National Write Your Congressman Index Shows Small Business Owners Satisfied with Trump's 100 Days Agenda, Dissatisfied with Congress

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Apr 28, 2017, 12:08 ET

DALLAS, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- National Write Your Congressman (NWYC), an organization that gives small businesses a voice in American government, finds 80 percent of small business owners satisfied with Trump's progress in his first 100 days in office, yet dissatisfied with Congress' performance.

In its Q1 2017 Index, NWYC finds small business owners are satisfied with President Trump's achievements, but 56 percent of small business owners are dissatisfied with how Congress is achieving the promises it has made to small businesses in the President's first 100 days.

While there was high dissatisfaction in Congress, small business owners believe that Congress is hindered by the lack of a free and unbiased press, the erosion of individual rights under the Constitution and the lack of enforcement of the rule of law, and most (70 percent) are hopeful the new Congress will turn around by the end of the year.

"NWYC members are highly optimistic and confident in President Trump's plans to help strengthen their business objectives," said Randy Ford President and COO of National Write Your Congressman. "As the top force driving the U.S. economy, small business owners are extremely hopeful in what they've seen during the President's first 100 days and we see our members even more energized to express their priorities to the new Congress."

Small business owners ranked tax relief and simplifications as the top national action that would improve their business results and sited health care reform, regulation reduction and elimination of government corruption as leading priorities.

"NWYC has captured the sentiment of small business owners across the country who have mobilized and made their voices heard even after the election," said Joshua Habursky, Chair of the Grassroots Professional Network and Director of Advocacy for the Independent Community Bankers of America. "There is a growing number of business owners who benefit from President Trump's promises to reform taxes and healthcare – a top concern to employers and businesses across the country."

NWYC's poll represents the opinions of more than 1,700 NWYC members across 48 states in the construction, services, manufacturing and agriculture industries. Findings from the Q1 2017 Index include:

70 percent of small business owners are hopeful and 21 percent of small business owners are extremely hopeful that this new Congress will keep its promises by the end of the year.
To describe the First 100 Days, small business owners listed positive words such as: hope, great, promising, refreshing, improvement, exciting, productive, action-oriented and encouraged. Some negative words listed included: chaos, confusion, frustrating, obstruction, inaction, disorganization, disappointment, divisive, and dysfunction.
Compared to NWYC's Q3 2016 Index, small business owners trust in their own elected member of Congress is up 42 percent --- a further indication that they believe in the individuals, while feeling the overall system is broken.
NWYC members, who regularly share their opinions with their own elected members of Congress, have an increased confidence that their representatives know their small business opinion on key issues, up nine percent from the previous quarter.

NWYC exists to provide members with non-partisan information and research along with the tools they can use to connect with their representatives in Washington and advocate for the policies and actions that will help their small business be successful for their families, their employees and their communities.

NWYC's quarterly index measures small business owners and operators' sentiment towards Congress and their confidence in the U.S. Government. To view the full report click here.

Demographic Profile: NWYC's Q1 2017 Index on the Sentiments of Small Business Towards Congress, conducted between April 12-17, 2017, is based on data collected from 1,717 respondents within NWYC's membership. Respondents represented individuals from 48 U.S. states. 58 percent of respondents employ between one and nine people and 38 percent of respondents employ between 10-99 people. Predominant industries represented included: construction (19%), services (18.2%), manufacturing (14.2%), agriculture (9.4%), retail trade (12.9%), and finance (7.1%). 66 percent of respondents are ages 45-64.

About National Write Your Congressman
National Write Your Congressman (NWYC) is an organization that gives small businesses a voice in American government. As the Nation's largest, privately held, nonpartisan membership organization made up of small businesses, NWYC is dedicated to the delivery of constituent opinions to representatives in Washington. For more than 55 years, NWYC has provided small business owners and operators the tools necessary to connect with members of Congress and a platform to let their collective voice be heard. NWYC's team of experts provides unbiased, nonpartisan information and research on top issues and pending legislation relevant to small business owners today. NWYC presents both sides of the issue so that members can form an educated opinion and let their opinions be heard. For more information, visit: www.nwyc.com.

SOURCE National Write Your Congressman