Rep. Paul Harris has been named a recipient of the “Guardian of Small Business Award” by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) for his voting record in support of small businesses in Washington.
The award recipients are graded on votes they take during the two-year legislative cycle that help or hurt small businesses. A lawmaker must have an 80 percent voting record or higher to receive the award.
“I am honored to receive this award. I have been a small business owner for over 18 years, so I have seen firsthand how difficult it is to be a small business owner in Washington,” said Harris, R-Vancouver. “We need more business oriented legislators, or guardians, in Olympia. About 96 percent of our state’s businesses employ less than 50 people. Those are the businesses that will turn our economy around and improve our state’s bottom line.”
NFIB Washington State Director Patrick Connor said lawmakers selected for the award took some difficult votes to support small businesses and employers.
“It’s easy to say you support small business, but it’s a far different thing to actually vote with small business when faced with the pressure from big labor, big business and other advocates of big government. Our Guardians of Small Business fought for free enterprise in the face of sometimes hostile opposition and took tough votes because they knew it was the right thing to do for the job creators in their home district and across the state,” Connor added.
“Unfortunately, we have a lot of work to do in putting some certainty back into our state’s business climate. We need to give the private sector the opportunity and incentive to invest or expand their businesses, said Harris.”
NFIB is the state’s leading small-business association, with more than 8,000 members in Washington.
###
Kurt Hammond, Public Information Officer, (509) 664-4055