01/18/2008
'Reg Flex' saves Maryville entrepreneur
Last summer, a small-business constituent of Sen. Raymond Finney (Maryville) called his office to express concern about a potentially arbitrary order from a state inspector. The entrepreneur was told his expansive seven-foot fence with razor-tops was too low, and he would need to raise it. At a minimum, this would have cost his business thousands of dollars and significant time away from his operation. At a maximum, it could have cost him a trip to the bank for a large loan request or even put him out of business. Sen. Finney called the department to express his constituent's concerns, mentioning the recently adopted Small-Business Regulatory Flexibility Act he had sponsored with Rep. Susan Lynn (Mt. Juliet). A department official soon called Sen. Finney to say his constituent's fence was fine.
That's how NFIB -- which worked hard last year to codify this executive order into law -- is working for you! NFIB again thanks Sen. Finney, Rep. Lynn, the General Assembly and Gov. Bredesen for their leadership in establishing regulatory flexibility for small business in Tennessee.
Members see value from NFIB's federal efforts
Do you ever wonder what your NFIB membership really means to your business? At the state level, NFIB has played a big role in the state's workers' comp reform effort, the establishment of regulatory flexibility for small business, and the increase in health care access and choices for small business. That's real return on investment of your membership dollars. But wait … there's more. NFIB's federal team has helped your business tremendously, helping to enact the AMT patch and small-business expensing recently and block several tax gap measures and the so-called "Employee Free Choice Act." Not to mention the many victories by NFIB's Legal Foundation and the comprehensive benefits you can access through our Member Benefits group, among many value additions. As always, we thank you for your membership and are honored to serve your business.
2008 session underway
This year's session started on Jan. 8 with the news the state's budget picture looks cloudy at best. The December shortfall was $51 million; year to date the general fund budget is short $186 million. Clearly, last year's budget projections were rosy.
NFIB has been hard at work discussing potential health care solutions for small business that complement the state's CoverTN program that went into effect last year. NFIB is encouraged lawmakers are eager to address the small-business health care crisis in our state. Sens. Diane Black and Roy Herron and Rep. Charles Curtiss are sponsors of SB 2659/HB 3100, an NFIB-backed effort with bipartisan support. The bill, mirrored after a similar effort in North Carolina, would extend a $400 annual per employee tax credit to small employers (25 employees or fewer) who pay at least 50 percent of health insurance premiums for employees and their dependents. NFIB's goal is to increase the amount of covered lives in Tennessee, in the end saving the state money. Stay tuned for more details.
NFIB is mobilizing against several "job killer" bills, including a so-called "pay-equity" effort that would, among many questionable practices, "develop guidelines for employers to evaluate job categories based on objective criteria so that the employers could voluntarily compare wages paid for different jobs and determine if the pay scales adequately and fairly compensate men and women." NFIB believes that's a very slippery slope. According to the bill, HB0065, under current law pay differentials can be based on "seniority, merit, quality or quantity of production, or any 'other reasonable differential' that is based on a factor other than sex. NFIB members believe workers should be paid for their output and contributions, not arbitrary factors being proposed in this harmful bill. Another bill of concern to NFIB members is the "Healthy Families Act," which would require any employer with 25 or more employees to provide employees who work 30 hours or more a week at least seven days of annual paid sick and vacation leave.
Save the date!
Small-Business Day at the Capitol in Tennessee will be held Wednesday, April 9. Guest speakers in recent years include Gov. Phil Bredesen, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh. This year's "Day on the Hill" will be an excellent opportunity to hear from state leaders and visit with your legislators to share your small-business concerns. To reserve a spot, please contact Valerie Nagoshiner at 615-872-5331. NFIB will send more details as we solidify the full agenda. Make your voice heard!
2008 Small-Business Summit set for June
Plans are underway for the 2008 NFIB National Small-Business Summit to be held June 8-11 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. Since 2008 is an election year, NFIB is inviting the top two presidential candidates as guest speakers. Information about the Summit is available at www.NFIB.com/Summit. Members who want to attend can conveniently register online.
Take advantage of Dell/NFIB award program
The fifth annual Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence in Customer Experience award program, sponsored by Dell and NFIB, begins Jan. 7. Small businesses using technology in innovative ways are invited to enter to win $25,000 in Dell products and services, a lifetime membership to NFIB and a full day with Dell executives, including Chairman and CEO Michael Dell, at the company's headquarters in Round Rock, Texas. In addition, nine finalists will receive Dell merchandise and a one-year membership to NFIB. The award program honors small businesses that instill the spirit of innovation and apply information technology to improve customer service. Entrants must be a small business with 100 or fewer employees. For a description of the criteria and to obtain an application, visit Dell's Web site. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 29.
Small-business news you can use
Download the new I-9 form to verify employees' eligibility New CoverTN insurance program expands eligibilityTenn. unemployment rate increases to 5.3 percentEconomic stimulus package proposedExpansion of family and medical leave actJump-start January sales
Sincerely,
Jim Brown
NFIB/Tennessee State Director
615-874-5288
jim.brown@nfib.org
