Following is a statement from Senator John Kerry, Ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, on the President’s State of the Union address:

“Last night the President left small businesses behind,” said Kerry. “I am disappointed the President outlined no goals or initiatives specifically designed to help small business owners. While the President’s ‘American Competitiveness Initiative’ is supposedly to encourage entrepreneurship, the reality is this Administration has slashed programs designed to do just that for the small business community. If the President is serious about maintaining our competitive edge and boosting the efforts of our entrepreneurs, he will request full funding for the critical programs at the Small Business Administration in his budget.”

For more information on President Bush’s record on small business, please visit: January 30, 2006 Press Release.