SENATOR VISITS WITH CHACKSON CHAMBER MEMBERS; BOND DISCUSSES CHINA TRADE

Sen. Christopher S. "Kit" Bond spoke on the China trade controversy and other small business concerns, before members of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Thursday. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

Senator Christopher S. "Kit" Bond addressed members of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and other interested citizens Thursday in an impromptu press conference at the Jackson Chamber office.

Bond spoke on current legislative issues, defending the current bill to grant Permanent Normal Trade Relation Status to China. He said his office is "getting absolutely besieged" with calls against the bill. He blamed this on an organized effort by its opponents.

"China has done a lot of bad things, but so have many others," Bond said. "The list is long. Frankly, the current system has done nothing to improve the situation. What will is the having access to more American ideas coming through."

Bond believes the greater the American influence in China, the more likely Western ideals of human rights will gradually gain acceptance there.

"It will make a difference with the younger middle-level bureaucrats," Bond said. "They will be leading China in the coming years."

Meanwhile, the American farmer, business owner and employee of companies that deal internationally, should benefit greatly. Bond believes those opposed to dealing with China are missing the point.

"All the responsibility and burden will be on the Chinese," he said, noting that tariffs on pork could be dropped from 40 percent to 12 percent, if the bill passes. That, he said, could mean an additional $5 per hog for American pork producers.

He predicted that the bill would also cut down on copywrite piracy and would give American businesses the right to sell directly to Chinese markets. U.S. imports to China would increase by $1.6 billion over the next five years, he said.

"It's a good deal for the farmer and for the businesses that export and the people who work for those businesses that export," said Bond, chairman of the Senate's Small Business Committee since 1995. "It's not reward ign China. It's giving us an opportunity to sell more goods to them and maybe have a greater influence there. It's more controversial than I expected, but I think it's definitely the right way."

The rise of the Internet, meanwhile, makes the potential of open foreign ports appealing even to small businesses, he said. "E-commerce is going to give small businesses an opportunity to get involved in international exporting like they've never had before."

Later, Bond answered a question from the audience, regarding sales tax collection of e-commerce.

"We ought to get serious about it," he said. "Missouri is dependent on sales tax and most communities and counties are, as well. If we don't have sales taxes, then property taxes are going to go up."

He said that while the counties growth of e-commerce needs to be encouraged, "We ought to be able to work out an even playing field."

Bond, governor of Missouri 1973-77 and 1981-85, also spoke on the increasing role of women in small business ownership.

"More and more women are wanting to open their own business today," he said. "Today 38 percent of small businesses are owned by women. By 2010 it should reach 50 percent."

He announced an upcoming National Women's Small Business Summit in Kansas City this weekend. The summit is also backed by Senators John Kerry, Olympia Snowe, Mary Landrieu, Diane Feinstein, and Kay Bailey Hutchison. "Women-owned small businesses are one of the fastest-growing segments of the economy. Women business owners are one of the fastest growing groups of Internet users," Bond said. "Yet, despite these trends, women still face the same obstacles they always have in starting and growing their businesses -- access to the capital, multiple family responsibilities, a complex tax code, and a lack of affordable insurance.

"The agenda for the next President and the 107th Congress will have a dramatic impact on the success of women-owned businesses," Bond said. "This summit will give women small business owners the opportunity to help formulate national policies on women's small business issues by gathering input from women, business leaders, elected officials and other experts."

Bond predicted that another increase in the minimum wage will be passed. "It's not good business, but I guess it's good politics," he said. "We'll try to tack on some additional tax relief for small businesses."

The real relief, he said, would be not necessarily in lowering taxes, but in simplifying the process. He said that small business owners spend five percent of their income just to "figure out" their taxes.

The third-term Republican also spoke on his role as committee chairman.

"Since I took over the Chairmanship of the Senate Small Business Committee in 1995, my goal has been to make the Committee the champion for small businessmen and women across the nation," Bond said. "I want the voices of Main Street to be heard, from the large, established company employing hundreds of citizens, to those who run the smallest businesses right out of their own homes."

Bond answered questions from the audience and conducted brief media interviews before leaving.