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Not many were expecting Republican Scott Brown to sweep to victory in the senatorial election in the staunchly liberal state of Massachusetts last week. But, as the dust clears, it seems Brown’s election could have unforeseen ramifications for small businesses and franchises up and down the country.

Brown’s election means that there is one less Democrat in the Senate, which reduces the party’s ability to pass legislation without filibuster. With President Obama’s massive new health care plan facing a vote in the Senate, Brown’s election means that many strands of the bill will have to be renegotiated. The IFA thinks this is good news.

“Our message all along was to start over,” said David French, vice president of government affairs of the IFA, told Nation’s Restaurant News magazine.

“We believe the White House and congressional leadership have crafted a package that is profoundly unpopular and damaging to small businesses. But we see the Massachusetts result as an opportunity to finally get Congress’ attention.”

Now regardless of what side of the political aisle you fall on, it was obvious that this new health care bill was going to make operating a small business even harder than it is already. Perhaps the voters of Massachusetts have done franchisees a favor by electing Brown.

We’ll be following the developments with the health care bill in detail. Here’s hoping that a bill that better meets the interests of America’s small business owners reaches the President’s desk in the Oval Office.