During TV6's interview with Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney viewers questions were asked. Rick Piatt from Davenport asked Mitt Romney how he would help small businesses and offer tax relief.
Rick Piatt owns "Rick's Wreck Repair" in Davenport. He's been in business for 7-years and has worked out his current location for the past 3-years. Piatt submitted his question, because he wants answers about how small business owners can continue to do business during these tough economic times.
While watching Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney answer his question, this is Piatt's reaction.
"He's kind of evasive," says Piatt, "Normal political evasiveness."
The Davenport man says owning his auto body shop is rewarding, but at times it can be a struggle.
"It makes it very hard at the end of the quarter when taxes are due," adds Piatt, "I'm lucky if I have any money left by the time I pay all my taxes."
Piatt ran his business out of his home for a few years. 3-years ago he bought property and relocated to the Historic Washington Street District.
"It's very tough, that's why I had to go through an SBA program," Piatt says, "it allowed me to have some sweat equity in my business and I didn't have to put as much money down to make the purchase on my building."
Piatt would like to expand his business, but like other small business owners he's having trouble getting financing.
"If you don't give somebody some tax credits, some tax breaks to allow them to survive, we're going to be buckling under, and we're not going to have a middle class."
The business owner knows helping small business owners is not an easy problem to fix. However, he hopes one of the candidates will come up with a solution.
"I'd like to see either candidate step in and get a grip on things," adds Piatt, "Help stimulate the economy enough that the middle class feels comfortable instead of being the bad guy all the time."
