Cape businesswoman meets president during roundtable talks

Cape Girardeau resident Kathy Swan was among a select group of small business owners who met with President Bush Wednesday in St. Louis to discuss the president's $674 billion economic stimulus plan as well as talk about small business' role in righting the nation's struggling economy.

"It was an absolute chance of a lifetime, a truly wonderful experience," said Swan, who owns JCS Tel-Link, a wireless communication business her father, Charles W. "Sonny" Johnson, started in 1959. "The president is so congenial and easy to talk to. He was here to listen."

JCS Tel-Link was one of only four Missouri businesses asked by the White House to participate in the roundtable discussion, consisting of members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the country's largest small-business advocacy group. The other businesses were Software To Go of St. Louis, Colony House Restaurant of New Haven and JS Logistics of St. Louis.

Bush met with the group at 10 a.m. Wednesday for about 35 minutes before making a speech to defend his economic plan against criticism that it is tilted toward the rich, arguing that tax help for business owners is a good way to create jobs.

Swan agreed wholeheartedly.

"I told him this was a stimulus package that kept on giving," she said. "It will help small business and help get the economy back on track."

The president's proposal calls for a $674 billion, 10-year package, of which $670 billion is tax cuts. Bush explained that the average tax cut for small businesses would be $2,042, Swan said.

"His plan would also put more dollars in the pockets of consumers, and therefore small business owners would have more customers," Swan said. "I think his stimulus package would boost the economy and create jobs."

Swan particularly liked a $16 billion proposal to let small businesses write off up to $75,000 for new technology, machinery or other equipment, as long as total purchases don't exceed $400,000. The current limit is $25,000.

She also liked that the president's plans call for reducing the marriage penalty, which causes married couples to pay more in taxes than they would as individuals. Tax decreases, she said, are always good for business and the economy.

"For the economy to get better, we have to have more money coming in the door," Swan said. "With that money, we can hire more people, maintain benefits and give higher pay raises."

Elderly and dividends

While Democrats have pointed to the package's centerpiece element of eliminating taxes on dividends -- the portion of a company's profit paid to shareholders -- Swan said it's a fair proposal.

"Many senior citizens are already taxed for their profit from corporations," she said. "There shouldn't be double taxation."

Swan believes she was selected because she is in a leadership position with NFIB and that JCS Tel-Link is an example of the type of business that would be helped by the president's tax package.

Swan has long been active in local civic and business organizations, as well as serving on NFIB/Missouri's Leadership Council since June. She was a delegate to the 2002 NFIB National Small Business Summit held in Washington, D.C.

Swan said meeting Bush was a highlight of her career.

"It was great actually meeting him and him truly being interested," she said. "We need to start somewhere, and his proposal is a fantastic start."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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