Making sure businesses aren't burdened with excessive taxes is a key part of helping local businesses grow in these tough economic times.

During the 111th Congress Rep. Slaughter voted to extend the R&D tax credit, reduce the corporate tax rate, and extend the mortgage insurance and the state and local general sales taxes deduction. She also voted to extend the deduction for charitable contributions of food and charitable donations of books to public schools, supported legislation that will allow taxpayers to deduct qualified broadband expenditures, including installation and connection costs for subscribers in rural or hard-to-reach areas.

In addition, she:

• Supported the bipartisan Taxpayer Relief Act to cut capital gains and estate taxes while expanding the availability of IRAs.

• Sponsored a Small Business Access to Capital Conference that brought small businesses together with small business officers from 16 banks and technical resource providers that participate in the SBA's loan guarantee program.

• Personally intervened with former Vice President Gore to secure $50 million grant for Xerox/AT&T proposal to manufacture flat-panel displays.

• Assisted dozens of area businesses to obtain federal contracts or grants, resolved federal contracting problems, and served as a liaison with the federal bureaucracy.