State Senator Paul Utke Earns Guardian of Small Business Award

On Thursday, the NFIB of Minnesota announced the presentation of its Guardian of Small Business award to state Senator Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids).

“Senator Utke is a real friend of small business, and we are happy to announce that he has earned the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award,” said Mike Hickey, NFIB Minnesota state director.

“I am grateful and honored to receive this award from the National Federation of Independent Business,” said Senator Paul Utke. “Individuals and families across our state take significant financial risks in order to pursue their dreams of owning and operating a small business and their impact within our communities is profound. As a small business owner, I am proud to continue to advance legislation to help these entrepreneurs succeed and will continue to work with them to ensure that all Minnesota families can thrive.”

With 10,000 members statewide, NFIB is Minnesota’s largest small-business group in terms of entities. NFIB gives out its Guardian of Small Business award at both the federal and state level to recognize lawmakers who have been supportive of small business on critical issues. Utke’s award was based on votes he took during the 2017-2018 sessions of the Minnesota Legislature.  He made many votes beneficial to small business including:

  • Voted for a significant small-business property tax reduction that was signed into law which reduced taxes for the smallest businesses by 20 percent to 30 percent! The average business received a $700 to $900 reduction for taxes payable in 2018.
  • Voted for a significant $1 million increase in the estate tax exemption that was also signed into law, which raised it from $2 million to $3 million per person.
  • Supported a desperately needed 25 percent reduction in health insurance premiums in 2017 for those in the individual market that was also signed into law, and which made other critical insurance reforms to make the Minnesota market more competitive.
  • Supported critical legislation that preempts local units of government from enacting minimum wages higher than the state’s, and from imposing other new mandates on local employers.