SENATOR-ELECT TALKS WITH BUSINESSMEN

Small businesses face excess taxes, regulations and litigation, all of which must be brought under control, Sen. Christopher Bond told about 50 business people at a forum in Cape Girardeau Tuesday.

The event, sponsored by Southeast Missouri State University and the Small Business Development Center, was held at the Show Me Center on the Southeast campus.

Bond, a Republican, predicts rapid changes with a new GOP majority in Washington.

When the legislature opens in January, Bond will be chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee. The committee reports to the Senate on the condition of small businesses.

The first step toward lessening regulations on business, the senator told the group, is to apply the same laws to Congress that apply to everyone else.

"That will give Congress a much better feel for the burdens they have created," Bond said.

Next is to stop unfunded mandates -- federal programs that local and state governments must offer but that aren't federally funded.

He also wants to shrink government. Bond and Sen.-elect John Ashcroft will share field offices across the state in the same way that Bond and retiring Sen. John Danforth have shared an office in Cape Girardeau.

The senator wants to open an international market to small business. "There are tremendous profit opportunities for large companies there, and small business is not there," he said.

Bond also hopes to see a balanced budget amendment, a line item veto, health care reform and welfare reform.

President Bill Clinton is expected to announce a tax cut for middle class Americans this week.

"I'm glad he listened," Bond said. "I think the voters spoke to all of us."