05/28/2002
When Scott George found out in 1992 about the new OSHA regulations applied to the dental profession, he knew costs would rise for the dental practice his company manages.Though the federal agency predicted minimal costs, George found himself shelling out $25,000, just for start-up costs, before compliance was complete.
"I started looking for someone who could represent small business at the Capitol since we certainly couldn't afford our own lobbyist," says George, who owns a practice-management company, Three V Corporation, and same-day hearing centers in Missouri.
George found his solution after a friend recommended NFIB. He was especially impressed that the members set NFIB's agenda, and not just a few board members.
After joining NFIB, he took an active role in stopping federal regulations from harming small businesses. He helped draft and testified in favor of the 1996 Small Business Regulatory & Enforcement Fairness Act. For four years he served on a Regulatory Fairness Board, taking comments from small businesses directly to federal agencies to find solutions to common problems.
"The progress has been remarkable in some cases. When we first began, there were a huge number of complaints about OSHA and the IRS," says George, who notes the agencies received far fewer complaints during his last year on the board.
George's father, the late Dr. Harold E. George, started the business. Today, it remains a family operation with his wife, Charlotte, and his mother, Betty, also part of the business.
Quick Facts:
Name: Three V Corporation and Mid-Hearing Center, www.midamericahearing.com
Location: Mt. Vernon, Mo.
Founded: 1979
Number of employees: 47
What services does your business provide?
We manage the dental practice owned by J. Warren Hildreth, DDS, which offers reasonably priced quality health care with same-day service. The practice enjoys an excellent reputation all over the country, and even the world. A couple from New Zealand recently traveled to Missouri for dental care!
In 1988, we founded Mid-America Hearing Center to take advantage of hearing-aid technology in a same-day environment. Mid-America Hearing now has offices in Mt. Vernon, Joplin, Branson and Liberty. The home location in Mt. Vernon, Mid-America Dental and Hearing Center, offers free RV hook ups, since we found that many patients plan vacations around trips to see the dentists or hearing specialists. Many patients tell us the reasonable prices help them save enough money for their vacations. Several travel destinations are just a short drive from our facility, including Branson, Bass Pro Shop and the Ozark Lakes and Mountains.
Do you employ family members? How many?
My wife, mother and I work in the business together, as well as one brother-in-law.
How did you get into the business?
My father, Dr. Harold George, started the business. After he passed away in 1991, I began buying out the non-family owners. After his untimely death, it took several years to make sure the company had successfully passed to the second generation. But we are blessed with terrific coworkers and, with their strong support, we have weathered several economic storms. We have grown only because of their tremendous service and dedication to patient care.
Why did you join NFIB?
In the early 1990s, OSHA applied the Bloodbourne Pathogens Standard to the dental profession. As managers for the dental practice we began implementing the standard as soon as possible. But though OSHA estimated the costs to be $1,700 a year per office, the costs for our initial equipment quickly rose above $25,000. The estimated annual costs for the one office were in the six figures. Doctors were unhappy, staff members were unhappy and patients were unhappy about the extra costs. I started looking for someone who could represent small business at the Capitol, since we certainly couldn't afford our own lobbyist. A business colleague told me about NFIB. One key attribute to me was that NFIB members set their policy, not some board of directors dominated by a few big contributors.
What have you done through NFIB to help the cause of small business?
In the regulatory area, I am proud of the 1996 Small Business Regulatory & Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), sponsored by Sen. Kit Bond and Rep. Jim Talent. This one law resulted in a change in the federal regulatory agencies' relationship with small businesses. Federal agencies are required to treat small businesses fairly and to take into account our size during the creation and enforcement of regulations.
I was involved with the drafting of this legislation, testified in Congress regarding its passage, and served four years on one of the Regulatory Fairness Boards created under this law.
As a Fairness Board member, I took small business comments about excessive and overzealous enforcement actions and worked with the federal agencies to turn those comments into positive recommendations that have encouraged the agencies to work with small businesses instead of forcing compliance by coercion. The progress has been remarkable in some cases. When we first began, there were a huge number of complaints about OSHA and the IRS. Both agencies made a major commitment to comply with the SBREFA law. During my last year, there were almost no comments regarding these two agencies. Most other federal regulatory agencies made strong commitments to deal fairly with small businesses. And there are still a few to go.
What are your top legislative concerns?
The cost of health care is a huge concern. Our small business health insurance premiums tripled in past two years, including a staggering 40 percent for 2002. Escalating health care premiums are the number one driver for price increases. I support allowing Association Health Plans to help control costs.
I would also like to see more tax cuts for small businesses. Since we pay at the individual rates, small business owners pay very high taxes. Charlotte and I are taxed at over 60 percent when counting federal, state, and payroll. This does not count sales taxes or other hidden taxes. Many people ask why we strive to increase our income when we get less than 40 cents of every additional dollar. That's a hard question to answer to everyone's satisfaction.
Small business regulatory compliance costs are very high. Unfounded mandates (like collecting employee payroll taxes and filling out a myriad of government forms) are much more expensive, per capita, for small businesses. We need a "two for one" special: For every new regulation, sunset two others. Better yet, we need an increase SBA funding to properly implement The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement & Fairness Act (SBREFA) of 1996 so that both the SBA Office of Advocacy and the Regulatory Fairness Boards can hold regulatory agencies accountable for their enforcement actions.
Why do you like being a small business owner?
When I worked for the Fortune 500 companies, I always acted like my department was my company, and my budget was my money. Now that I'm small business owner, it really is my company and my money. So I don't have to act any different.
I also enjoy being able to develop the people and the business systems to ensure that everything runs smoothly while still taking care of the patients' needs. We have many success stories from times when employees were given the opportunity to grow and develop to their highest potential. Working together, we develop and achieve both company and individual goals. I enjoy going to work every day.
