12/18/2006
CONTACT: Gary Selvy, (615) 872-5855 or Jim Brown, (615) 874-5288
Health Care, Tort Reform and Vendors' Compensation Will Be Key Issues
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The National Federation of Independent Business, Tennessee's leading small-business advocacy group, today announced its agenda on behalf of its membership. NFIB will look to improve access to affordable health insurance, rein in lawsuit abuse and restore vendors' compensation, among several initiatives in the 2007 session.
"Small business registered success in the 2006 session, but significant problems remain that threaten free enterprise in Tennessee," NFIB/Tennessee State Director Gary Selvy said. "NFIB will continue to be closely involved on the implementation of CoverTN, the state's new health insurance program for small employers and employees that passed with bipartisan support last session. We look forward to working again with Governor Bredesen and the General Assembly to ensure small-business concerns are addressed."
To establish its 2007 agenda, NFIB/Tennessee recently completed a survey of it members. Selvy said health care will certainly be a small-business priority, as will civil-justice reform, noting nearly 90 percent of respondents said the Legislature should act to cap punitive damage awards in lawsuits. Several other states, including Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina, have enacted similar legislation since 2004. Selvy pointed to recent evidence from the American Medical Association citing Tennessee in a state of crisis for medical liability, as well as declining access to care for Tennessee patients, an increase in claims and soaring jury awards.
"Small-business owners feel threatened by frivolous lawsuits and rogue lawyers, and want to put an end to jackpot justice," Selvy said. "NFIB again will work with the Tennessee Medical Association's 50-strong coalition to convince legislators and the governor that we should reform now rather than pay later."
On another question, 89 percent of respondents oppose legislation that would require employers to offer and pay for a specific level of health insurance for their employees. Separately, 80 percent said business owners should be allowed to keep a modest percentage of the sales tax they collect to help defray the cost of collecting and remitting this tax to the state. Vendors' compensation was eliminated several years ago during the state's most recent budget crisis. Selvy said the time has come to ensure that small-business owners are no longer unpaid tax collectors for the state.
In addition, NFIB will be working with agency department heads and other officials to ensure provisions of Gov. Bredesen's recent executive order establishing regulatory flexibility for small business are followed. Tennessee's session is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Jan. 9.
