Posted on: Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Bush win buoys small-business agenda

By Joyce M. Rosenberg
Associated Press

NEW YORK — President Bush's re-election and the Republican Party's larger membership in the next Congress have made small-business advocacy groups optimistic about some of the issues on their national agendas.

The National Federation of Independent Business welcomed Bush's re-election, and Dan Danner, the NFIB's senior vice president for public policy, said in an interview, "We believe very strongly that this president — probably more than any other in my recollection — has gone out of his way to be a supporter of small business."

With healthcare costs a major concern for business owners, the election has raised hopes that national association health plans (AHPs) will become a reality in Bush's second term. Under AHPs, small businesses can buy into group health insurance plans anywhere in the country, giving them greater leeway in shopping for a cheaper plan.

Although Bush endorsed the AHPs concept in this year's State of the Union address, a bill to create national plans stalled in the Senate after winning approval in the House. Now, with the Republicans winning four new seats in the Senate, giving them a margin of 55-44 over the Democrats, with one independent, "we may see some more movement on AHPs," said Erin Fuller, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Women Business Owners, which supports creation of the plans.

AHPs are also supported by the NFIB, which is also based in Washington.

Small-business groups also expect to see more tax cut legislation during Bush's second term. Although there were two big tax bills during the first Bush term, "we are optimistic that it (taxes) will be a much bigger issue than people realize," said Todd McCracken, president of the National Small Business Association, also based in Washington.