03/27/2008
Join us at Small Business Day on April 9
Time is running short to sign up for Small Business Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 9. This informative, interactive day with elected officials is an outstanding way to make your voice heard on issues important to you and your business. Gov. Phil Bredesen is confirmed as our keynote speaker. NFIB members will have the opportunity to ask questions of leaders on two panels (healthcare and taxes). NFIB thanks AT&T and Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis for their tremendous support in sponsoring our annual gathering in Nashville. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Waller Lansden office on the 27th floor at 511 Union St. Make your reservation today. Sign up online or contact Valerie Nagoshiner at 615-872-5331.
Healthcare bills progress
Two key healthcare reform bills (small group health cooperatives and healthcare tax credits) continue to advance. Please continue to make your voice heard on this and other important small business issues.
Small group health cooperatives: Senate Bill 4014, sponsored by Sen. Steve Southerland (Morristown), passed 31-0 on the Senate floor Monday. NFIB thanks Sen. Southerland for his outstanding leadership on this initiative. The bill would let small business owners join together to negotiate for health insurance rates and give small business owners an important option to look for better rate predictability and stability. The House Industrial Impact Subcommittee approved its version, HB 4066, sponsored by Reps. Charles Curtiss (Sparta) and Charles Sargent (Franklin) on Wednesday. Please ask members of the House Commerce Committee to vote YES on HB 4066.
Healthcare tax credits: The House Budget Subcommittee put House Bill 3100 (Curtiss/Sargent) behind the budget, meaning the bill will be evaluated in the context of the complete budget at a later date. The bill's estimated cost has been reduced from $16 million to $8 million, and NFIB expects that amount to be reduced even further in the coming days. NFIB thanks Subcommittee Chairman Harry Tindell (Knoxville) for alerting committee members and the administration to the potential positive impact of the bill, which would provide a tax credit for small employers that provide health benefits to employees. The idea is supported by 92 percent of NFIB members. NFIB also thanks sponsors Curtiss and Sargent for their ongoing leadership on the bill. Stay tuned for a call to action. Your grassroots activism may be the difference in getting this bill passed.
Tort reform: Last year's lawsuit abuse reform effort picked up significant steam this week. The House Judiciary Committee passed SB 2001, a comprehensive tort reform bill (PDF file, downloadable below) that revises provisions concerning damages, expert testimony, attorney fees and other matters in such actions. The compromise bill essentially attempts to reduce frivolous lawsuits, though it does not provide the monetary damage caps sought by the reform coalition. If the House soon passes the amended bill, the Senate would then consider it. NFIB supports SB 2001 and thanks Sen. Mark Norris (Collierville) and Rep. Doug Overbey (Maryville) and many other sponsors for their leadership on this effort.
Mandatory leave: The House Consumer and Employee Affairs Committee postponed hearing HB 3006 by Rep. Mike Turner (Old Hickory) by one week. The bill would require certain employers to grant their employees paid sick and vacation leave based upon the number of hours they work annually. Most small business owners already have generous sick and vacation leave policies, and NFIB members oppose onerous government mandates on private business practices. Please ask House committee members to vote NO on HB 3006. Please ask Senate Commerce Committee members to vote NO on SB 3773, the Senate version sponsored by Sen. Joe Haynes (Goodlettsville).
Union bills: Unfortunately, House Joint Resolution 765, sponsored by Rep. Turner, passed the House Employee Affairs Subcommittee on Tuesday. This resolution would encourage Congress to pass the poorly named Employee Free Choice Act (known to NFIB members as "Card Check"), which would make employee votes public. The act would open the door to intimidation and harassment of employees voting in elections of potential union formation. Please ask members of the House Consumer and Employee Affairs Committee to vote NO on HJR 765. Another union-supported bill (HB 3263) by Rep. Gary Moore (Joelton) that would take away the right of an employer to conduct a mandatory employee meeting to discuss issues related to a union campaign was postponed one week. Please ask members of the House Employee Affairs Subcommittee to vote NO on HB 3263.
Workers' compensation update: HB 3801 was pulled off committee notice by Rep. Curtiss. The bill would limit the definition of "injury" when it occurs at an employee's residence under certain circumstances. NFIB believes the bill is a commonsense response to a State Supreme Court ruling. The court found that the Workers' Compensation Act covers telecommuters who are injured while working from home, but only when the injury arises out of and occurs in the course of employment. NFIB continues to support HB 3710, sponsored by Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (Ripley). The bill, which has been postponed one week, would exclude workers' compensation injuries that occur during recreational activities that are not required by the employer and do not directly benefit the employer. Please ask committee members to vote YES on HB 3710.
Do Not Call business bill: NFIB is working hard to defeat HB 2871, sponsored by Rep. Mark Maddox (Dresden). The bill would allow businesses to enroll on the Do Not Call Register. NFIB is arguing that business-to-business phone solicitations are inherently different than calls to residences. Importantly, businesses would have to spend $500 annually to access the register, which is essentially a burdensome $500 business tax. Please ask members of the House Utilities, Banking and Small Business Committee Subcommittee to vote NO on HB 2871.
Minimum wage: Sen. Doug Jackson (Dickson) pulled his bill, SB 1668, which would require the state to provide for an automatic minimum wage increase whenever Congress fails to increase it over five full calendar years. Jackson said he will wait one year before revisiting his initiative. The House passed its bill last year.
NFIB watch list and bills of interest: NFIB is paying close attention to many bills scheduled for committee, including: SB 3460/HB 3180, which would authorize a consumer to bring an action under consumer protection law for an unfair or deceptive act when a person has failed to honor the full value of a warranty on goods or a household appliance; HB 2522/SB 3209, which would require gift certificates with a monetary value of less than $10 to be redeemable in cash for cash value; and SB 2678, which would require certain insurers providing healthcare coverage to cover the grandchildren of the insured or the spouse of the insured; exempts ERISA plans and TennCare.
Healthcare costs continue to soar
The Kaiser Family Foundation recently released results showing a significant increase in employers' healthcare costs over the past six years. The report is an in-depth look at a problem that continues to slam small business owners and their employees. The study found that from 1999 to 2005, costs for employers providing healthcare benefits to employees rose by nearly a dollar to an average of $2.59 per hour. The foundation also notes that from 2001 to 2007, health insurance premiums have swelled 78 percent, a much greater increase than the 19 percent cumulative wage growth over the same time period. Read more here, including a link to NFIB's 10 Principles for Healthcare Reform.
Small business news you can use
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Sincerely,
Jim Brown
NFIB/Tennessee State Director
615-874-5288
jim.brown@NFIB.org
