http://www.nfib.com/Keep up with the latest news, politics and events for small business in Alabama.en-usEM3 iOnwebmaster@nfib.orghttp://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37140.htmlNFIB/Alabama members are grateful to Rep. Frank McDaniel (Albertville) and Sen. Roger Bedford (Russellville) for sponsoring and passing the State Unemployment Tax Act, better known as the SUTA bill. The passage of this bill saves Alabama employers about $700 million annually and preserves federal grants for the state employment service offices. NFIB members should take this opportunity to thank their legislators for passing this bill. Please call or write them a note on your business stationery and tell them how much you appreciate their support of small business.Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37084.htmlOn Wednesday, the House voted 75-29 to approve a precedent-setting retroactive tax increase of $82 million. Thanks to everyone who belongs to the Business Association Tax Coalition (NFIB/Alabama is a founding member) who called their representatives in an effort to stop this massive tax increase. Your efforts also encouraged pro-business legislators who were able to hold off the vote for four legislative days.Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36996.htmlThe Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation last week to eliminate the state 4 percent sales tax on food. The bill slipped through by the minimum number of votes required, including those of two members who were on a trip to Korea at the time the vote was taken. The exemption does not eliminate city and county sales tax taxes on food, which combined are often more than 4 percent. The legislation does not prevent cities or counties from raising their rates nor is there a cap on the rates that cities or counties can charge. The exemption only covers food that can be purchased with food stamps and other items are not covered exempt.Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36940.htmlThe Alabama House of Representatives voted this week for a constitutional amendment to repeal the federal income tax deduction that Alabamians currently use when filing their state income taxes.Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36909.htmlDo not miss the Alabama Second Congressional District Candidate Forum April 18 on WSFA.Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36872.htmlThe Alabama House Republican Caucus stepped up in defense of the business community this week when it adopted an official position opposing passage of House Bill 350 in its current form. The caucus voted unanimously against the measure during its weekly meeting, which was attended by NFIB/Alabama State Director Rosemary Elebash.Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36832.htmlThe House Education Appropriation Committee has passed a substitute to House Bill 350 that would impose millions of dollars in new taxes on business. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36727.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business has named five people to its 35-member Leadership Council, a volunteer panel that advises the state's leading small business association on key state and federal legislative issues.Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36602.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on small business issues such as healthcare and activism in Alabama, April/May 2008 edition.Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36712.htmlNFIB members from across Alabama gathered at the Alabama State House to host a breakfast brunch for Alabama constitutional officers and members of the Legislature. The brunch was catered by NFIB member Leslie Bailey's Silver Spoons in Montgomery. NFIB members Allen McBride, Mike Fricker, Don Morgan, Stacia Robinson, Chuck Edwards, Rick Weston, Brett Dungan, Greg Powell, Jean McCrady, David Brewer, Bobby Davis, Dottie Blair, David Larson, Sieu Tang Wood, John Beard and Paul Pinyon were a few of the NFIB members who welcomed Attorney General Troy King, State Auditor Sam Shaw, State Treasurer Kay Ivey and many legislators. Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36671.htmlSieu Tang Wood, founder and owner of Tang's Tailor Shop in the Montgomery area, has been named the 2008 Solveras/NFIB Small Business Champion for Alabama by the National Federation of Independent Business.Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36573.htmlSmall business owners from throughout the state will get a chance to speak out on issues affecting them at the National Federation of Independent Business' Small Business Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 26.Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36555.htmlLast month, President Bush signed a federal stimulus package that included tax rebates for individuals and families and increased certain business tax deductions. On Wednesday, the Alabama House Education Appropriations Committee voted to exempt those rebates for individuals from state income taxes, but they refused to allow an exemption for businesses. Under the state bill, businesses would have to pay state income taxes on any rebates they receive as part of the federal stimulus plan. Please contact your representative and asked them to vote to remove this amendment. Please contact your representative at 334-242-7600. Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36468.htmlNFIB, along with other Alabama trade organizations, have joined together in contacting Alabama legislators opposing the workers' compensation bills. Every member of the Legislature received a letter delivered by FedEx over the weekend. These bills represent the most blatant attack on free enterprise in Alabama history. These job-killing proposals substantially rewrite Alabama's current workers' compensation laws and, if passed, would wipe out economic progress in our state. If passed, these bills will send a clear signal across the nation and the world that Alabama is closed for business. Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36408.htmlLawmakers have introduced a package of bills that would have devastating effects on Alabama's workers' compensation program, which is financially sound and widely viewed as fair and balanced. Please contact your legislator today and urge him or her to oppose these bills. Senators can be reached at 334-242-7800; representatives at 334-242-7600. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36314.htmlNFIB opposes Senate Bill 1 by Sen. Hank Sanders (Selma). SB 1 would expand the statute of limitation's "discovery rule" to include damage to property as well as to persons. It also would expand the discovery statute of limitations to include toxic substances, which the bill defines broadly. In addition, SB 1 would allow multiple causes of action over extended periods of time for a single course of conduct.Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36246.htmlGov. Bob Riley is supporting legislation that would eliminate state income taxes on federal tax rebates that Alabamians will begin receiving in May. Most taxpayers can expect to receive tax rebates of $600 to $1,200, but unless state legislation is passed, Alabamians will have to pay a state income tax on those rebates. Gov. Riley also is pushing legislators to begin work on the Alabama Middle Class Tax Relief Act (HB 145) and the Small Business Health Care Affordability Act (HB 144) that will allow a 200 percent income tax deduction on health insurance premiums.Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36165.htmlNFIB-member Rep. Frank McDaniel (Albertville) and Sen. Roger Bedford (Russellville) are sponsoring NFIB-endorsed legislation, commonly referred to as the "SUTA" (State Unemployment Tax Act) bill. Unless the bill becomes law, Alabama employers will lose their current 5.4 percent credit when paying their state unemployment taxes.Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36128.htmlMembers of the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's and state's leading small-business advocacy group, overwhelmingly oppose a measure extending the state sales tax to include labor and services, according to the results of the 2008 NFIB/Alabama Member Ballot, released as the Legislature begins its regular session.Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36069.htmlThe fifth annual Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence in Customer Experience award program, sponsored by Dell and NFIB, began on Jan. 7. Established in 2004, the Dell/NFIB award program honors small businesses that instill the spirit of innovation and apply information technology to improve customer service. Entrants must be a small business with 100 or fewer employees. Each must show how it has used information technology to drive a significant change or develop a competitive advantage in delivering superior customer value and experience. Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36015.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on small-business issues such as finances and activism in Alabama, February/March 2008 edition.Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35894.htmlRegister today for the 2008 NFIB National Small-Business Summit! NFIB and eBay have joined forces to create an event you won't want to miss. At the Summit, you'll interact with policymakers, business leaders and fellow entrepreneurs while sharing your experiences and finding new ideas to boost your business. Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35950.htmlNFIB member Wayne Willingham faces James C. Fields Jr. in Tuesday's general election for the House District 12 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives. The winner will finish the term of Neal Morrison, who resigned last year to become interim president of Bevill State Community College. Fields won the Democratic nomination in November with nearly 63 percent of the vote and Willingham won the Republican nomination in a runoff in December with 55 percent of the vote. Polls in District 12, which covers about two-thirds of Cullman County, will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29.Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35851.htmlCongratulations to the members of the Alabama Sales Team. Alabama was one of 13 states in the nation with a member gain. The members of this great team are Brad Crabbe, Kim Weeks, Gary Standifer, Mike Hughes, Paul Colvin, Bob Henson, Barbara Epperson, Russ Baldwin, Charles Lawrence and Mark Barber. This member gain was a team effort, with NFIB members nominating other small-business owners as potential members. Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35555.htmlGov. Bob Riley led a roundtable discussion on health care with NFIB members Mike Escue, sequent; Russ Greenhalgh, Greenhalgh Insurance; Harry Chambers, Chambers Consulting; Glenn Phillips, Forte; Greg Powell, fi plan Partners; Doris Phillips, Real Source; Birmingham and Janet Seaman, Seaman Lumber Company, Montevallo. These small-business owners said rising insurance costs are forcing them to reduce health care benefits or even quit offering some programs. Rosemary Elebash, NFIB/Alabama state director, noted that small businesses have a big impact on Alabama's economy. Ninety percent of all businesses in the state have 25 or fewer employees, and small businesses create about 70 percent of all new jobs.Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35364.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on small-business issues such as the 2008 Small-Business Summit, Small-Business Day at the Capitol, and the YEF awards, December/January 2008 edition.Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35356.htmlGov. Riley issued a press release earlier this week, again proposing a package of incentives that will stimulate economic growth. These incentives will help businesses hire more workers, provide tax relief to middle-class families so they can keep more of their money, and incentives that make health insurance more affordable.Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35244.htmlNFIB/Alabama Leadership Council member Brett Dungan is serving a two-year term on the Board of the National Association of Manufacturers. One of 200 directors from 17,000 NAM member companies, he will primarily focus on workforce training issues. Brett is the owner Master Marine in Bayou La Batre.Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35127.htmlDespite ill-informed rhetoric that often cites the federal death tax as only affecting wealthy people, this tax affects all Americans, and it strikes no one harder than the small-business community.Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST