Connecticut Small-Business News From NFIB

Small Business Urges Gov. Rell to Veto Wage Hike

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 PST

"You don't need to be an economist to know that small businesses are struggling -- the evidence of that is loud and clear on Main Street. Higher costs from fuel to food are driving up prices and putting thousands of small employers in a vice, forcing them to cut costs and pinch every penny. Now is the wrong time to add to that pressure by imposing a higher minimum wage."

Senate to Consider Raising Minimum Wage

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 PST

House Bill No. 5105, An Act Concerning the Minimum Wage, will place a huge economic burden on small business owners and hurt the very people it was intended to help. This bill will raise the current minimum wage in increments from $7.65 to $8.25 by Jan, 1, 2010. Have legislators considered how this will impact your business? Contact your legislators immediately to tell them why you oppose House Bill 5105.

It Is Time to Repeal the Business Entity Tax

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 PST

The Business Entity Tax negatively impacts everyone as it is applied to over 118,000 businesses in the state of Connecticut each year. The tax has been a drain on Connecticut's small businesses since enacted in 2002. Contact your legislators and the governor to let them know you are tired of this nuisance tax and want to put your $250 to better use!

Paid Sick Leave Mandate the Wrong Prescription for Connecticut Small Business

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 PST

"Forcing small employers to adhere to a one-size-fits-all paid leave mandate will have a tremendously negative impact on the small business community in Connecticut. Today's vote in the state Senate to impose such a mandate on businesses with more than 50 employees speaks to how out-of-touch many legislators are with the difficulties facing thousands of small business owners across our state."

Legislature to Consider Mandatory Paid Sick Leave

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST

Senate Bill 217, An Act Mandating Employers Provide Paid Sick Leave To Employees, will have a tremendously negative impact on small businesses in Connecticut. Senate Bill 217 will impose a one-size-fits-all mandate on small businesses of 25 employees or more, requiring that one hour of paid sick leave be given for every 40 hours worked. Contact your legislators immediately to tell them why you oppose Senate Bill 217.

Tell Your Legislators to Say No to the Proposed 6 Percent Delivery Tax

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST

State legislators on the Finance Committee have proposed a new 6 percent tax on deliveries across Connecticut to increase funding to the state's Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) grant program to municipalities containing certain tax exempt properties. Contact your lawmakers today and ask them to vote NO!

Small Business: Wage Hike Will Mean Fewer Jobs

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST

"Now is the wrong time to raise the minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage has a direct impact on the cost of doing business, especially for small employers. Not only does the wage go up, but so do workers' compensation and unemployment insurance costs paid by the employer."

Hartford Fiddles While Small Business Optimism Burns

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST

Despite alarming evidence from small employers that the nation's economy is heading directly toward a recession, the Senate stymied efforts to repeal the business entity tax -- a tax dubbed temporary when created in 2002 -- which hits Connecticut small employers disproportionally hard. The most recent National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Economic Trends survey released this week shows that the NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism fell 3.3 points in March to 89.6 -- its lowest reading since the monthly surveys were started in 1986, and the lowest quarterly reading since the second quarter of 1980.

Judiciary Committee to Consider Mandated Paid Sick Leave

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST

Senate Bill 217, An Act Mandating Employers Provide Paid Sick Leave To Employees, will have a tremendously negative impact on small businesses in Connecticut. Have legislators considered how this will impact your business? Contact your legislators immediately to tell them why you oppose SB 217.

Time to Act: Repeal Business Entity Tax to Spur Small Business Growth

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST

The state's leading small business association seized on data in Wednesday's announcement from the Secretary of State that a record number of businesses closed its doors in the first quarter of 2008 as fresh evidence for the need to repeal Connecticut's Business Entity Tax. Andy Markowski, Connecticut state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said the report should be a wake-up call for policymakers dragging their heels on efforts to permanently repeal the tax.

April/May 2008 Connecticut MyVOICE

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST

Read the April/May 2008 Connecticut MyVOICE for details on politics and getting involved.

Urge Lawmakers to Repeal the Business Entity Tax

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST

The Finance Committee will be acting on bills this Thursday to repeal the business entity tax. Now is the time to contact your legislators and urge them to fully repeal this tax. Ask them to support SB-400, an Act Eliminating the Business Entity Tax, as well as Section 10 of SB-28, the governor's budget bill, which also fully repeals the tax.

Join NFIB and Fight for Small Business in Connecticut

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST

NFIB is fighting in Connecticut and nationally for:

Healthcare reforms that champion access to quality care, affordability, predictability and consumer choice

Elimnating the $250 business entities tax

Defeating any mandated paid sick leave legislation again in 2008! We prevailed in 2007 against three versions, including one that would require that hourly workers accrue paid sick leave.

Join today! As an NFIB member, you will have access to a variety of discounts and resources to help you run your business.

NFIB members save:

An average of $1,400 per year with Solveras Systems credit card processing

On FedEx! Save up to 21% on select FedEx Express®, up to 12% on select FedEx Ground® and 62% on select FedEx Freight® shipping

As much as 20% on NFIB-specific system configurations from Dell™, including desktops, notebooks, peripherals and more

NFIB members have access to:

Downloadable state and federal workplace posters

A full online library of small business resources including legal compliance guides, wage and hour guides, and employee handbook guides

MyBusiness magazine, a bimonthly publication filled real-life stories and resources to help you run your small business

Join NFIB today and start enjoying the benefits of your membership right away.

You can join online or by calling 800-NFIB-NOW or (800-634-2669).

Join now and save. Special offer for new members only.

NFIB/Connecticut Capitol Report -- Feb. 21, 2008

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST

Only two weeks into this year's short legislative session, activity at the capitol is heating up. NFIB will keep you informed of key bills, public hearing dates and committee deadlines. In this short legislative session, bills that can harm or benefit small business can move through the process very quickly, so it is important that you contact your lawmakers on issues affecting small business in Connecticut.

NFIB Members Attend Bill Signing of the Economic Stimulus Package

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST

Small-business owners that plan to take advantage of the tax incentives included in H.R. 5140, The Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008, were in attendance Wednesday as President Bush signed the bill into law.

Ax the tax! Small Business Backs Rell Plan to End Business Entities Tax

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST

"Small-business owners across Connecticut are united in support of Governor Rell's push to eliminate the $250 business entities tax that has been frustrating entrepreneurs since 2002. This was a temporary tax designed to address a one-time budget deficit, and the time for its funeral is long overdue."

NFIB/Connecticut Capitol Report -- Feb. 5, 2008

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST

The Connecticut Legislature convenes on Feb. 6 for a "short" session. Although their work must conclude in early May, there will be a number of issues considered which could have a significant impact on small business.

February/March 2008 Connecticut MyVOICE

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST

Read the February/March 2008 Connecticut MyVOICE for details on politics and getting involved.

Register for 2008 NFIB Summit

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST

Register 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.

Small Business Issues Endorsement in State Senate Race, 32nd District

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST

The National Federation of Independent Business, Connecticut's leading small-business advocacy association, has announced its endorsement in the 32nd District special election race on Tuesday.

December/January 2008 Connecticut MyVOICE

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST

Read the December/January 2008 Connecticut MyVOICE for details on such issues as education, YEF scholars and the 2008 Small-Business Summit.

Important Death-Tax Update: We Need Your Story

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST

Despite 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.

October/November 2007 Connecticut MyVOICE

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST

Read the October/November 2007 Connecticut MyVOICE for details on such the state budget, economic growth and activism.

August/September 2007 Connecticut MyVOICE

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 PST

Read the August/September 2007 Connecticut MyVOICE for details on such small-business issues as property rights, eminent domain and YEF scholars.

Leadership Trust Fall 2007 Conference

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST

NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation Awards Seven Scholarships to Connecticut Students

Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 PST

The National Federation of Independent Business Young Entrepreneur Foundation today announced the Connecticut recipients of the fifth annual NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards, a scholarship program to set future small-business owners on the path to entrepreneurship. The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award recipients will attend the university, college, community college or vocational/technical institute of their choice with $1,000 in tuition assistance from the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation.

June/July 2007 Connecticut MyVOICE

Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 PST

Read the June/July 2007 Connecticut MyVOICE for details on such small-business issues as politics, advocacy and the state budget.

Small Business Wants Job Growth, Regulatory Relief in Connecticut

Mon, 21 May 2007 00:00:00 PST

Andy Markowski, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business/Connecticut today praised a series of proposals announced by legislators that promotes the creation of new jobs and reduces burdensome regulations on Connecticut small businesses.

2007 Connecticut Young Entrepreneur Award Winners

Mon, 21 May 2007 00:00:00 PST