Jobs Bill Introduced

I don't like the term "jobs bill" because it usually means more government largess and growing the public sector. That said, if a "jobs bill" will mean that the government will make it easier and more cost effective for the private sector to create jobs, then I'm all for it. Best: let the free market meet consumer demand, and the jobs problem will take care of itself.

Kansas State Representative Joe Patton (R-Topeka) today asked the House Committee on Taxation to accept his request for a jobs bill that would promote the creation of new jobs.

Rep. Patton told the committee the Kansas Legislature should focus on jobs. He said Kansas needs public policy that will get the state’s economy growing again, particularly in light of the current recession and declining revenues.

Patton said. “We know from history most new jobs coming out of a recession are created by new small businesses. However, the government hits these new small business with the same burden it applies to large corporations, as a result in part 90% of these business fail the first year.  This tax burden can make the difference between success and failure. If they can survive the first year, there is a large chance they will be around for a long time.”

As proposed by Patton, the bill would waive for the first year of operation the withholding tax and self employment tax for new small businesses, with 10 or fewer employees. Patton said the right public policy can put a new business on the path to success.

“My goal with this legislation is to give new businesses a head start by getting off their backs for one year. If the new small business survives the first year, chances are we will have the jobs and the revenue for the long term,” Patton said.

The committee agreed to introduce Patton’s bill. That's good -- getting off the backs of small business is the best way to stimulate job growth in Kansas.