Sixty-nine percent of small-business owners and managers say complicated government regulations pose major obstacles to job creation, according to a new nationwide survey conducted by Clarus Research Group and commissioned by Common Good, a nonpartisan government reform coalition.

To avoid those complications, another 68 percent of respondents report that more businesses are investing in new technology as opposed to new employees. This is especially hurting job creation because the survey finds that small businesses employ half of the nation's private-sector work force and accounts for more than 99 percent of employers.

Among the respondents, 86 percent say when it comes to protecting public health and safety, regulations would be more effective if they provided clear, certain goals along with more freedom to use common sense when making daily decisions. Rather, 89 percent of respondents believe that most government bureaucrats make decisions based on rules as opposed to common sense.