[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 94 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           OBTRUSIVE GOVERNMENT TAXATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES

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                          HON. JAMES M. TALENT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 19, 1994

  Mr. TALENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my concerns about the 
excessive taxation of small businesses. I would like to share the real-
life story, which is not atypical, of a constituent of mine and one-
time small business owner, Ms. Trish Young.
  Having experienced the challenge of securing a comparable, permanent 
position after being laid-off, Ms. Young created her placement firm, 
Silver Anniversary Temporaries, to help those find work over the age of 
40. Trish Young did not have to get involved in the employment industry 
but she made it her business to make sure other Americans would not 
suffer like she did while trying to rebuild a career. While Ms. Young 
endeavored to solve the problem of unemployment, obtrusive Government 
taxation was driving her own small business into bankruptcy. The 
Government robbed this entrepreneur of her survival by taxing 52.9 
percent of her gross income. Because of the heavy tax burden from 
payroll, unemployment tax with a 30-percent surcharge, and a hefty 23-
percent increase in workers compensation, Trish Young was forced to 
close her employment agency.
  Mr. Speaker, there is something wrong in a nation where 7 out of 10 
small businesses today are not making a profit. Instead of improving 
the survival rate of small businesses, this administration is driving 
them further into debt through last year's tax bill and this year's 
health care reform proposal. It is time to relieve small businesses 
from the distress of exorbitant taxes. We must make this effort as an 
attempt to dissolve unemployment in America before we have more tax-
takers than taxpayers.

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