08/12/2008
Eminent domain compromise proposed
Last week, Texas developer Lionstone Group and the Nashville Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, which recently issued a Notice of Taking for the Music Row property of Joy Ford, offered Ms. Ford a compromise. MDHA proposed to the owner of Country International Records take only a portion of the parking area next to her business while leaving her building intact. Media reports indicate Ford is skeptical of the proposal, which was issued through a press release rather than directly to her. NFIB is proceeding with plans to support Ford through the court process. NFIB encourages our members to continue telling elected officials at every level that property seizures are meant for public purposes, not private commercial endeavors. Read more.
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This week, NFIB Field Sales Representative Bob Gladu, left, honored 20-year member David Burd with Service Heating & Air Conditioning for more than 20 years of membership with NFIB. |
20-year Chattanooga member recognized
Burd says a key business issue is accessing affordable health insurance, and he's eager to review a small group health cooperative option, once available. The law goes into effect Jan. 1. NFIB expects the Department of Commerce & Insurance to issue its rules soon and continues to encourage product introduction across the state.
Tennessee leaders engaged on energy reform
Sen. Bob Corker and Rep. Bart Gordon are pressing forward with initiatives to resolve the energy crisis impacting every American. Last week, Corker touted a bipartisan bill he and nine other senators crafted. The so-called "Gang of Ten" legislation is a mixture of current energy proposals including some drilling, a lot of conservation and $500 million to research making liquid fuel from coal. The bill's estimated cost is $84 billion dollars over 10 years, which can be paid by closing a tax loophole on oil and natural gas production, Corker said.
Gordon says he plans to support a similar House initiative. Gordon says about 100 representatives are working on a compromise energy bill that he hopes will be introduced within a month. A longtime opponent of offshore drilling, Gordon says he now can support an expansion with two conditions – different rules for deep sea areas that are currently off limits and use of some oil profits to fund alternative fuel research.
Federal update
NFIB recently "key-voted" the "Paperwork Assistance Act" (H.R. 6113), which will be included as part of the next NFIB Voting Record. The legislation would require federal agencies to include a contact telephone number in all government paperwork. The bill passed the House July 29.
Late last month, NFIB joined 22 other organizations -- including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation -- in opposing "The Paycheck Fairness Act" (H.R. 1338). The legislation would allow unlimited punitive and compensatory damages for violations of the Equal Pay Act.
Also last month, the Divided We Fail healthcare reform coalition sent a letter to members of the Senate urging them to support the "Wired for Health Care Quality Act" (S.1693). This carefully crafted bipartisan legislation will bring U.S. healthcare into the 21st century by spurring adoption of a nationwide, interoperable health information technology system. It authorizes grants for health IT implementation, strengthens privacy protections, and establishes a process for developing additional security protections that consumers need to have confidence that their personal health information will be safe in an electronic environment.
Where would we be without small business?
Jeff Cornwall from Belmont University's Center for Entrepreneurship astutely asks "where we would be right now without small business" in the current economic slowdown. Small business actually is adding jobs, while others are struggling. Read Jeff's blog entry.
Small business news you can use
Scrap metal law causing problems for small businessIllinois Sen. Dick Durbin spotlights bipartisan SHOP billWhoCanISue.com to be launchedCalifornia paid sick leave bill diesSHOP, CHOICE healthcare bills in the news
Sincerely,
Jim Brown
NFIB/Tennessee State Director
615-874-5288
Jim.Brown@NFIB.org
