Challenges facing NFIB/South Carolina in the 2010 legislative session:
Improve access to affordable healthcare
Healthcare remains one of the greatest challenges facing small businesses. Nationwide, fewer than half of all small businesses offer health insurance to their employees. NFIB/South Carolina supports measures to create a state income-tax credit for small businesses that provide health insurance for their employees and allow small businesses to buy basic health insurance policies that don’t include all of the costly mandates required by the state.
Reform South Carolina’s workforce development/unemployment system
South Carolina has record unemployment and that the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund is broke. In fact, South Carolina will owe the federal government $1 billion for unemployment benefit payments by the end of 2009, as collections from South Carolina businesses simply can’ keep up with those claiming unemployment. Reforming the Employment Security Commission, eliminating fraud and abuse of the benefit system and making sure that those looking for work are matched with the small and large businesses looking to hire must be priority.
Provide small businesses with meaningful tort reform
According to several national studies and our own South Carolina Department of Commerce, the legal climate in South Carolina is a deciding factor for businesses looking to expand or relocate here, and choosing to go elsewhere. Protecting businesses from frivolous lawsuits, limiting noneconomic damages and establishing caps on punitive damages will improve the bottom lines and insurance rates of businesses here in South Carolina and cause other businesses to consider locating here.
Protect workers’ right to a secret ballot when deciding to unionize
South Carolina is on the leading edge when it comes to protecting both workers and employers from undue influences when deciding the question of union organization. The state legislature is poised, in no small part to extensive lobbying efforts of NFIB, to pass a bill calling for a state constitutional amendment to protect workers rights to a secret ballot in union representation votes.
Pass objective standards for workers’ compensation awards
NFIB/South Carolina supports efforts to reform the workers’ compensation system and require the commission to use objective standards based on a schedule or the AMA guidelines when determining a claimant’s award.
