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Ted Dehaven
Budget analyst, The Cato Institute

Prescription: Abolish, but keep a cabinet-level advocate

"The SBA doesn't meet the needs of small businesses. My preference is to allocate zero dollars to the SBA's future budget so that it can be shut down.

I ask those who worry about the SBA losing its voice: What voice does it actually have? Right now it does not advocate for small businesses.

Owners have expressed again and again that the issues of greatest importance are high taxes and government regulation. The issues of least importance are inability to get loans and government contracts, but that's what the SBA focuses on.

If the SBA closes its doors, there still needs to be small-business advocacy in the government. That can come from one person within cabinet. It's fine to have a small-business liaison in the executive or legislative branch, so long as he or she accurately reflects the needs of the small business community and fights to decrease regulation and decrease taxes."

NEXT: Lloyd Chapman
LAST UPDATE: Jan 13 2009 | 10:13 AM ET
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