State’s leading small business group endorses Patti Milne for Senate

Patti Milne for State Senate

Woodburn, OR – Oregon’s leading small business advocacy group, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, has endorsed Patti Milne as their candidate of choice for Senate District 11 (Woodburn/Salem). The group believes Milne will be the strongest advocate for family-wage jobs and a healthy business climate.

In NFIB’s endorsement letter to Milne, they noted, “You have proven your willingness and ability to fight for small business in Salem…you understand the importance of small business to our state’s economy [and] have also demonstrated that you will fight to protect our free enterprise system and we appreciate your efforts.”

As a small business owner herself for over 30 years, Milne knows the challenges small businesses face with ever-increasing taxes and regulation, and how this impacts a business’s ability to not only survive, but also to grow and hire more employees.

“The best way to create high-wage jobs for Oregon families is to give small businesses the tools and environment they need to succeed,” said Milne. “Taxes and excessive regulation are suffocating our small businesses and killing opportunity for families to find stable, living-wage jobs. I will do all I can to empower entrepreneurs so our community can thrive. I am honored by the endorsement of NFIB and the support of small businesses, and will continue to work hard on their behalf in the state legislature.”

Milne has a track record of support for small business. She is a long-time member of the Chamber of Commerce for both Woodburn and Salem, and was chosen the 2014 Woodburn Chamber Citizen of the Year. Milne is also currently the President of Woodburn Rotary Club.

For over 20 years, as both a State Representative in the 1990s, and as Marion County Commissioner from 1998 to earlier this year, she has fought for the ability of communities and small businesses to determine what is best at the local level, rather than become burdened by unreasonable mandates, taxes and regulation dictated by the state. Milne also believes small businesses need and deserve the same lower tax rates and benefits made available to big corporations. “Free enterprise does not work without fair competition and a level playing field,” said Milne. “For Oregonians to thrive, we need all businesses to thrive, both large and small.”

The National Federation of Independent Business is the leading small business association representing small and independent businesses. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of their members to own, operate and grow their businesses.

Milne and her husband, Stan, settled in Woodburn over 30 years ago. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.