Just like NBA fans wonder if their favorite teams will play this season, the Chamber's Small Business Survey for the third quarter of 2011 found that small businesses remain uncertain about the economy and are hesitant to hire.

A vast majority of respondents, 89%, believe the economy is on the wrong track, and just 17% plan to hire workers, down from 19% in July's survey.

What's preventing them from hiring? Small business owners still find economic uncertainty to be their most-pressing concern (53%), but also worry about uncertainty from what Washington will do next (39%), and the healthcare law (33%).

The survey also found that small business owners overwhelmingly support the Chamber's jobs plan. Eighty percent think increased domestic energy production would be helpful to the economy, 74% think speeding up permitting and regulatory relief would be helpful, and 67% think the same about passing tax incentives.

This survey is a reminder to leaders in Washington that businesses want Washington to pass pro-growth policies that will reduce uncertainty, boost economic growth, and get more people working.