WASHINGTON, April 23 (UPI) -- U.S. job creation is being hampered by increasing bureaucracy for small businesses, Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., said in the Republicans' weekly address Saturday.
Citing figures from the Small Business Administration, Johanns said small businesses create between 60 percent and 80 percent of new U.S. jobs and claimed President Barack Obama's Democratic administration was "throwing a very cold, wet blanket on the entire process" of letting them grow.
"Job creation in this country doesn't start with government -- it starts with our businesses, especially our small businesses," he said. "Our small businesses, when free to grow and prosper, need more and more employees to sustain that success."
Johanns said since January, Democrats have proposed or enacted more than 250 regulations amounting to more than $24 billion in regulatory costs.
Nebraska's junior senator said the nation's $14 trillion debt had trickled down to affect small business operators.
"Our job creators can't thrive in an environment where creditors pull back because of our government's debt, because without credit, small businesses can't grow," Johanns said.
