04/05/2007
As Congress prepares to come back from recess, small-business owners are paying close attention to Washington's support or opposition to legislation that will directly impact their business.
Faced with a declining membership, labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO, are pushing for new laws that will make it easier for a union to organize. The "Employee Free Choice Act," which eliminates private-ballot elections and replaces them with sign-up cards--or card-check agreements--which are far more successful for union organizers, is seen as an avenue for unions to increase their numbers.
The bill passed by a margin of 241-185 in the U.S. House of Representatives, with all Democrats in favor except for Reps. Dan Boren (2nd Dist.-Okla.) and Gene Taylor (4th Dist.-Miss.) It also picked up significant support from Republicans including Reps. Thad McCotter (11th Dist. - Mich.) and Tim Murphy (18th Dist.-Pa.). The vote could be an election issue for many freshman Democrats such as Reps. Nancy Boyda (2nd Dist-Kan.), Chris Carney (10th Dist.-Penn.), Tim Mahoney (16th Dist.-Fla.) and Heath Shuler (12th Dist.-N.C.), all who have already drawn challengers in their 2008 election.
Sen. Ted Kennedy (Mass.) has introduced similar legislation in the Senate, drawing 46 co-sponsors, including Sens. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), Barack Obama (Ill.) and John Kerry (Mass.). The lack of Republican support for the bill weakens chances for the bill to gain the 60 votes needed to pass by the Senate
Both the Senate and the House are considering the "Healthy Families Act," which would force small businesses with as few as 15 employees to provide a minimum of seven sick days to each employee per year. Many small-business owners claim that these mandates would force them to lay off employees or reduce other benefits, such as health care. The House version, sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (2nd Dist.-Conn.), and the Senate version, also sponsored by Kennedy, have both received significant Democratic support.
Given the influence of labor organizations in the Congress, bills like these will likely rise to the top of Washington's agenda this spring and summer, so small-business owners will be paying close attention to bills that will greatly impact their business. Continue to check www.nfib.com for more information about legislation, campaigns and elections.
