Rubio Roundtable Explores Small Business Expansion, Obstacles | Politics

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Sandy and Gary Polletta have owned the Edgewood Bakery for 21 years and said their business has picked up over the past few months.

But they are worried that increased costs and more government regulation will set them back. "Commodities keep going up, regulations keep going up. The cost of doing business, your taxes, your JEA bill all keep going up," said Sandy Polletta.

Dozens of other local business owners also voiced similar concerns to Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio this morning at the Small Business Roundtable at Brunet-Garcia Advertising in San Marco. 

"We can not have job creating and growth in America without the private sector," said Rubio.

Rubio, who sits on the Senate's Small Business Committee, said he wanted information about the obstacles businesses are facing and how policymakers can help. 

"We know businesses want to grow and want to make more money. So the question is what's keeping that from happening? What's keeping small businesses from adding more employees?," he said.

Some blamed difficulties with getting financing. Others, like the Polettas, were concerned with regulations and misguided government incentives. "The government offered a $5,000 credit to hire somebody. Even at minimum wage, by the time you add all the benefits and the insurance, that's not a deal for a business person," says Gary Polletta.

Jacksonville's unemployment rate is currently at 10 percent.

The Polettas said they'd like to hire more local workers, but they need less government. 

But Rubio said government has a role in helping small business thrive and to change the perception that tomorrow is going to be worse than today. 

"When government does more than what it should be doing, when politicians like presidents and U.S. senators believe that they are the ones that create the jobs, and start spending money we don't have and passing laws we don't need, they get in the way of people who do create jobs," said Rubio.

Rubio said he'll hold more roundtable discussions throughout the state and then introduce some of those ideas to the US Senate Small Business Committee.