Susan Allen Talks With Alexandria Small Business Owners

Susan Allen brought the Virginia Voices tour to Old Town on Thursday, meeting with women small business owners and outlining how her husband, Senate candidate George Allen, would create a better small business environment.

“We’re in a climate that’s not favorable to small businesses,” she told the crowd at King Street Blues, adding that during her tour throughout the state she repeatedly hears from small business owner who are frustrated that banks aren’t lending, federal policies are restrictive and that they can’t afford health insurance.

King Street Blues owner Lisa Capobianco said recent harmful federal regulations made it harder for her to hire new employees “in order to help us give customers the service and hospitality they have come to enjoy and expect. “

Allen agreed, saying Washington’s “excessive red tape” discourages small firms from “achieving further success and growth. I’m proud of George for standing up for Virginia families and small businesses by standing for lower taxes, positive energy policies and true heath care reform with his Blueprint for America’s Comeback.”

She added that the state’s economy could suffer greatly through mandatory cuts to federal programs commonly referred to as "sequestration," which could spur the commonwealth to lose 200,000 jobs, further harming communities.