07/27/2005
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Jerry Pierce testified on the importance of Small-Business Health Plans (AHPs) earlier this year. |
When called to testify, count on NFIB member Jerry Pierce.
Owner of Restaurant Equipment World in Orlando, Pierce has made quite a name for himself by articulating small-business challenges on several issues. In 2003, he appeared at a news conference with Sen. John Kyl (R-Ariz.), Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-Wash.) and NFIB President and CEO Jack Faris calling for an end to the death tax. That same year, he appeared at a federal hearing in Orlando sponsored by Congressmen Tom Feeney (R-Oviedo) and Ric Keller (R-Orlando) that addressed health-care concerns.
This year, Pierce again teamed with Keller to promote the congressman's Small Business Bill of Rights, which passed the House on a voice vote and is awaiting its day in the Senate.
"The biggest value of belonging to NFIB is the ability to leverage NFIB's influence to make a difference on small-business issues," said Pierce, who believes strongly there is greater strength "when you're banded together."
An Army lieutenant who served in Korea, Pierce is involved with NFIB in many ways – he serves on NFIB/Florida's Leadership Council, he's active with Florida media, and he makes his views known to Florida's state and federal legislators. Pierce also has sponsored Free Enterprise Scholars through NFIB's Young Entrepreneur Foundation, has contributed to NFIB's SAFE Trust, and attended NFIB's Leadership Trust meeting and Small-Business Day at the Capitol.
He also stays active through the Central Florida Veterans Association, which boasts 380,000 members, and by serving on the board of directors of the Food Equipment Distributors Association and chairing a local advisory board for BankFIRST.
In addition to the death tax and lack of access to affordable health insurance, Pierce said he's eying other issues, including government interference (mostly at the local level) and intellectual property disputes and ownership issues. Specifically, he's bothered that "Internet searches are controlled by three companies" and the de-listing and sorting notification process for businesses is non-existent.
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In 2003, Pierce talked about the need for permanent death-tax repeal as Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-Wash.) and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) looked on. |
"Eventually, we'll have to introduce legislation to regulate the system of due process [with regard to] how search engines [notify entities]," he said.
Pierce said he's pleased with Gov. Jeb Bush, who he said has helped Florida to "[do] well in maintaining fiscal responsibility." He also said under Bush's administration, the state has made "a strong effort to improve education [and] to protect property rights."
"Our [state's] main area of weakness is tort reform," said Pierce, noting the deep pockets rule is grossly unfair to businesses. Asked about this year's legal reform setback in the Florida legislature, the mild-mannered but determined Pierce responded, "You never ever give up. You get right back at it again."
Pierce emphasized NFIB embodies what members like him desire in an organization.
"In anything, persistence is omnipotent," he said. "We're not giving up on the death tax or tort reform or adequate health-care coverage. We're not giving up on anything, which best summarizes [how I feel about] NFIB."
