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ESCANABA -- Small business owners picked the brain of Republican Congressional candidate Dan Benishek and others running for the state House and Senate Thursday morning.

The business owners made their message clear.  They need help.

"We need stability from our government so we know what our tax bases are,” said Judi Schwalbach, owner of the Victorian Gift House in Escanaba.  “We need to make decisions based on good, sound information.  Without that information, we can't make decisions to hire."

As the anti-establishment candidate, Benishek is working to appeal to voters like Schwalbach.  He said government is the problem, and limiting it gives small businesses the best chance to thrive.

"It's critical that we decrease taxes, decrease government spending, and streamline regulations so that small business owners can flourish,” said Benishek.  “Everywhere I go, small business people are saying their biggest problem is not customers--it's the government."

Benishek was joined on the campaign trail Thursday by U.S. Congressman Aaron Schock from Illinois, a member of the Small Business Committee.

But what matters most to these business owners is seeing jobs created and businesses grow.

"I notice that even in my driver’s ed. school that some people can't afford drivers education,” said Al Hansan, owner of Delta Driving School.  “The jobs are getting tighter and tighter and as a result, I don't think people have the income they should have.  I see more young people waiting until 18 to get drivers education."

Small business owners were some of the hardest hit during the recession, and both Republicans and Democrats know they need the support of that group to win in November.