Shaheen discusses small business concerns
First term senator visit modular home builder
By BEN BULKELEY, Staff Writer
Thursday, February 19, 2009 7:48 PM
CLAREMONT -- Even with the constant hammering of nails and the buzz of a saw, newly-elected U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., managed to talk about the stimulus package and small business over the sound of new homes being built at Preferred Building Supply on Thursday.
Shaheen toured the building with city officials and PBS employees as part of her three-day tour of businesses in New Hampshire. PBS employs 56 and builds energy-efficient modular homes in a 167,000-square-foot building on Twistback Road.
Larry Huot, who heads PBS, said it was important for Claremont to be represented on Shaheen's tour.
"We're glad that you were able to visit the western part of the state during your whirlwind tour, because we are admittedly biased toward this part of the state," Huot said. "We wanted the city to be represented and we wanted you to see what we can do. We're proud of the people who make up our work force."
Shaheen said it was important for her as a senator to talk to small businesses throughout New Hampshire, especially as she joins a new committee.
"I'm going through talking with small businesses throughout the state. ... I've been appointed to the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, and this tour through New Hampshire has given me the opportunity to talk with some of the people in small businesses," she said.
"About 94 percent of people who are employed in this country work for a small business and we need to look at the future of our small businesses and how we can assist these companies in holding on to the jobs they've created," Shaheen said. "We want our businesses to survive in the hard times and expand in the good times."
City Manager Guy Santagate said that businesses such as PBS help move Claremont forward.
"We want to continue working with small businesses like Preferred Building Systems because 80 percent of economic growth comes from small businesses," Santagate said.
"We're glad you're [Shaheen] staying in Claremont, so if we have any concerns we can just go next door," he said, referring to Shaheen's Opera House Square office where John Sununu used to be. Shaheen defeated the first-term Republican in November.
Huot asked Shaheen how she would plan to tackle increasing health-care costs that could limit the growth of small businesses.
"We pick up 62 percent of the health care and the rest is on the employees' shoulders," Huot said. "Sometimes that's more than $100 a week and that cuts in to employees' other expenses. That can really break the backs of homes and businesses."
Shaheen said health-care reform would be one of the top priorities of the Obama administration and her office.
"Given how fast costs have increased we need to look at long-term solutions, not just the short-term ones," Shaheen said. "When we talk about righting this economy, one thing we can't afford to do is keep spending money for poor health-care coverage."
Shaheen said that one of the ways that health-care costs could be curbed is by transferring all medical files electronically, and by taking more preventative measures.
"There is money in the stimulus bill that was signed that would allow for more research," Shaheen said.
Shaheen also addressed the difficulty for small businesses and potential homebuyers to get credit from banks.
"The two most important things to get the economy moving again is the housing market and to get banks lending again," Shaheen said. "[Congress] recently extended the first-time homebuyer credit of $8,000 further into the year."
Jon LeClair, a select board member in Charlestown and employee at PBS, said that one of the most important parts of the economy is to keep fuel prices low.
"The number-one priority should be to get a hold of petroleum. That was one of the major things that made the economy go belly up. ... We were limping along but the cost of fuel spurred the recession," LeClair said. "There is nothing that isn't made with or moved without diesel.
"All the money we've been using for our high fuel bills we could've had for other things, and this is when the companies are claiming billion dollar profits," LeClair said.
Shaheen said that keeping the oil prices low wasn't just an economical issue.
"Importing oil is a national security threat. It damages the economy and the environment and things have to change if we plan to move forward," she said before praising PBS. "Weatherization, like what is done here to conserve fuel, will be a big part as we move forward. There is money in the stimulus bill to help families weatherize their homes. All of these problems will be solved by the private sector, not by a government agency."
LeClair said that he was not impressed with the stimulus package that was recently passed, because he doesn't think that enough money will make its way to eastern New Hampshire.
"I don't support the stimulus package 100 percent because I don't think it will benefit the eastern part of the state. ... We have Route 12, which is about to fall into the Connecticut River, and that's been a 10-year project," LeClair said. "For the next one [stimulus package], I think you should just give everyone a million dollars and see where the economy goes."
Ben Bulkeley can be reached at (603) 543-3100, ext. 105, or by e-mail at bbulkeley@eagletimes.com
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