08/27/2008
NFIB defends eminent domain victim in court
Earlier this week, NFIB's Small Business Legal Center worked with local counsel to file a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Joy Ford, who is battling to keep her property on Music Row from Nashville's Metropolitan Development & Housing Authority.
NFIB argues that the court should deny MDHA's motion of judgment because:
- It's inappropriate. Questions of fact have yet to be resolved regarding whether MDHA acted randomly; whether Ms. Ford's land is being confiscated for a genuinely public use; and because rendering judgment without further discovery would frustrate the liberal policies underlying Tennessee's discovery rules.
- MDHA failed to comply with Tennessee's 2006 statutory standards for acquiring and condemning property.
- Judgment would establish a detrimental precedent for Tennessee's small businesses.
The court is scheduled to hear the motion Friday.
NFIB endorses candidates
NFIB/Tennessee's SAFE (Save America's Free Enterprise) Trust recently endorsed 56 candidates – 10 for the Senate and 46 for the House of Representatives. Tennessee SAFE Trust is comprised exclusively of NFIB members. NFIB thanks each candidate who submitted questionnaires and conducted interviews to share their small business positions. Read the full release.
West Tennessee members share views, hear from ECD
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Sen. Lowe Finney, left, answers a question from an NFIB member at NFIB/Tennessee's Jackson Area Action Council meeting. Rep. Jimmy Eldridge, Rep. Johnny Shaw and NFIB/Tennessee State Director Jim Brown joined Sen. Finney for the grassroots discussion. |
NFIB/Tennessee recently held grassroots forums in Jackson and Memphis.
The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a legislative panel with Sen. Lowe Finney (Jackson) and NFIB members Reps. Jimmy Eldridge (Jackson) and Johnny Shaw (Bolivar), with NFIB/Tennessee State Director Jim Brown serving as moderator.
Finney discussed the challenges his father has experienced running a family-owned business in Dresden, noting health insurance has been a major challenge. Finney said his father recently qualified for CoverTN and now has five employees in the state-sponsored program.
Eldridge discussed education, economic development and workers' compensation, while Shaw, who is secretary of the House Finance Committee, said he expects the state budget will be tight again in 2009 and that the state's Rainy Day Fund may need to be tapped.
NFIB member Chris Allison with Allison Insurance expressed concerns to the panel about what the coming year may hold: "You can't raise taxes and expect business to stay [in Tennessee]. We hope it is the absolute last thing to be considered."
NFIB thanks Regions Bank for providing lunch, which was catered by NFIB member Latham's Meat Company.
In Memphis, Sharon Taylor McKinney with the Department of Economic and Community Development spoke before a crowd of more than 40 NFIB members and guests including Sen. Paul Stanley (Germantown) at our monthly Area Action Council meeting, again sponsored by Regions Bank.
McKinney is the West Tennessee Business Specialist within the Business Enterprise Resource Office, which has assisted small, minority-, women-owned and rural business since 1977. Her office provides technical assistance, counseling, access to financing and procurement opportunities.
To get certified to do business in Tennessee or learn more about ECD opportunities for small business, contact McKinney or the representative in your part of the state at www.tnecd.gov/bero.
Harry and Louise return
NFIB recently partnered with Families USA, the Catholic Health Association, American Hospital Association and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to unveil round two of "Harry and Louise" healthcare advertisements. This diverse list of organizations did not go unnoticed by the press. Fifteen years ago, Harry and Louise argued against government-run healthcare. This time, they are expressing concerns and offering solutions that are attracting bipartisan support. View the new ad at www.FixedForAmerica.com and please sign the petition.
The ad began running on the national morning public affairs shows and will also run during the Democratic and Republican conventions on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC and on local Denver and Minneapolis stations. You may also see the ad on Comedy Central on Jon Stewart's Daily Show and on The Stephen Colbert Report.
Sales tax holiday debated
Sen. Joe Haynes (Goodlettsville) recently argued for continuation of the sales tax holiday in The Tennessean, while Tennessee Tax Revolt Executive Director Ben Cunningham offers a differing view.
Haynes' effective point is that Tennessee families benefit by receiving a break when purchasing essential items. Some critics believe the holiday does more harm than good because it diverts money from state coffers, while Cunningham asserts politicians are pandering with tax money.
One benefit from the holiday that few opponents mention, however, is the stimulus of non-exempt purchases by consumers who wouldn't otherwise be shopping. This directly benefits small business and thousands of Tennessee retailers. Some NFIB members believe our leaders should view the sales tax holiday as an equation rather than a zero-sum proposition.
New online resource for small business
Build Your Own Biz is a Tennessee-grown interactive Internet resource specifically designed for small- to medium-sized businesses. The concept of Dr. James Catanzaro, president of Chattanooga State Technical Community College, BuildYourOwnBiz.net provides "survival information" for entrepreneurs on topics ranging from business planning, product promotion, sales techniques, budgeting and customer service. Check it out at www.BuildYourOwnBiz.net.
Small business news you can use
NFIB commentary: Card check is bad for businessSmall business concerned about change in credit-card reportingIRS rules on employee cell-phone usageGas tax debate expectedTVA raising rates 20 percentStreamlined sales tax agreement on front burner againState battles obesity
Sincerely,
Jim Brown
NFIB/Tennessee State Director
615-874-5288
Jim.Brown@NFIB.org
