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Reading Eagle: Enact Legislation to Allow Small Businesses to Create Jobs, Gerlach Tells Berks Audience
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Enact legislation to allow small businesses to create jobs, Gerlach tells Berks audience
By Mary E. Young
Small businesses create most jobs, so Congress should enact legislation that would allow them to grow, U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach said during a town hall meeting held Wednesday by the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry at SFS Intec Inc. in Wyomissing.
Gerlach, a Chester County Republican who represents part of Berks, told about 25 chamber members that he is a co-sponsor of the Small Business Assistance Relief Act, proposed legislation that would help those small businesses.
It would lower taxes for small businesses, ease the regulatory burden on them and make credit easier for them to obtain, he said.
"The record in Congress is pathetic in understanding the fundamentals of economics and job creation," he said. "This bill reflects things small businesses have told us."
Edwin L. Williams, chief executive of Discovery Federal Credit Union in Spring Township, told Gerlach that he is a board member of the Credit Union National Association, and that the association is backing legislation that would enable credit unions to lend more money to small businesses.
A credit union by law may provide loans amounting to 12.25 percent of its assets, he said.
Credit unions would like to see that rise to 27.5 percent, Williams said.
Gerlach said credit unions have a good record for supporting small businesses, but banks likely would oppose efforts to expand their lending ability.
The ideal solution would be to find ways to help both, he said.
When asked about the Route 222 North improvement project local officials have been struggling to get off the ground, Gerlach said he would be happy to sign a letter of support and try to get the project into the next transportation funding bill.
At the town hall, Gerlach received the chamber's Spirit of Enterprise Award for voting in step with the organization's position on legislation 87 percent of the time in 2009.
The session with Gerlach was the second this week held by the chamber and sponsored by the Berks County Industrial Development Authority.
The first on Tuesday with U.S. Rep. Joseph R. Pitts, a Chester County Republican who represents part of Berks.
The last is Friday at East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc., Lyons, with U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, a Schuylkill County Democrat who represents part of Berks.
Gerlach is seeking a fifth two-year term in the Nov. 2 election. He is facing Dr. Manan Trivedi, a Union Township Democrat.
Contact Mary Young: 610-478-6292 or myoung@readingeagle.com.
Gerlach, a Chester County Republican who represents part of Berks, told about 25 chamber members that he is a co-sponsor of the Small Business Assistance Relief Act, proposed legislation that would help those small businesses.
It would lower taxes for small businesses, ease the regulatory burden on them and make credit easier for them to obtain, he said.
"The record in Congress is pathetic in understanding the fundamentals of economics and job creation," he said. "This bill reflects things small businesses have told us."
Edwin L. Williams, chief executive of Discovery Federal Credit Union in Spring Township, told Gerlach that he is a board member of the Credit Union National Association, and that the association is backing legislation that would enable credit unions to lend more money to small businesses.
A credit union by law may provide loans amounting to 12.25 percent of its assets, he said.
Credit unions would like to see that rise to 27.5 percent, Williams said.
Gerlach said credit unions have a good record for supporting small businesses, but banks likely would oppose efforts to expand their lending ability.
The ideal solution would be to find ways to help both, he said.
When asked about the Route 222 North improvement project local officials have been struggling to get off the ground, Gerlach said he would be happy to sign a letter of support and try to get the project into the next transportation funding bill.
At the town hall, Gerlach received the chamber's Spirit of Enterprise Award for voting in step with the organization's position on legislation 87 percent of the time in 2009.
The session with Gerlach was the second this week held by the chamber and sponsored by the Berks County Industrial Development Authority.
The first on Tuesday with U.S. Rep. Joseph R. Pitts, a Chester County Republican who represents part of Berks.
The last is Friday at East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc., Lyons, with U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, a Schuylkill County Democrat who represents part of Berks.
Gerlach is seeking a fifth two-year term in the Nov. 2 election. He is facing Dr. Manan Trivedi, a Union Township Democrat.
Contact Mary Young: 610-478-6292 or myoung@readingeagle.com.
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