The News Virginian - Goodlatte Hears About Challenges for Small Business

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By Bob Stuart

Chris Runion is president of Eddie Edwards Signs, a Harrisonburg commercial sign company that does business in the Shenandoah Valley and five states.

His company has grown to 29 employees, and he has invested in expensive digital printing equipment to improve the manufacturing he needs to compete against other sign companies.

But on Wednesday, Runion and other Shenandoah Valley businessmen were focused on talking to 6th District Rep. Bob Goodlatte about some of the challenges making it complicated for their companies to turn a profit.

Runion said the new federal health care law has increased his employees' insurance premiums 14 to 20 percent. Others in attendance at Eddie Edwards Signs on Wednesday spoke of how the federal government tries to compete with private industry and has an unfair advantage.

Goodlatte agreed. He recalled how the federal government had considered a free language software program similar to that of the Shenandoah Valley's Rosetta Stone. And he said the Internal Revenue Service is now looking at a software program that would allow taxpayers to do their taxes instead of consulting with a business.

"It's a waste of taxpayer money and offers an unfair advantage,'' Goodlatte said of the now dormant effort of the government to offer a language program.

As for the federal health care law, Goodlatte said efforts continue in the U.S. House to defund the program. "I'm not averse to getting rid of this horrible law,'' he said.

The congressman spoke of less government and less regulation. His message resonated with Runion. "Government needs to get out of the way and give us an opportunity,'' Runion said.

Goodlatte told the businessmen to consider certain steps in their battle against the government. He said lawsuits can curb the power of government. He also urged the businessmen to back political candidates who understand how small business operates. "Small business is where the jobs are created,'' Goodlatte said.

And while repealing a law is difficult, Goodlatte said it is important for Congress to pass laws that better structure the way laws are written.

He spoke of the cumbersome nature of the federal health care law. The law creates 158 agencies and programs and 20,000 pages of regulation.

Prior to his roundtable discussion with the small businessmen, Goodlatte took a National Federation of Independent Business challenge at Eddie Edwards Signs. He toured the company and helped make a sign.

Runion said business is strong for his company now.

But he fears that the increasing cost of health care will limit the future options for his business. "I want the chance to make my customers satisfied,'' he said. He said accomplishing that goal becomes harder if he lacks the future dollars to invest in equipment and employee training.

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