In Maine, where the vast majority of workers either own or are employed by a small business, the opinions of small business leaders are especially influential. Small business owners truly serve as the backbone of local economies and communities. Many Maine small business owners do not feel that national business groups represent their values, but there has not—until recently—been any alternative organization through which Maine small business owners can make their voices heard.
To fill this void, Maine small business owners came together to form the Maine Small Business Coalition (MSBC) in 2008, with the goal of identifying, recruiting, and developing Maine small business leaders to bring their values to the public debate over national health care reform.
Over the past 6 years and through the national health care reform fight of 2009, MSBC have grown the coalition to more than 3,400 businesses.
In addition to thier work in the Maine legislature and in Congress to make health care more affordable for small business owners, members of the MSBC have spoken out about the need for:
- robust environmental protections in Maine
- stronger regulations for Wall Street
- ensuring that the wealthiest among them pay their fair share in taxes
- comprehensive immigration reform
MSBC members believe in working together to ensure that the elected officials at the state and federal level of government are responsive to the needs of small business owners.
