Scientific Opinion Poll: Wisconsin Small Business Owners Feel Disadvantaged When it Comes to the Electoral Process, Support Significant Reforms

A scientific opinion poll released today shows Wisconsin small business owners believe big businesses have an unfair influence on government decisions and the political process̢??‰۝which gives them a competitive advantage over small firms̢??‰۝and they believe it̢??‰?s time to take steps to improve the electoral process overall.

The poll, conducted Sept. 5-18, 2014, by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research on behalf of Small Business Majority, found seven in 10 small business owners (71 percent) say big businesses have a significant impact on government decisions and the political process, whereas a mere 18 percent say small businesses have a significant impact on the process. Two-thirds of small business owners (66 percent) say major changes are needed to the electoral system.

"Small businesses like mine make up the backbone of America̢??‰?s economy̢??‰۝but wealthy special interests often overshadow our voices because of unfair campaign finance laws,̢???? said Mike Phillips, Co-Founder of B2B Dynamix in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ̢???We need reforms to increase transparency and give everyone an equal say in the policy process.̢????

Wisconsin small employers overwhelmingly believe we need more transparency from special interest groups that finance election campaigns and 89 percent of small business owners support requiring special interest groups that use paid TV and mail ads during elections to publicly disclose where their money comes from. Small businesses also support publicly-financed campaigns, with a vast majority of entrepreneurs, 91 percent, who support changing the way we finance election campaigns to using only small contributions from voters and a limited amount of public funds.

̢???Small business owners are pragmatic, not ideological. And contrary to a long-held misconception, they are not reflexively anti-government,̢???? said Jesse Greenberg, Small Business Majority̢??‰?s Director, Midwest & West. ̢???They want government to understand their needs and respond in a constructive manner̢??‰۝and then act on it, by adopting policies that put small business first and on a level playing field with big business.̢????

Respondents in the survey were politically diverse, with 36 percent who identified as Republican, 40 percent as Democrat, 20 percent as independent or other.

For more on the Wisconsin state poll, please visit: http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/small-business-research/downloads/103014-WI-election-poll-report.pdf

For the full poll report, please visit: http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/small-business-research/government-accountability/small-business-support-for-election-reform.php