PORTSMOUTH-Standing with small business owners congressional candidate John Stephen (R-Manchester) unveiled a twelve-point business plan.

"As the son of a small business owner, I saw firsthand just how difficult it was to meet a payroll, to keep the operation running smoothly and to satisfy the numerous tax and regulatory requirements that each of our entrepreneurs face today," Stephen said. "Running a company is hard enough without an intrusive government putting barriers before our entrepreneurs," Stephen said.

Stephen's plan includes controlling energy prices, stop tax increases scheduled for 2010, eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax, cut capital gains taxes, have Congress analyze the impact of federal regulation, cut health care mandates, simplify the tax code, kill the death tax, make the internet tax moratorium permanent, accelerate business depreciation and make health care deductibility follow the individual.

"With these twelve points Congress can be working for Americans instead of against them and for small business instead of against small business," Stephen said.

At the event, Stephen also announced the formation of a group of 110 supporters that will form his "Business Leaders for Stephen Team."