Iowa Main Street Alliance
Providing a Public Policy Voice for Small Business
The Main Street Alliance has a big vision for small business. We are dedicated to giving a new voice to small business on issues that effect us.
Join the Iowa Main Street Alliance to help get small business voices heard!The Iowa Main Street Alliance is a project of Iowa Citizen Action Network. We are over 500 small business owners, entrepreneurs, farmers and the self-employed from across the state. Main Street Alliance business owners share a vision that decisions on important public policy issues should work for small business owners, our employees and the economy.
We believe small businesses aren't being represented like they deserve at the capitol in Des Moines or in Washington, DC. The lobbyists who claim to speak for small businesses are really pushing a big business agenda. We believe real small business owners have the power to change that.
In the immediate future, we have big plans, including:
- Health care: Health care costs are stifling small businesses. We support changes to allow small businesses to band together to get the best coverage at the best price, stop unjustified rate increases, and hold the insurance industry accountable.
- Bringing small business voices into the national debate over financial reform.
- Credit card reform: Small businesses are charged exorbitant interchange fees for credit and debit card transactions. We support reforms to control these fees and require the card companies and big banks to give small businesses a fair shake.
- Continuing to expand our network and create opportunities for small business owners to speak for themselves on a broad set of important public policy issues.
If you are a small business owner and would like to get involved with the Iowa Main Street Alliance, use our sign up form. Contact Sue Dinsdale for details and questions.
Updates
Calculator for New Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit
One of the health reform package’s benefits for small businesses that takes effect immediately – this year – is a new health care tax credit that will help small businesses save on insurance costs. Here's a calculator to find out your small business tax credit.
Main Street Alliance Targets Financial Reform
Iowa MSA has collected surveys on financial reform from over 100 small business owners across Iowa. We canvassed both existing MSA members and potential and new members. This is a national project with well over 1000 surveys collected from participating states. The information was compiled into a report that highlights each state's individual results and was released on January 28th.
Main Street Alliance business owner thanks Rep Braley for his vote on Health Care Reform
Congressman Braley visited one of our Main Street Alliance businesses in Waterloo. Alpha Express, Inc, is an African American family-owned and operated trucking and transportation business. The owner Levorn Robinson, his son and family were on hand to meet with Congressman Braley. Levorn started his remarks to the press with a big thanks to Rep. Braley and reiterating the importance of the vote to small businesses like his.
Iowa small business owners talk health care reform with Sen. Harkin
Iowa Main Street Alliance members participate in "Health Care Reality Tour" to highlight importance of health reform for small business and the local economy.
Stand Up For Main Street, Not K Street
On Tuesday, as the Senate Finance Committee held final deliberations on its health care reform package, Iowa small business owners described their own health care needs to staff from Rep. Dave Loebsack's office. They sent a clear message about health care reform: "Stand up for Main Street, not K Street."
Reshonda Young, manager of Alpha Express, talks about the experience of finding Healthcare Insurance for their Staff.
The interview took place during HCAN's rally organized by ICAN.
Iowa Main Street Alliance Continues to Grow
The Main Street Alliance has grown by more than 20 members since our last report in January with membership now over 350. The new members have been recruited by one-on-one interviews in the Des Moines, Ames, Waterloo/Cedar Falls and Mason City areas, attending events, referral by other members and door to door canvassing.
Stories,stories, stories
We have collected health care stories from small business owners, entrepreneurs and farmers. We have 10 new stories in various stages of completion and they will be compiled and used to connect with Iowa's Members of Congress and targetted media representatives. These stories help us to identify spokespersons for media events, letters to the editor and forums.
Rapid Response for Grassley
In March, we had two rapid response events and, with the help of the phone canvass, identified over 60 MSA members who committed to contacting Senator Grassley. We also circulated a letter from MSA members to Senator Grassley and secured 15 signatures. This was delivered to his office in DC via fax and also in person with MSA (and ICAN Board Member) ReShonda Brown.
Mason City Health Care Roundtable
We attended the Health Care Roundtable in Mason City where several of our members were present and submitted questions to Senator Grassley regarding a public plan. The Senator addressed a public plan in his remarks, reiterating his stance that a public option is unfair competition to private industry and would cause private insurance companies to go out of business.
Health Care Forums in 5 Congressional Districts
We assisted with Health Care Forums in cooperation with HCAN, Iowa Farmers Union, Center for Rural Affairs, and Working Families Win. We invited MSA members to attend and signed up additional members at these meetings in all five congressional districts. Several of the attendees are very interested in the MSA and are potential members of the leadership team.
Resources
- Fact Sheet: Small Businesses and the Final Health Reform Package: 5 Need-to-Know Points
- Fact Sheet (PDF): Financial Regulatory Reform: Protecting the American Economy, Increasing Stability and Restoring Confidence
- Fact Sheet (PDF): Q & A: Why We Need a Consumer Financial Protection Agency
- Chart (PDF): Community Financial Protection Agency Overview
- Report (PDF): Main Street Policy Pulse: Small Business Views On Financial Reform
Based on a survey of 1,237 small business owners from 13 states, this report assesses participating small businesses’ experiences with the economic recession and evaluates Main Street business owners’ views on financial reform. The survey found strong support among participating small business owners for financial reform and creation of a consumer financial protection agency.Iowa Snapshot (PDF): Main Street Policy Pulse: Small Business Views On Financial Reform
In Iowa, 101 small business owners participated in the survey on financial issues and financial reform. Respondents overwhelmingly believe that Congress should pass strong financial reforms, financial reforms are needed to ensure accountability on Wall Street, promote fair access to credit for small businesses and prevent another collapse. They also support creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency to supervise all bank and non-bank lenders. They believe that the CFPA would help small businesses by ensuring access to credit on fair terms and making sure all lenders are playing by the same rules. - Fact Sheet (PDF): Obama Administration Fights for American Families: Protecting Consumers, Investors, and Taxpayers
Fact sheet on the Consumer Financial Protection Agency - Fact Sheet (PDF): Community Banks will Benefit from the Consumer Protection Financial Agency
- Fact Sheet (PDF): Six Myths about the Consumer Financial Protection Agency
- Fact Sheet (PDF): $146 Million of 'Shoe-Leather' to Kill Consumer Protection?
Six trade associations representing Wall Street, big business, major banks and mortgage lenders, and the consumer credit industry are planning an all-out assault on the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency. - Fact Sheet (PDF): How Health Reform Will Benefit Iowa Small Businesses
- Report (PDF): Taking the Pulse of Main Street: Small Businesses, Health Insurance, and Priorities for Reform
Small business owners are considered a key voice in the public dialogue over health care reform. But where do small business owners stand on the issue? Taking the Pulse of Main Street reports results from a survey of 1,200 small business owners' experiences with health insurance and perspectives on different reform proposals. The results show small business owners want real health reform, are willing to contribute, and want the choice of a public health insurance plan. - Charts Display the Results of Iowan Small Business Health Care Questionaire
Take Action!
Email the Insurance Commissioner
Reform rules must protect consumers, not insurance companies!
Tell Commissioner Voss that you support tough rules and enforcement to stop insurance companies from pocketing our health care dollars for themselves instead of paying for the care we need.
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