BARACK OBAMA

As in many presidential elections, both sides are touting the importance of small business and offering plans to help them grow. The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is used to hearing lip service from politicians who say they want to help, but rarely follow through with policies for the self-employed.

Kristie Arslan, president & CEO, National Association for the Self Employed, who, as representative of the largest sector of small business owners—the self-employed—and the only woman speaking for small business in this group, gets two questions...

The President’s proposed FY 2013 budget request released last week includes several initiatives of interest to the nation’s 22 million self-employed and at least one of the items on the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Self-Employed Agenda.

“Tax incentives for startups and for businesses that have recently purchased new equipment are certainly a start, but we are concerned that so few of the policies suggested actually apply to the largest segment of small businesses – the self-employed and micro-businesses. That key demographic makes up more than 78% of the nation’s small business population,” commented NASE President Kristie L. Arslan.

As the President prepares to deliver his annual State of the Union address and Members of Congress prepare their talking points in response, the 22 million Americans who are self-employed must not be forgotten in the back and forth over big policy changes.

As 2011 comes to a close, so does the payroll tax cut for millions of Americans. If Congress does not come to an agreement, we'll start out 2012 by paying higher taxes.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) would like to thank America’s self-employed and micro-business owners who work tirelessly each day to support themselves and their families, as well as contribute to their communities through starting and maintaining a business.

“One minute you have these benefits, the next you don't,” said Kristie Arslan, CEO of the National Association for the Self-Employed. “Creating long-term tax and economic policy instead of doing these short-term fixes is incredibly important.”

Kristie Arslan, president and chief executive officer of the National Association for the Self-Employed, talks about the impact of President Barack Obama's $447 billion jobs proposal on self- employed Americans and state programs that offer money and training to help unemployed workers to open their own businesses.

As the economy continues to decline amidst a historic downgrade of our AAA credit rating status, Kristie Arslan, President & CEO of the NASE, the leading advocate for our nation's smallest businesses, offered the following statement on the impact the downgrade will have on the small business community...

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is teaming up with the SBA for the 10th year in a row to sponsor National Small Business Week 2011.

Kristie Arslan, Executive Director of the NASE, released the following statement in reaction to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address...

Kristie Arslan, Executive Director of the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), released the following statement after the President delivered supportive comments on small business priorities at a press conference earlier today...

President Barack Obama signed into law legislation that will allow the self-employed to deduct their health insurance costs as a business expense for payroll tax purposes.

Yesterday, President Barack Obama signed into law legislation that will allow the self-employed to deduct their health insurance costs as a business expense for payroll tax purposes. Though only applicable to 2010 tax returns, the passage of this proponent is a key “foot in the door” for future battles on health costs and the self-employed, according to the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE).

Dale Schaffer of Bethlehem, Pa. is the co-owner of Elysian Fields Specialty Florals. He was part of a group of NASE members that were invited by the Obama Administration to attend the event at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Allentown. Here's what he had to say...

During a meeting with President Obama, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) made sure to mention that micro-businesses are still facing difficulties getting access to credit and financing and that health costs are crippling the backbone of the American economy – the self-employed.

President Obama addresses the concerns of a self-employed body shop owner during an interview on health care reform.

The nation’s entrepreneurs are ready for major changes to the American health care system, but are asking the federal government to implement various proposals to help them cope with the costs. Nearly 2,000 micro-businesses, including members of the National Association for the Self-Employed, took part in this national online survey of their opinions on current health care reform proposals.