04/18/2008
The Legislature may only be in its third full week but they are certainly in full swing.
Happenings this week
Meeting workforce needs
House Bill 1104 by Speaker Jim Tucker (Terrytown) passed out of the House Labor Committee on Thursday, April 17, and will move to the House floor. NFIB supports the bill because it will reform how we educate workers, making our workforce training programs more employer- and market-driven. The funding will no longer be put into useless programs but will be focused on those areas where workers are needed.
More mandates
HB 318 by Rep. Chuck Kleckley (Lake Charles), the prosthetic mandate for health insurance, passed the House floor this week by a vote of 69-32. NFIB opposes the bill because of the potential cost to employers. We sent out an alert this week asking you to thank your legislator in person if they voted against this bill. This was a hard battle for those lawmakers and they need to know that you are paying attention.
Thank your legislator for agreeing with NFIB's position and voting against HB 318: Anders; Aubert; Barras; Burford; Burns, Henry; Carter; Ellington; Fannin; Guillory, E. L.; Hardy; Howard; Hutter; Jackson, M. Katz Ligi; Little; Lorusso; McVea; Mills; Nowlin; Ponti; Pope; Pugh; Richard; Richardson; Robideaux; Smiley; Smith, Jane; Trahan; Tucker; Waddell; Wooton.
The second of 10 health insurance mandates was heard this week in the House Insurance Committee. HB 99 by Rep. Rosalind Jones (Monroe) would mandate health insurance coverage of the HPV vaccine. NFIB member Mike Mitternight testified in committee as to how mandates not only negatively impact his company’s bottom line but also impacts disposable income for himself and his employees. The bill was voluntarily deferred so may be heard in committee at a later date.
Expanding reasons to file a lawsuit
HB 443 by Rep. Juan LaFonta (New Orleans) would prohibit discrimination in employment due to actual or "perceived" sexual orientation. The bill was scheduled to be heard in the House Labor Committee was postponed. NFIB opposes this bill because it gives workers yet another reason to sue their employers and we are very concerned that the word "perceived" could be interpreted many ways.
Senate Bill 287 by Sen. Willie Mount (Lake Charles) is the Health Care Consumers Right to Know bill. It would give consumers access to provider-specific healthcare costs, quality and outcomes. NFIB supports this bill because it will lend transparency to healthcare charges and gives consumers more information so they can make more informed choice. SB 287 passed the Senate floor this week.
Happenings next week
State regulations: red tape
HB 368 by Rep. Rick Nowlin Flex will be heard next Wednesday in the House and Governmental Affairs Committee. This NFIB-supported bill is a common-sense approach to government regulations. HB 368 would require state agencies to notify small businesses of the costs associated with proposed new rules and regulations. We have been in discussions with the Department of Economic Development and are asking the Governor's office for their support. HB 368 would lend badly-needed transparency to the regulatory process.
More and more mandates
Next Tuesday in the House Insurance Committee, NFIB will be battling three different health insurance mandates: contraception, annual mammograms and marriage and family therapy. Please tell your legislator that mandates only increase your premiums, forcing small business owners to drop coverage altogether. We understand that these mandates are well-intentioned, but they will ultimately lead to fewer people being insured.
Prison competing with private enterprise
NFIB/Louisiana is watching HB 334, the Inmate Rehabilitation and Workforce Development Act, sponsored by Rep. Elbert Guillory (Opelousas). There are concerns the bill may allow the government to compete directly with private businesses by putting inmates to work for outside companies. HB 334 passed out of committee and will be heard on the House floor.
More expansion of lawsuits
HB 568 by Rep. Juan LaFonta (New Orleans) would authorize class-action lawsuits for unfair trade practices. NFIB opposes the bill because it would expand the reasons that business can get sued and many terms that would be wide-open to interpretation.
Small Business Day at the Capitol will be May 14: Workforce, Insurance and Economic Development
NFIB/Louisiana expects small business owners from around the state to attend this year's event to send a message to lawmakers. Take the opportunity to become more informed about small business issues as you will hear from Tim Barfield (Louisiana Secretary of Labor), Jim Donelon (Louisiana Insurance Commissioner), Stephen Moret (Louisiana Department of Economic Development) and Jim Tucker (Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives). With small business owners facing workforce shortage problems, massive increases to insurance premiums and a litany of incentive programs, this day is sure to answer your questions!
Big labor and big business have droves of people representing them everyday at the Capitol. Make the small business presence known and register now by contacting Administrative Assistant Ashlynne Simien at Ashlynne.Simien@NFIB.org or by calling at 225-298-1225.
2008 National Small-Business Summit: Louisiana small business owners need to attend!
Any independent business owners who want to grow their businesses and influence lawmakers should join us for this year's small business conference in Washington, D.C. We're inviting the top two presidential candidates as well as other important political leaders and decision makers. We need to have Louisiana well-represented at this year's event. Register online.
