For immediate release: November 21, 2013
CONTACT:
Allison Abney | Media Relations Manager
(202) 289-0957| [email protected]
Small Businesses Support Senate’s Approval of Filibuster Rule Change
Statement by John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority, in response to the
Senate’s passage today of a rule change that will allow the confirmation processes for presidential
nominees to proceed more easily
The Senate’s vote today to change the rule requiring a super majority of 60 votes to confirm most
presidential nominees to a simple majority is welcome news to small employers. When Congress holds
up the confirmation process for heads of government agencies, it hinders its ability to function
properly and do critical work that benefits small businesses, consumers and the economy.
A scientific opinion poll Small Business Majority released recently found a strong majority of small
business owners believe Congress has been doing a poor job confirming presidential nominees. The
poll also revealed small employers believe the president’s nominations deserve a timely up or down
vote and don’t approve of the Senate regularly holding up votes to confirm nominations to key
government positions like judgeships and government agencies.
Small businesses understand that to survive in this tough economy they need government agencies
running smoothly and forming policies that encourage them to innovate. That’s why they support
timely votes on the president’s nominees, so the government can continue to promote policies that will
help small employers grow and create jobs.
If lawmakers want to do what’s best for small businesses, they should spend their time working to
strengthen our economy and advancing smart policies that encourage job creation—not holding up
confirmation processes for presidential nominees or hindering government agencies from doing their
jobs. We hope this rule change will speed up the process for nominees and prevent some lawmakers
from using filibusters to delay or even prevent confirmations based entirely on partisan politics. It’s
the right thing to do for small businesses and our country.
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About Small Business Majority
Small Business Majority is a national nonpartisan small business advocacy organization founded and
run by small business owners and focused on solving the biggest problems facing America’s 28 million
small businesses. We conduct extensive opinion and economic research and work with small business
owners, policy experts and elected officials nationwide to bring small business voices to the public
policy table. Learn more about us on Wikipedia and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.