D.C. gridlock seen as big threat to small business

By John W. Schoen, Senior Producer

Michael Osborn, president of Pie 'N Burger International, at his restaurant in Pasadena, California. Small businesses are worried about the economy in 2012, and many blame Washington for the problems.

 

 

Corey Shaker is hoping to sell a lot more cars next year. The biggest roadblock he sees is the ongoing political gridlock in Washington, D.C. Shaker, CEO of Hometown Auto Retailers, a dealership chain based in Waterbury, Conn., has reason to be optimistic about 2012. After falling sharply in the 2007-09 Great Recession, car sales are bouncing back. New high-mileage models are drawing owners of aging clunkers to his showrooms. The downturn forced many of his competitors out of business, generating higher sales for dealers left standing.

But Shaker said some potential customers may have second thoughts about buying because of government gridlock and bickering among lawmakers.

“Consumer confidence moves the economy,” he said. “The biggest single thing they can do (in Washington) to boost the economy is to boost confidence. And to do that, consumers have to believe that there is leadership that can get their act together to make the spending cuts on stuff we don't need.”

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