Klobuchar calls for help for small businesses

by Jessica Mador, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is calling for more federal help for small businesses. Klobuchar said she plans to take up the issue when Congress returns to work next week.

Klobuchar, a Democrat, said on MPR's Midday program Friday that helping the state's small businesses grow will create thousands of needed jobs.

"The first thing is to make sure that we have credit available so that businesses can grow," said Klobuchar. "We have had some improvements with the GDP on a national basis, but still for our small businesses it's incredibly difficult."

Klobuchar said she supports provisions that would help small businesses pay for employee health insurance under any health care overhaul passed by Congress.