ST. PAUL — Rep. Joe McDonald, R-Delano, has received the Guardian of Small Business Award from the state’s largest small-business group in terms of entities, the National Federation of Independent Business Minnesota.
NFIB issues its Guardian of Small Business award at both the federal and state level to recognize legislators who have been supportive of small business on critical issues. McDonald said his perspective as a small-business owner himself is helpful in understanding the issues entrepreneurs face in Minnesota.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, yet our state hasn’t always been the friendliest place to set up shop,” McDonald said. “This is a situation I have worked to improve throughout my tenure in the House and will continue advocating for the men and women who are operating in our state, while also making Minnesota a more enticing place for people who may want to relocate here.”
To receive the award legislators had to demonstrate a supportive voting record for small business during the 2015-16 sessions of the Minnesota legislature. A press release from NFIB indicates it specifically recognized McDonald for having “made many votes that were critical for small business, including a vote for significant tax reductions and reforms that included conforming Minnesota’s estate tax exemption to that of the federal, and a significant reduction in commercial property taxes that would make Minnesota much more competitive on a critical issue. He also supported legislation that provided employers a significant unemployment insurance tax credit that will reduce taxes by 27-29% and made a vote for reforming the healthcare component of workers compensation that is escalating out of control, and many others.”
“Representative McDonald is a real friend of small business and we are happy to announce that he has earned the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award,” said Mike Hickey, NFIB state director.
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