12/30/2005
CONTACT: Gordon Dixon at (804) 377-3661 or Jim Brown at (615) 874-5288
Health-care reform, eminent domain also expected to be key issues in 2006 legislative session
RICHMOND—The National Federation of Independent Business, Virginia’s largest small-business advocacy group, today said it would pursue full repeal of the state’s death tax, or estate tax, and fiscally responsible solutions to Virginia’s transportation challenges as part of its 2006 legislative agenda. Virginia’s General Assembly is scheduled to convene on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
“Virginia’s death tax inhibits job creation and greatly hinders small-business owners from passing their business to family members,” said NFIB/Virginia State Director Gordon Dixon, noting 82 percent of Virginians support repeal of the death tax, according to a 2002 statewide poll. “This is the year to get a bill across the finish line to Gov.-elect Kaine, who has pledged he supports full repeal of the death tax. Small-business owners, farmers and a sizeable majority of Virginians view the death tax as a harmful double tax and repealing it as a matter of fairness.”
Virginia’s transportation issue will also be a key issue for small business in 2006. NFIB supports Gov.-elect Kaine’s proposal to ensure transportation funds are no longer raided for other purposes, but used to improve transportation across the Commonwealth. Dixon said NFIB/Virginia members believe many transportation problems can be addressed through better management of transportation funds. Members are currently being balloted on whether the gas tax should be raised or not, and NFIB/Virginia expects to release those results in the near future.
Dixon said NFIB/Virginia’s 8,000 members are encouraged Virginia appears ready to tackle runaway health-care costs. NFIB will support efforts to establish insurance pools for small businesses and commonsense reforms to the state’s Medicaid program, including efforts to encourage better lifestyle choices.
“Small-business owners and their employees feel left out in the cold when it comes to accessing affordable health insurance, but they’re pleased fresh proposals are being made to help them,” Dixon said. “Virginia must encourage more personal responsibility in our health-care system, and NFIB will support efforts in the General Assembly to create health savings accounts for Medicaid recipients, to review drug utilization and authorization programs, and to embrace and expand disease management programs. Doing nothing is no longer acceptable if Virginia is to meet the essential needs of its citizens.”
Another 2006 NFIB goal is to ensure Virginia’s eminent domain laws fully protect small-business owners from illegitimate land seizures in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial decision in June, Kelo v. New London. NFIB also plans to keep a watchful eye on any proposals that would add new health-care mandates or increase the minimum wage.
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The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is Virginia’s and the nation’s largest small-business advocacy group. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its 600,000 members in Washington and all 50 state capitals. NFIB is now offering the latest NFIB news and information via RSS feeds. To subscribe to one or more feeds, or to get more information about the topic-specific feeds available, please go to www.NFIB.com/rss.
