Underscores Mitt Romney’s Failed Record as Governor

Tallahassee, FL – Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith and small business owner Amy Mandel today discussed on a conference call the President’s record of helping America’s small businesses grow and create jobs, and exposed Mitt Romney’s failed record both as Governor of Massachusetts and as a corporate-buyout specialist, where the damage done by Romney Economics shows the disastrous impact his policies would have on today’s small businesses and our entire country.

“The truth is, President Obama has helped small businesses grow, create jobs and lift up their communities,” said Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith. “One only needs to look at his record as Governor of Massachusetts, which ranked 47th out of 50 states in job creation under his watch, to see the results of Romney Economics in practice. Romney Economics fails to help small businesses and doubles down on the failed policies of the past.”

Recognizing that America’s small businesses are the backbone of our communities and our economic security – creating two out of every three new jobs in this country – President Obama has cut taxes for small businesses 18 different times, helping them grow and put more hardworking residents in Florida back to work while lowering their costs.    He has also helped more than 150,000 small businesses access Small Business Administration-supported loans, allowing them to expand, invest and hire more workers.

Meanwhile, Romney Economics fails to help small businesses get ahead – instead doubling down on the failed policies of the past.  As a corporate-buyout specialist, Mitt Romney had one goal: maximizing profits for himself and his investors, not creating jobs or helping companies grow.  During his time as Governor, Massachusetts ranked 47th out of 50 states in job creation while manufacturing jobs were lost at twice the national average.  And then-Governor Romney repeatedly axed funding for workforce training for small manufacturers across the state.

“President Obama understands that small businesses are the backbone of our communities, creating two out of every three new jobs,” said Amy S Mandel owner of Feet First shoe store. “That’s why he’s urging Congress to pass a new 10-percent tax credit for small businesses that hire new workers or give their current employees a raise. Romney’s plan of tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations would hurt the middle class and be a disaster for Florida and for the nation.”

Today, while the President is urging Congress to pass a new 10 percent tax credit for small businesses that hire new workers or give their current employees a raise, Romney is focused on hurting the middle class to pay more tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and big corporations.  He’d gut investments in areas important to small businesses – including education, training, innovation, manufacturing and infrastructure.  And Romney has endorsed a budget that could slash the SBA by nearly 20 percent – preventing small businesses from getting loans that would help them hire and expand.

At the end of the day, Romney Economics is about two sets of rules – one for Mitt Romney and others at the top, and another for everyone else.  And middle-class families in Florida simply can’t afford it.

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