06/13/2008
We would like to start this week's update by thanking the NFIB/Pennsylvania members who traveled to Washington, D.C., for the 2008 National Small Business Summit. The Summit focused on top small business legislative priorities, including healthcare reform efforts, and also examined the political landscape leading into the November elections. The week was filled with exciting guest speakers such as presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and political commentator Tucker Carlson.
Pennsylvania small business owners pressed lawmakers Tuesday on Capitol Hill on legislation to address the economic pain being felt all across the country. With skyrocketing healthcare costs and crippling energy and commodity prices squeezing the bottom lines of small employers, it was a critical time to put pressure on lawmakers.
Watch a brief video of NFIB/Pennsylvania State Director Kevin Shivers talking about the Summit and the No. 1 issue facing members: healthcare.
Pennsylvania small business firm wins Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award
Steve Mattie, founder and president of Transport Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of highly customized enclosed trailers and truck conversion motor homes in Montoursville, Pa., remembers when he and his colleagues saw little use for a computer as the trailer and motor home industry was decidedly low-tech. Read more about Mattie and the award.
NFIB plans healthcare "Fix-It Forum"
We know the rising cost of healthcare is one of the most significant issues small business owners and employees face. "Solutions Start Here" is the largest and most aggressive healthcare reform campaign in NFIB's 65-year history. As part of this effort, NFIB President and CEO Todd Stottlemyer is traveling the country to conduct "Fix-It Forums" to gather real-life healthcare stories from small business owners like you to share with America's policymakers.
Please join NFIB President Todd Stottlemyer for the next "Fix-It Forum" on Friday, June 20, at 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 654 South College Ave., Newark, Del. Please contact Angie Berkey if you are interested in participating in the "Fix-it Forum."
Tax Cut Update: Senate Appropriations Committee sends small business tax cuts to the Senate floor
The proposed small business tax cuts mentioned over the last couple weeks continue to move through the Senate. This week the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the package unanimously. NFIB members met with state Senate and House leaders last April to talk about meaningful small business tax cuts that could help jump-start Pennsylvania's economy. Senate leaders want to include the tax cuts in the state budget this month.
Please contact your state lawmakers now to urge them to support NFIB's job-creating tax priorities. If you already have, thank you.
- SB 1387: Raises the state's sec. 179 expensing limit to $50,000
- SB 1418: Raises the minimum exemption to the capital stock and franchise tax to $175,000
- SB 1385: Expands the cap on NOL carry forwards to $5 million or 20 percent of taxable income for tax years after Dec. 31, 2008
- SB 1388: Expands the CNI Sales Factor calculation to 85 percent
Healthcare update: Senate GOP introduce HealthNET PA
State Sen. Ted Erickson (Delaware County) and fellow republican senators released HealthNET PA, a healthcare plan that would bring access and affordability to the current system. The objective of HealthNET PA is to provide affordable access to 507,000 uninsured and low-income working Pennsylvanians by increasing the insurance options for employers and families.
HealthNET PA's key elements include:
- Allow employers to institute "Healthy Living Committees" which will qualify them for insurance discounts
- Increase the number of health care clinics across PA to ease the demands on emergency room
- Provides for "Mini-Cobra" coverage for small business employers
- Creates a high-risk pool for individuals who cannot access other coverage
- Extends the dependent coverage to age 30
- Provides for $5 million in tax credits for businesses that use Health Savings Accounts.
HealthNET PA will be funded from the Health Care Provider Retention Account rather than imposing a payroll tax. The Health Care Provider Retention Account receives $225 million from the current cigarette tax and CAT Fund. There is currently $125 million a year used to fund the MCARE abatement, which makes the left over $100 million available for HealthNET PA.
Labor update: Independent contractor legislation passes state House 122-76
The independent contractor legislation (HB 2400) passed the state House on Monday with a final vote 122-76. The legislation is now onto the state Senate for consideration. The current legislation makes it easier for organized labor to intimidate and harass non-union construction companies. The bill prohibits independent contractors in the construction industry from hiring sub-contractors and perpetuates current ambiguity in the law as to whether an individual is an employee or an independent business. If enacted, HB 2400 will force small-business owners to spend costly hours with lawyers and judges rather than working on projects and creating jobs.
Please check to see how your lawmaker voted.
Finally, please take a moment and watch the winning video in the NFIB Small Business Works for America YouTube Contest.
