State Senator John Cauthorn, R-Mexico, and State Representative Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico, this morning (Feb. 28) hosted an informal small business development forum at a family restaurant in Mexico, Missouri. Discussion topics included coping with spiraling health insurance costs, and planning strategies for reforming workers compensation, unemployment insurance and civil liability or "Tort Reform".

"We had a great turnout representing a good mix of backgrounds and business sectors," Cauthorn said. "Representative Hobbs and I came away with a much clearer understanding of the core issues facing small business owners in our area and we're both committed to addressing these issues to the best of our abilities. As employers, as providers of goods and services, as significant generators of revenue, small business is vital to Missouri's economy and deserves every bit of legislative attention that schools, roads and social programs receive."

Before this year's legislative session began, Cauthorn and Hobbs, whose Senate and House constituencies overlap to some degree, had talked about co-hosting town meetings as a way to give small business owners in their districts an opportunity to voice opinions directly to their state legislators. Cauthorn and Hobbs will now use the information gathered to find solutions for small business owners and job creation for the state of Missouri and the rural communities they represent.

"Today's meeting went so well I'm certain Senator Cauthorn and I will be hosting similar gatherings in the near future," Hobbs said. "The best way to affect change is to initiate dialog, and the best way to initiate dialog is for all parties involved to meet face-to-face."