Carnahan aims agenda at small business

Carnahan unveiled her office's legislative package for this year's session of the Missouri General Assembly Wednesday. Her top priority: to promote small business.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our state and our economy,” Carnahan said in a news release. “Promoting the growth of small business is the best way to promote economic growth.”

Carnahan's statewide tour last fall included a stop in Springfield, where she met with local business owners to help develop her plan to create a more nurturing business climate in Missouri.

Her proposals for 2006 include:

o Offering optional biennial business filings, reduced online filing fees and an expedited service option to cut red tape;

o Refocusing tax liability risks for limited liability companies on those involved in the day-to-day operations of the business as a way to encourage investment;

o Establishing a no-mail list to help businesses stop the junk mail that results from their business filings;

o Protecting the business interests of military men and women who miss filing deadlines while they are serving overseas; and

o Helping small businesses protect their intellectual property by including their unique name or logo.

Another substantial tier of Carnahan's agenda is a focus on protecting consumers and preventing investment fraud.

Carnahan said she plans to advocate stiffer penalties for individuals who commit securities fraud against senior and disabled investors, and to clearly define variable annuities as securities. She also said she hopes to help clear up statutory language in current securities law.

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