08/19/2005
NFIB members discuss issues with legislators Mandate advocates calling for more unfunded mandatesWatch your fax machines! Special NFIB State Ballot coming soon.Ohio political newsLooking for a way to rein in rising workers' comp costs?NFIB/Ohio staff
NFIB members discuss issues with legislators
NFIB/Ohio members in 16 areas of the state have been discussing small-business legislative issues with 33 state representatives and senators throughout the month of August.
These issue discussions have centered on the recent tax-reform efforts, workers' compensation-reform legislation, and small-business health insurance-reform legislation.
What small-business owners are saying:
Tax reform and state spending (H.B. 66)
- Business owners have predominantly supported the state’s elimination of the tangible personal property tax and corporate franchise tax.
- Small-business owners have expressed frustration that the 21 percent personal-income-tax cuts do not equal the income-tax cuts large companies will realize via the elimination of the corporate franchise tax.
- NFIB and its members were disappointed that legislators left in tact the Ohio estate or "death" tax that unfairly targets business owners.
- Many entrepreneurs expressed concerns and skepticism about the new commercial activities tax and its unknown effects on Ohio’s economy and business climate.
- Business owners were troubled to learn the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Oversight Commission had voted against giving Ohio employers a 20 percent dividend credit.
- While legislators continue to work on investment reform, an NFIB-backed benefits and system reform bill projected to save employers $100 million annually has been stalled in the Ohio House. Business owners expressed dismay over legislative leadership’s decision to play politics with an important reform bill for small business.
- While NFIB continues to advocate for minor changes to the employer fraud provisions, and changes to the small employer late fees that would mirror what the BWC does for self-insured employers, your help is needed in moving this important legislation. Please call your state representative and ask him/her to support and pass this legislation so Ohio small-business owners can realize the expected $100 million in annual premium savings.
- As employers have increasingly struggled to afford and provide health insurance for their employees and family, state legislators have continued to introduce unfunded health-care-mandate legislation on a yearly basis.
- Business owners are decidedly supportive of H.B. 5, legislation that would allow small employers to purchase basic, state-mandate-free health insurance policies for their employees and families.
- NFIB members have expressed frustration with the special interest groups and insurance companies that are fighting to block this legislation.
- Please call your state representatives and senators and ask them to support H.B. 5.
To determine who your state representative is and locate contact information, log on to NFIB.com/OH. For more information about AACs or opportunities for activism in your community, contact Chad Wilson or Kyle Jackson at (614)221-4107.
Mandate advocates calling for more unfunded mandates
While members of the General Assembly prepare to return to Columbus in September, pro-mandate special interest groups are increasing the pressure on legislators to support mandate bills already introduced in both the House and the Senate.
Please call your state representative and senator and explain the problems created when the General Assembly passes new unfunded health-care mandates. To find your corresponding state representative and senator, log on to NFIB.com/OH and give them the facts about mandates.
The facts about mandates
1. Cost. Actuarial studies have estimated a single mandate may cost 5 percent or more in premium dollars for a given employer. While the actual cost of mandates is a frequently debated point, the fact still remains that mandates cost small business money.
2. Fairness. Large self-insured companies and federal and state government are exempt from having to provide additional mandated benefits. That leaves small businesses as the only group that is forced to provide these benefits.
3. Flexibility. Business owners should have flexibility to design plans with their insurers that best fit the needs of their families and employees.
4. Principle. Legislators in Columbus have do not know what is best for small businesses and their employees.
Watch your fax machines! Special NFIB State Ballot coming soon.
Be on the lookout for the next NFIB/Ohio Member Ballot coming to your fax machine and NFIB.com/OH very soon. This special ballot will ask questions about 2005 issues including:
- Gov. Taft’s "Jobs Package" – Issue 1
- Reform Ohio Now’s proposed changes to Ohio’s redistricting process, elimination of the Secretary of State’s authority to govern over elections, and new campaign finance limits. – Issue 5
Ohio political news
OH-18-Sulzer to challenge Ney
Former state representative and the current mayor of Chillicothe, Joe Sulzer, announced his candidacy this week for Ohio’s 18th congressional district. The incumbent, U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, is currently serving his sixth term; however, he is being connected to a burgeoning ethics scandal in Washington, D.C., which Democrats believe will make him vulnerable in next year’s election. Sulzer’s challenge of Ney should be Ney’s first difficult race since he won with 50 percent of the vote in 1996.
U.S. Senate-Yes and No
While Democrat U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown decided this week to not challenge U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine in next year’s election, DeWine did gain an opponent this week, albeit in the Republican primary. Former AK Steel President John Hritz announced the formation of an exploratory committee to challenge DeWine in the Republican primary. In the press release announcing his committee, Hritz cited recent polls, which have indicated that DeWine’s support amongst Ohioans is dropping.
In related news, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan stated this week that he would make a decision by Labor Day about whether he would challenge DeWine. However, the second-term congressman cited the rigors of such a campaign and the difficulty of raising the amount of money needed to challenge DeWine. Should Ryan decide to pass on the campaign, some Democrat grassroots activists are already floating Paul Hackett’s name as a candidate. Hackett narrowly lost earlier this month in the 2nd congressional district special election to replace Rob Portman. Hackett’s narrow loss has been spun as a “moral victory” by those in Democrat circles considering the strong Republican nature of the 2nd district.
Looking for a way to rein in rising workers' comp costs?
Have rising workers’ compensation premium costs taking a bigger bite out of your business’ budget? If so, consider how the NFIB/Ohio Group Rating Program can help you control these costs. We are now accepting evaluation requests for the 2006 policy year. To ensure timely response, please return your evaluation forms no later than Sept. 2, 2005. You should hear from us this fall about your eligibility for the program.
This will be NFIB/Ohio’s 15th year to sponsor a group-rating program. Administered by leading third-party administrator GatesMcDonald, this program has allowed thousands of small-business owners to save over $500 million in workers’ compensation premium during that time. This is money that has been reinvested into small businesses across Ohio to help keep our economy strong.
Our program also offers unemployment cost management services, administered by TALX ucXpress. The NFIB/Ohio-dedicated staff at TALX has produced stellar results in what can seem like a system stacked against employers. NFIB/Ohio and TALX win 96 percent of all contested claims and are successful at two out of three hearings. This has resulted in approximately $80 million in unemployment cost savings.
The NFIB/Ohio Group Rating Program is a great value-added service to your NFIB membership. Return your evaluation materials by Sept. 2, 2005 to see how we can help your business. Group discounts for the 2006 policy year take effect July 1, 2006, and will be reflected on Bureau of Workers’ Compensation payroll reports in January 2007 and July 2007.
Feel free to call the NFIB/Ohio office at (614) 221-4107 with any questions.
- State Director: Ty Pine
- Assistant. State Director: Kyle Jackson
- Grassroots Coordinator: Chad Wilson
- Member Benefits: Shawn Combs
- Political Director: Kevin Hughes
- Development: Andy Patterson
For questions or comments on small-business issues contained in this edition of Capitol Roundup, or if you have personal experience pertaining to any of these issues, please contact Assistant State Director Kyle Jackson in the NFIB/Ohio office at (614) 221-4107, or via e-mail at Kyle.Jackson@nfib.org.
