should be repealed. This will make it easier for small businesses to hire capable people, which will in turn make it easier for these individuals to climb out of poverty without having to pay to simply to feed their family.
6. The government should not raise the tipped minimum wage. A recent attempt in Maine led to the discovery that this measure actually hurts the total compensation of waiters and waitresses. Ultimately, the backlash from restaurant workers was so strong that the legislature repealed it.