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Who gets small-biz votes?
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August 30, 2000: 5:56 p.m. ET
Traditionally Republican group wants fewer regulations and more tax breaks
By Staff Writer Hope Hamashige
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Even in these heady economic times, small-business owners, that vast engine credited with fueling the stunning growth of the U.S. economy, want relief. Yes, small-business owners have profited from the robust economy that has put more money in the hands of more people. And they remain extremely optimistic about the future of the robust American economy.
Yet many of them feel they have prospered in spite of, not with the help of, the federal government and were it not for government interference, they would have done even better over the past seven years.
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"They feel the federal government does nothing to help them, but does a lot to hinder them," said National Federation of Independent Business spokeswoman Mary Crawford, citing a recent survey of NFIB's membership. "They have prospered, but with one hand tied behind their backs."
The pocketbook appeal
It's a common refrain, repeated year after Presidential election year. While  the nation's social agenda sways from a focus on crime in one year to education the next, small-business owners and advocates generally lobby for one type of candidate year after year: one who is going to get out of their way.
Most feel they are still over-burdened by a complex tax structure and a load of government-imposed regulations. The government has also ignored their pleas for reforms in the areas of health care and pension plans that would give them a leg up trying to recruit and retain employees.
Little has changed, too, about how the candidates in this election are trying to appeal to small business owners. They're doing it the way Presidential candidates have done in elections past: by appealing to their pocketbooks.
The guy who is most likely to get the small-business vote is the one who will promise them the deepest tax cuts, the most sweeping regulatory relief and will do something about the unreasonably high cost of health care.
Is a strong economy enough?
None of the national small-business groups makes endorsements in  presidential elections and none is encouraging members to vote for one candidate over another.
They have, however, been analyzing pieces of the candidates' platforms and so far, to nobody's surprise, most of the praise has been lavished on Republican candidate George W. Bush for putting tax cuts and health care cost reduction alongside compassion at the top of his agenda.
Damon Dozier, a spokesman for National Small Business United, said that while the group's legislative priorities tend to lean toward a Republican platform, Al Gore is not an unappealing presidential candidate.
Gore can, and has, touted the leadership role he's held, as Vice President, presiding over the economic expansion of the last several years that has been a boon for many small business owners.
Dozier said he expects NSBU's members, especially those who really are better off than they were eight years ago, to look favorably on the Democratic candidate for his experience. Gore has also talked about making changes to pension plans and health care plans and rolling back installment sales, all of which will please some small-business owners, said Dozier.
"Both them have attractive things in their platform," said Dozier.
Death tax as wedge issue
NFIB's more strident membership, known to fall to the right of NSBU, is not as generous in its assessment of Gore as a candidate. According to Crawford, the last eight years have done little to appease its membership.
"They are fired up and really, really angry," she said.
Since the conventions, NFIB has picked apart the platforms of the two candidates and has praised nearly every aspect of the Bush agenda. Bush backs small-business efforts to pool their resources to buy health insurance from national associations and has said he would allow self-employed individuals to immediately deduct 100 percent of the cost of their health insurance.
Perhaps no single issue is more galling this year to NFIB's membership than the estate-tax issue, however. NFIB led a coalition of lobbyists this year on Capitol Hill to eliminate the estate tax, which it says prevents small businesses from being passed from one generation to the next.
Gore has said he supports a different version of the bill that would exempt small-business owners and small farmers from paying the hefty tax, but does not favor eliminating the tax entirely.
In an overture to small business voters, "Dubya" promised during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention to do away with estate taxes. It was the first time in recent memory that any small-business issue had been mentioned so prominently at a party convention.
It may have been a purely political tactic on Bush's part. Congress passed a bill eliminating the estate tax this summer and sent it to President Clinton last week to sign. Clinton is expected to veto it just after the long Labor Day weekend. Republicans will, no doubt, use this in the campaign against Gore.
Political tactic? Maybe. A promise? Sure sounded like one. Chances are many small business owners and advocates will take it however they can get it. 
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