WASHINGTON — Rep. Erik Paulsen and Republican colleagues are highlighting legislation that they say will help small businesses and create jobs. 

“Small businesses are integral to the success of our economy,” said Rep Paulsen in a statement Tuesday. “At a time when unemployment is over 9 percent nationally, giving our job providers the tools they need to grow jobs is critical.

Paulsen has endorsed a package of legislation targeted at small businesses that was proposed by members of the Tuesday Group, a relatively centrist caucus of House Republicans he is a membert of.

The legislation proposes measures that supporters say would help ease financial burdens for start-up small businesses. The bill would increase the start-up deduction from $5,000 to $20,000 in an attempt to help get more people creating small businesses.

It also includes a provision that aims to reduce regulatory paperwork by putting more forms online and having the federal government to commit to regulations that won’t require more than 200 hours to meet. 

The group criticized the Obama administration’s economic agenda, saying it has created more obstacles for small businesses.

"We are all here today for one reason: because the majority party in Washington has done little to help job creation," said Rep. Leonard Lance of New Jersey. "The fact is the policies passed during this Congress are hurting small businesses.”

Lauren Knobbe is an intern in MinnPost’s D.C. Bureau.