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Oklahoma Senate
Area legislators are recognized for their support of small business
OKLAHOMA CITY - Jerrod Shouse, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said today that State Senator Frank Simpson and Representative Pat Ownbey have achieved a 100 percent rating by the NFIB. The NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association.
"Small business is the engine that drives Oklahoma's economy," Shouse said. "By supporting small business, Frank Simpson and Pat Ownbey are supporting working families and Oklahoma communities."
Small businesses account for 98% of private-sector employers in Oklahoma, and they employ over half of the non-government workforce.
“Small business is the backbone of our state’s economy,” said Simpson, R-Ardmore. “In order for our economy to be healthy, small business must be healthy.”
Ownbey also stressed the importance of supporting Oklahoma’s small businesses.
"This is about supporting our small businesses while improving the businesses climate so other companies will want to come to our state,” said Ownbey, R-Ardmore. “Oklahoma ranks second on per capita job growth and that doesn't happen by accident. I'm proud to be a part of that."
To achieve a 100 percent rating Simpson and Ownbey supported reforming the state's workers' compensation system, worked to discourage frivolous lawsuits, made the state's workplace drug-testing statue more employer-friendly by empowering the employer to determine when and if a drug test should be administered, curbing unemployment fraud by cracking down on those who knowingly continue to receive unemployment benefits after securing a new job and requiring those who file for unemployment to provide proof they are actively seeking a job.
"Representative Ownbey and Senator Simpson have stood up for Oklahoma's employers and job creators time and time again on important issues such as workers' compensation reform and unemployment fraud," Shouse said. "Our members truly appreciate the efforts of Senator Simpson and Representative Ownbey to help grow Oklahoma's economy and create jobs.
