Who Gets to Speak for Small Businesses?
March 14th, 2025
Hello Friends and Neighbors,
I’ve been a small business owner for 20 years. I run a business I started myself. I didn’t inherit it, my dad didn’t start it or build it or pay for it. It was just hard work, risk, and community support just like so many other entrepreneurs who start with a dream and a vision and a desire for independence. That’s not to say that I haven’t had advantages—it’s just to say that I know what it means to run something that I created. And that’s worlds apart from politicians I work with and executives I know who inherited businesses but still try to speak for small business owners like me. When my colleagues in the Nebraska Legislature claim that things like paid family leave or healthcare would “hurt small businesses,” I wonder who they’re speaking to, exactly. Because as someone who actually owns a small business in the true sense of the term, I can tell you these are the very policies that would help businesses like mine thrive.
Being a business owner is exactly why I support universal healthcare, public childcare options, and paid leave. If we had a universal system, employees wouldn’t have to choose between working for a small, locally-owned business and having health coverage or benefits. When lawmakers make the claim that these benefits would hurt businesses, they aren’t talking about people like me. They’re talking about corporate executives, franchise owners, and industry lobbyists who are more interested in protecting monopolies than actually supporting workers. They use the term “small business” as a shield—hoping people won’t notice that their policies benefit big business at the expense of working families in Nebraska and the United States.
Right now, big corporations get bulk rates and discounts on healthcare and benefits and tax incentives that small businesses don’t have access to. That’s not a free market—it’s a rigged game where big corporations keep all the advantages and small businesses are forced to fight for scraps. And yet, whenever we try to level the playing field—whenever we talk about universal healthcare, paid leave, or fair wages—we hear the same bad faith argument: “This will hurt small businesses.” No. What’s hurting small businesses is an economic system designed to keep wealth concentrated at the top while workers and small businesses alike get squeezed.
This reminds me of something I see in politics all the time: people who think they have more in common with billionaires than with the working class. The reality is that most of us—small business owners, workers, freelancers—have more in common with each other than with the corporations running the economy.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that small businesses and workers are on opposing sides. We’re not. We’re facing the same struggles—soaring healthcare costs, lack of paid leave, rising commercial and residential rents, and corporate consolidation.
Meanwhile, big corporations and their political allies keep selling this idea that popular public policies like universal healthcare would harm businesses when, in reality, they just don’t want to pay their fair share. They’d rather keep the system as it is—where small businesses have to fend for themselves while corporate America reaps the rewards.
Healthcare costs are crushing entrepreneurs. Paid leave keeps people in the workforce. Public options give workers real choices. These aren’t burdens on small businesses—they’re what will actually let us compete, grow, and thrive. If small businesses had access to affordable healthcare and real economic support, we’d see more entrepreneurship, stronger local economies, and better wages. How many people dream of starting a business but can’t because they’d lose their health coverage? How many businesses never get started because the founder can’t afford to lose their benefits? Right now, the system locks people into jobs they don’t want because employer-provided health insurance is their only option. This kills innovation.
Big business doesn’t need protection. Small businesses and workers do. So the next time someone claims to be “standing up for small businesses” while opposing universal healthcare, paid leave, or wage protections, ask yourself who they’re actually standing up for. Because chances are, it’s not people like me and you.
Best,
Meg
Priority Bills Selected
In the Legislature, priority bills are a way to help ensure the most urgent and impactful issues get the attention they deserve. Each senator can designate one personal priority bill, committees can select two priority bills, and the Speaker chooses 25 additional speaker priority bills that are generally noncontroversial. These bills are more likely to be debated and voted on before the session ends. While priority status doesn’t guarantee a bill will pass, it ensures it gets attention amid a crowded legislative agenda. View the full list of priority bills here.
What We've Been Up To
Legislating isn’t just about what happens in the chamber—it’s about showing up for Nebraskans every day. Whether I am welcoming students to the Capitol, engaging with our community, or pushing policies that make a difference, my office is always working to connect, uplift, and fight for Nebraska values. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to lately!
I joined my colleagues to advocate for a “working families agenda,” a slate of legislation focused on real solutions for our workforce and families. From expanding access to free school meals to securing tax relief for overtime pay and child care, these bills are about making life better for everyday Nebraskans.
Theatre education goes far beyond the stage—it teaches confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving that last a lifetime. As a proud former member of the International Thespian Society Troupe 3142 in Blair, I know the impact theatre has on shaping who we become. That’s why I filed a legislative resolution to recognize March 4, 2025, as Celebrate Theatre in Our Schools Day in Nebraska! Let’s continue supporting theatre education and the incredible contributions it makes to our students and communities.
One of the best parts of this job is connecting with students and seeing their creativity in action. I was thrilled to be included in a local student’s project, The Vision of the Patron, and I can’t wait to see where their passion takes them next!
Showing students how government works firsthand is one of the best ways to inspire future leaders. I had the pleasure of hosting a Lincoln student at the Capitol for a job shadowing experience, and their enthusiasm for public service was truly energizing. Democracy thrives when young people are engaged, and their curiosity and drive give me so much hope for the future.
While my work at the Capitol is important, I make time to celebrate the people and places that make Omaha a great place to live. You’ll often find me at my favorite local spots like Yoshitomo or La Buvette, working at my shops in Benson (where Parsnip the cat keeps watch), or attending a local show or market. I love exploring our community with my kid, Ash, and our Frenchie mix, Cricket—it’s all about supporting the people and places that make our community strong.
You know who really needs a hand in this economy? Not big corporations. Not industry lobbyists. Not billionaires who rig the system in their favor. It’s small business owners and workers—people like us.
I don’t take corporate PAC money. I don’t have industry insiders bankrolling my campaign. My work is powered by people who believe in real change—people who know that universal healthcare, paid leave, and economic fairness aren’t just good policies, they’re necessary for Nebraska to thrive.
If you’re tired of politicians using “small business” as a shield to protect the wealthy while working families struggle, chip in today. Every dollar goes toward fighting for a Nebraska that puts people before profits.
Thank you for standing with me.
Our Office in the News
Nebraska Examiner - A proposed school book database law moves forward in Nebraska statehouse
Unicamerial Update - School library transparency measure advanced
Nebraska TV News - Nebraska legislature advances daylight saving bills to next stage
Nebraska Examiner - Nebraska lawmakers again punt final choice between permanent daylight, standard time
Nebraska Examiner - Committee delays vote on Nebraska bill to define male, female in law for sports, bathrooms