The office of Rep. Pete Stauber mailed surveys this week to select 8th Congressional District residents, soliciting their thoughts on small business. Titled "Supporting Minnesota Small Business," the survey is four questions long and requires users to supply postage upon mailing it back.
"As a small-business owner himself, Congressman Stauber knows that small businesses are the backbone of our economy," spokesperson Kelsey Mix said in an email response to the News Tribune. "He included the survey in the mailer to give Minnesotans the chance to give feedback and let him know if there is any way our office can assist them."
The survey asks if the recipient is a small-business owner, or knows one in their family. It asks if the recipient is otherwise employed in small business, and if the recipient believes "we should reduce regulations on small business." A fourth question asks if the congressman can assist with any issues and is the only non-Yes/No question.
"I am committed to rolling back burdensome regulations and expanding opportunities so Minnesota's small businesses can continue to create local jobs and bring revenue into our communities," Stauber said in a quote that appears as part of the mailer.
Stauber, R-Hermantown, is part-owner of his family's Duluth Hockey Company, 2541 Maple Grove Road. He's also a member of the House of Representatives' Small Business Committee.
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When asked what sort of rollbacks Stauber had in mind, Mix offered the following regarding a process called prior authorization: "One regulatory reduction the congressman has in mind is eliminating the requirement that physicians first obtain approval from health insurance plans before conducting a procedure or prescribing a medication. Congressman Stauber recently participated in a Small Business Committee hearing where he heard how such regulations waste valuable time and resources for small practices since they often do not have the manpower or capital to deal with such administrative burdens."
The survey also features talking points on Stauber initiatives to improve rural broadband, support veteran small business and protect small business against cyber attacks.
Mix said the surveys were sent "to many constituents who had contacted our office about small biz, the economy, (and) jobs."
