Rep. Angel Named ‘Guardian of Small Business’

Information provided by Washington House Republicans.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has named Rep. Jan Angel as recipient of its Guardian of Small Business award for her voting record in support of small businesses in Washington.

According to NFIB/Washington State Director Patrick Connor, Angel has a 100 percent positive score for small businesses. The score is based on 10 votes taken in the Washington House of Representatives during the 2011-2012 legislative sessions.

In a letter to Angel, Connor wrote, “This award is our way of thanking you for the hard work you’ve done on the issues that help preserve and protect free enterprise in our state. NFIB members and I appreciate your steadfast support, voting with small business 100 percent of the time during the 62nd Legislature.”

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,” he added.

Angel is a co-sponsor of several bills included in Washington House Republicans’ “Let’s Get Washington Working Again” jobs package. That legislative package includes proposals such as improved permitting processes, a simpler tax structure for small business, less expensive workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance, and reducing excessive regulations against employers.

“I am humbled and honored to receive this award. Small business is the engine of our state’s economy, providing jobs which lead to a better quality of life in Washington. Those that have survived the recession do not need government to further inflict more burdensome costs and regulations that make it difficult to succeed. Instead, government needs to foster productivity so that businesses in the private sector can not only survive, but thrive,” said Angel, R-Port Orchard.

“With more than 288,000 people in our state unemployed and looking for jobs, it’s important to support our small businesses so they can grow and help get Washington working again.”

NFIB is the state’s leading small-business association, with more than 8,000 members in Washington.