McCarthy: Small business conference will feature CEO of CKE Restaurants, started with a hot dog stand and now a flourishing business

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield and House Majority Whip, gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill.

 "During the Great Depression, a Midwestern farm boy had few opportunities. Having quit school to help on his parents' Ohio farm, Carl Karcher jumped when his uncle offered him a job at his feed store in Anaheim. Karcher didn’t bring much more to California than a strong work ethic and the desire to succeed, but he soon married and started a new job delivering bread for a local bakery.

 "A popular hot dog stand on his daily route sparked an entrepreneurial hunch in Karcher and his wife, Margaret. In 1941, they took a leap of faith and a loan for $311, using their Plymouth as collateral, and bought their own hot dog cart.  In under five years, the Karchers opened a full-service restaurant. In 1956, the first two Carl’s Jr. restaurants opened, eventually growing into CKE Restaurants, Inc., a California company that owns thousands of restaurants worldwide, generates over $1 billion annually, and employs over 70,000 people in the U.S.

  "This is the kind of success story America needs more of. At home in Bakersfield and around our congressional district, one of the biggest concerns I hear is creating new jobs. That is why I’m hosting a Small Business & Innovation Conference in Bakersfield next week, and I’m pleased Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc., will give the keynote speech. You can find additional details and how to RSVP below.

  "We also took a major step in Washington this week when the House passed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act to help start-ups and small businesses grow and create jobs. Supported by Republicans, Democrats and even the White House, this bipartisan legislation includes six key provisions to give entrepreneurs greater access to capital, remove red tape, and allow individuals to take a chance on the American Dream.

 "Start-ups and small businesses are the backbone of our economy. From the last recession to the beginning of the most recent one, small businesses generated seven million new jobs. Sixty percent were created by companies five years old or younger. Yet, because of regulatory restrictions and limited access to capital, start-ups are at their lowest level in years.

  "Think about CKE Restaurants. What started as a hot dog stand is now one of the most successful restaurant chains in the world. Think about other California success stories, like small businesses here at home in energy, agriculture, and other industries. I believe every entrepreneur should have the ability to work hard, pursue good ideas, and succeed.

 "The way to get America back to work is by empowering small businesses. The JOBS Act will help re-invigorate small businesses, encourage new start-ups to grow, and get America moving again. I look forward to hearing directly from local business owners so I can help address the economic and regulatory challenges they face, and encourage them and any interested members of our community to attend the conference Thursday, March 15th, from 8:00 a.m. to noon in the CSU Bakersfield Multi-Purpose Room. To RSVP, please email RSVP.McCarthy@mail.house.gov.