Economy, Heath Care, and Gas Prices Top Issues for Women Business Owners
National Association of Women Business Owners Members Voice Their Opinions on National Policy Concerns Facing Our Nation
(McLean, Va, June 3, 2008) -- The state of the economy, the cost and availability of health insurance, fuel and other energy costs, and business tax issues are the top issues impacting the women’s business community at the present time, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO®) among its members.
When given a list of nine key business issues, fully 93% of NAWBO members say that the state of the economy is an extremely or very important issue for them as business owners today, making it the top issues concern. Following closely behind are: the cost and availability of health insurance for myself and my employees (82% extremely/very important); fuel and other energy costs (81%); and business tax issues (75%).
“NAWBO members share the general concern of voters about the state of our economy,” said Lisa Kaiser Hickey, NAWBO’s president and president/CEO, Douglas Screen Printers, Inc. in Lakeland, Florida. “At the same time, our members also show differences in the way they see other important issues, such as health care – where they want to see more focus on prevention, and immigration – where they want the focus to be on systemic reform,” remarked Hickey. “Our members are also telling us that they want the federal 5% procurement goal implemented through implementation of the authorized set-aside program and enhanced accountability measures. We will communicate these positions to the presidential candidates, Congressional leaders, and other Federal policy makers.”
National Politics
When asked an open-ended question about the issues that will impact their vote for President and Congress this fall, NAWBO members widen their lens. The top two issues remain the state of the economy (48%) and health care (47%), but the war in Iraq and Afghanistan (42%) will also weigh heavily in NAWBO members’ voting decisions in the Presidential, Senatorial and Congressional contests in their states. In the second tier of vote influencers will be the candidates’ positions on: taxes and government regulations for business (21%); the environment and global warming (10%); immigration policy (10%); and terrorism/national security (10%).
Other Issues of Concern to Women Entrepreneurs
Other issues of importance to NAWBO members: education policies and their impact on the quality of the workforce (65% extremely/very important); national security issues, including terrorism and international conflicts (59%); access to capital (50%); immigration reform (49%); and gaining access to Federal contracting opportunities (29%).
Health Care and Health Insurance Costs, Immigration Reform, and Procurement Opportunities
The survey also took a deeper look at three issues important to NAWBO from an issues advocacy perspective: health care and health insurance costs; immigration reform; and Federal procurement opportunities for women business owners. Some key findings in those three areas:
- If NAWBO members had to pick one aspect of the health care issue of greatest importance, 65% choose reducing costs over expanding coverage for the uninsured (19%), improving the quality of care (12%), or reducing spending on government programs like Medicare and Medicaid (4%). This emphasis on cost reduction over expansion of coverage distinguishes NAWBO members’ perceptions from those of the general public. (i)
- When asked about what aspects of health care reform are the most important to consider in the months ahead, fully 91% of NAWBO members believe it is extremely or very important to make sure that preventative care and wellness programs are covered, 90% think it important to maintain choice with respect to health plans and doctors, 78% want to ensure access to information about providers and quality of care information, 74% feel it is important to ensure access to comprehensive care for all, 64% say it is very important to consider pay-for performance mechanisms to improve quality of care, and 52% say it is important to consider low deductibles in any health care reform proposals.
- With respect to Federal procurement and actions that could be taken to help meet the government’s 5% goal of purchasing from women-owned small businesses, 78% of NAWBO members would favor holding Federal procurement officials responsible by linking performance on goals to their performance reviews, 67% would favor punitive action against prime contractors who do not meet their subcontracting goals with women-owned small businesses, and 52% would favor requiring agencies to set aside specific procurement opportunities for competition only among women-owned firms.
- On balance, far more NAWBO members believe that immigration is an economic asset to the United States (53%) than an economic threat (18%) – far different than the results seen in a national poll taken last year,(ii) in which a 43% to 40% plurality felt threatened more than benefitted from immigration. In addition, NAWBO members express stronger support for systemic reforms (implement a guest worker program – 63%, provide a path to citizenship for existing illegal workers – 52%) over punitive action (impose sanctions on employers – 35%, increase border security – 24%, increase deportations – 14%) in addressing the specifics of immigration reform.
Democrats vs. Republicans vs. Independents
Historically, the NAWBO membership has been fairly evenly divided in terms of partisanship. This year, however, the partisan affiliation balance has shifted to blue, with 40% of members calling themselves Democrats, 32% affiliating with the Republican Party, and 28% declaring themselves to be independent. When asked about their current inclinations in the Presidential contest (which was asked without naming names), 49% say they would most likely vote for the Democratic nominee, 31% for the Republican nominee, and 20% report that they have not yet made up their mind. No NAWBO member chose the response option “I probably won’t vote at all.”
Policy and advocacy, a key NAWBO focus for more than thirty years, will be highlighted during the opening sessions of NAWBO’s 2008 Women’s Business Conference, being held from June 12 to 14 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. For more a detailed schedule of events, visit www.nawbo.org/wbc2008.
The NAWBO Political Action Committee (PAC) will hold a special event during the conference on the evening of Thursday, June 12, 2008, at which time NAWBO members will hear from representatives of the Presidential campaigns. For more information on attending this event, visit www.nawbo.org/pacfundraiser.
About NAWBO: Founded in 1975, NAWBO propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. More than thirty years later, NAWBO is still the only organization that solely represents the interest of women entrepreneurs in all industries. The organization’s mission is to strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of its members and promote economic development; to create innovative and effective change in the business culture; to build strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and to transform public policy and influence opinion makers. Visit www.nawbo.org for more information.
Contact:
Shawn Taylor Zelman, szelman@nawbo.org, 703-506-3268, Cell: 703-727-4216
About the survey: The survey was conducted online among members of the National Association of Women Business Owners between April 22 and May 15, 2008. Five hundred and two (502) members responded during the 3-week interview period. The sampling error for a survey of N=502 is +/- 4.5% at the 95% level of confidence, meaning that, 95 times out of 100, the survey responses reported will be within 4.5% of true population values.
The partisan affiliation question comes from a broader membership survey conducted earlier this year, also online. That survey, conducted from January 14 to 31, 2008, yielded 896 responses, for a 3.4% sampling error at the 95% confidence level.
(i ) Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, October 2007, taken among 1,204 adults nationwide.
(ii) NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, December 2007, taken among 1,008 adults nationwide
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