Minnesota State Wire

In August, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Minnesota recognized two state lawmakers for their support of small businesses. Representative Dave Baker from Willmar and Senator Jordan Rasmusson from Fergus Falls were each presented with the Guardian of Small Business Statue. This award is given to legislators who consistently advocate for small businesses on significant legislative issues.

Rep. Dave Baker, a veteran small business owner in the hospitality sector, received praise for his efforts to protect mom-and-pop enterprises from challenging mandates, regulations, and tax increases. John Reynolds, NFIB Minnesota State Director, noted that "small business owners are fortunate to have a strong ally like Rep. Dave Baker in the Minnesota Legislature." Baker's contributions include leading opposition against employment mandates such as the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program and proposing an alternative paid leave insurance plan that garnered bipartisan support.

Senator Jordan Rasmusson was also honored for his work in supporting Main Street businesses during his first term in the Senate. His efforts included amendments to improve the PFML program by capping payroll taxes and mandating independent actuarial studies. Reynolds expressed gratitude for Rasmusson's commitment by stating, “We are extraordinarily grateful to Sen. Jordan Rasmusson for standing up for Main Street.”

The NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award is based on lawmakers' voting records concerning key small business issues as determined by NFIB members. Over 90 lawmakers achieved a perfect score on this year's voting record.