“We want to make sure that that recovery happens equitably … We need to help out Main Street.”

Yesterday, Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, candidate for U.S. Senate, sat down with Mayor Mitch Reynolds, Rep. Steve Doyle, and small business owners in La Crosse to talk about the need to support Main Street’s recovery from COVID-19.

Here’s what they’re saying:

WKBT: Mandela Barnes hosts small businesses roundtable in La Crosse

  • Small businesses need to get help as much as larger ones, Barnes said.

  • “We’re still in a period of recovery, but we want to make sure that that recovery happens equitably,” Barnes said. (We) want to make sure that the bulk of support isn’t going to large established corporations. We need to help out Main Street.”

  • Barnes is one of a dozen Democrats hoping to unseat incumbent Republican Sen.Ron Johnson.

WEAU: La Crosse small business owners discuss growth barriers with Lt. Gov. Barnes

  • “As we know, our small businesses in Wisconsin are the backbone of our economy, but over the course of this pandemic, our small businesses have seen significant struggles,” Barnes said. “We’re still in a period of recovery, but we want to make sure that that recovery happens equitably, and want to make sure that the bulk of support isn’t going to large established corporations.”

  • Barnes agrees health care poses a significant challenge for small business owners, and it remains a priority of his as Lieutenant Governor.

  • “The cost of health care is already out of control,” Barnes expressed. “In order for their businesses to run smoothly, their employees have to be well, and we do have a responsibility as government to step up to make sure that nobody goes without.”

WIZM: La Crosse business owners meet with Mayor Reynolds and US Senate candidate, Wisconsin LT. Gov. Barnes

  • Several local business owners met with political leaders at Pearl Street Books on Wednesday for a roundtable discussion.

  • Those leaders included Mayor Mitch Reynolds, Assemblyman Rep. Steve Doyle and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who’s running for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin.

  • “When there is access to early childhood care, we see better outcomes in the long run in education,” Barnes said. “Not only are parents able to go to work and be able to provide for the family, be able to contribute to the economy. It helps those children also.”

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