Jay Webber competed with the constant drone of drills and other tools Thursday afternoon in accepting an endorsement of the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business at a Morristown garage.

Two out of every three new jobs are created by small businesses, Webber said during a visit to the Shade Tree garage. As the candidate spoke, mechanics worked on a number of vehicles in the background.

As his campaign for Congress in the 11th District unfolds, Webber is stressing that the nation’s robust economy is no accident. In fact, it’s the result of federal tax cuts last year and the Trump administration’s friendly view of business.

Laurie A. Ehlbeck. the state director of the NFIB, said small business confidence and optimism is higher than it’s been since 1983.

That allowed Webber to get in a plug for Ronald Reagan, one of his personal political heroes. Reagan, of course, was president at the time.

Ehlbeck and John O’Connor, the long-time garage owner, both said Republican control of Congress is needed to maintain the momentum of a strong economy.

Webber is a big proponent of last year’s federal tax cuts. That puts him at variance with most other House Republicans from New Jersey (all but one voted no on the issue), but not with the individuals standing next to him in the garage.

O’Connor said the cuts benefit his business and his employees.

“It’s a couple of dollars (more) in everybody’s pocket,” he said. “Mine included.”

Mikie Sherrill, Webber’s Democratic opponent, opposes the tax cuts, saying that capping the state and local tax deduction at $10,000 actually will result in a tax increase for many families in the district.

O’Connor said taxes are not the only issue.

He said he also backs Webber’s opposition to overregulation. Asked what regulations concern him, O’Connor didn’t identify a specific one, but said there is always concern what can happen if a government inspector or bureaucrat walks in the door.

The NFIB represents thousands of independent businesses statewide, many of which have 10 or fewer workers.

Ehlbeck said the group’s only other congressional endorsement this year in New Jersey went to Rep. Tom MacArthur, a Republican in District 3. He was the only GOP representative from New Jersey to support the tax cuts.