http://www.nfib.com/Press releases from the National Federation of Independent Business. en-usEM3 iOnwebmaster@nfib.orghttp://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37149.html"Recession fears are spreading and the economy is showing definite signs of slowing, even on Main Street," according NFIB Chief Economist William Dunkelberg. The NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism rose 1.9 points in April to 91.5 (1986=100). Half of the gain was due to an improved outlook for business conditions 6 months out, and a quarter was from improved earnings trends. At the same time, rising prices are becoming a matter of serious concern.Tue, 13 May 2008 07:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37096.htmlDell and the National Federation of Independent Business, the leading small business association in the United States, Tuesday announced the 10 U.S. finalists for the Fifth Annual Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award. To learn more, visit <a href="http://www.dell.com/ceaward">www.dell.com/ceaward</a>.Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37094.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association, today announced its strong support for H.R. 5515, the "New Employee Verification Act of 2008," introduced by U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson (Texas) and co-sponsored by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.)Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37072.htmlNFIB held its third "Fix-it Forum" Thursday in Little Rock, Ark., as part of our national Solutions Start Here healthcare campaign. The goal of the forums is to engage small business owners and their employees in conversations about their healthcare concerns. We will be taking these stories back to lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to ensure the voices of these Arkansans, and their fellow job creators throughout the United States, are heard. Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37059.htmlSen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican Party nominee for president, will be a keynote speaker at the National Federation of Independent Business' 2008 National Small Business Summit.Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37027.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business advocacy group, today announced its endorsement of Steve Scalise in the special election for Louisiana's 1st U.S. Congressional District. The election to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat vacated by Gov. Bobby Jindal will take place Saturday, May 3, and NFIB will encourage its members to get out the vote on Election Day.Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37032.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association, announced today its support of Cover the Uninsured Week, a national initiative to raise awareness about the millions of Americans living without health insurance. Increasing affordable healthcare coverage options is a paramount issue for small businesses whose owners, employees and dependents represent 28 million of the 47 million Americans without health insurance. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36997.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center, the nation's leading small business advocate, submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security on the agency's Supplemental Proposed Rule on Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter, more commonly known as DHS' "no-match" rule. Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36980.htmlThe 2008 National Small-Business Summit, "We Are Stronger Together," presented by the National Federation of Independent Business and eBay, brings together small business owners from around the country to meet their lawmakers face-to-face and share their experiences about how Washington, D.C., decisions affect small businesses. The Summit will focus on top small business legislative priorities, including healthcare reform efforts, and also will examine the political landscape leading into the November elections.Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36948.htmlOn Wednesday, April 23, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in an employment law case important to small business owners. The National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center filed an amicus brief in this case, and Karen Harned, executive director of NFIB's Legal Center, will be available for comment on this case this week. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36931.htmlIn celebration of National Small Business Week, held April 21-25, NFIB presents some facts about small businesses that demonstrate why our entrepreneurs are so important to America. Please feel free to use these in any stories that you are preparing around National Small Business Week. All data is from the National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation.Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36933.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association, today announced that it has endorsed Sen. Norm Coleman for reelection.Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36896.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association, has announced its endorsement Greg Davis in the special election to replace Sen. Roger Wicker as U.S. Representative in Mississippi's 1st Congressional District.Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36903.htmlAspiring filmmakers can win $5,000 in cash and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in a new "Small Business Works for America" video contest sponsored by America's leading small business association, the National Federation of Independent Business.Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36911.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center, the legal voice for America's leading small business group, filed a friend-of-the court brief with the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals urging the court to strike down Arizona's new immigration law as unconstitutional. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36873.htmlAs Americans rush to beat the April 15 tax deadline, many of them are thinking, 'Why does this have to be so hard?' Small business owners in particular are looking for relief from an unnecessarily complex and confusing tax code. Rather than wait for Congress to consider comprehensive tax reform, there's one change legislators can make now that would both simplify the code and help the economy at the same time.Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36840.htmlRecession clouds appeared in the skies over Main Street, according to the most recent National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Economic Trends member survey. 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. The decline was driven by a sour outlook for business conditions and real sales growth, accounting for half the decline in the Index. Weaker plans to create new jobs accounted for 21 percent of the decline. "We are seeing recession readings," said NFIB Chief Economist William Dunkelberg.Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36836.htmlThe Florida Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week on a critical case that may jeopardize significant reforms made to the state's workers' compensation system in 2003. The National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center, the nation's leading small business advocate in the courts, is urging the Florida Supreme Court to rule that the comprehensive workers' compensation reforms enacted in 2003 are constitutional. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36823.htmlTodd Stottlemyer, president and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business association, issued the following statement on rising small business healthcare costs after the Kauffman-RAND Institute for Entrepreneurship Public Policy announced results from a study that examined the impact of rising healthcare costs on small business.Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36816.htmlSmall businesses in Phoenix were disappointed by a decision issued yesterday by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Miles finding that the city's tax-subsidy practice that provides millions of tax-payer dollars to one out-of-state developer is constitutional. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36747.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business organization, is changing the name of its legal division from the NFIB Legal Foundation to the NFIB Small Business Legal Center. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36640.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business organization, today joined the legal fight to overturn San Francisco's Health Care Security Ordinance. This law, enacted by the city in 2006, mandates that all private employers with more than 20 employees pay an assigned amount of money towards employee healthcare or pay the city a fee based on the number of employees and hours worked. Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36618.htmlSmall business owners across diverse industries including food service, convenience stores, child care, consulting and professional services, among others will have a chance to win a $100,000 makeover, compliments of Sam's Club, SBTV.com and the National Federation of Independent Business during National Small Business Week, April 21-25.Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36621.htmlThe Supreme Court's decision issued today in Hall Street Associates v. Mattel is a disappointment to small business owners. Small firms were hoping the court would rule in favor of allowing contracting parties to have a right to expand the scope of judicial review of arbitration awards. Instead, the court found that the Federal Arbitration Act precludes parties from contracting for expanded judicial review of arbitration decisions. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36563.htmlThe political action committee of the National Federation of Independent Business announced its endorsement of U.S Rep. John Boehner for reelection in Ohio's 8th Congressional District. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36480.htmlNFIB will announce an aggressive national healthcare campaign Wednesday designed to urge policymakers, legislators and the next administration to deliver real and meaningful healthcare reform for small business.Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36482.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Economic Trends Report optimism index increased marginally in February, but continued to provide signals of a stronger-than-perceived economy. "There is no credit crunch in sight, and there are many unfilled jobs," said NFIB Chief Economist William Dunkelberg. "But the economy is plagued by a dismal outlook, rising inflation and, contradictorily falling employment." The Index rose to 92.9 (1986=100), an improvement from last month's reading of 91.8 which was the lowest since January 1991.Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36360.htmlThe U.S. Supreme Court issued a disappointing decision today that does little to clear up the uncertainty over what paperwork must be filed by an employee with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to initiate an employment discrimination claim. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36342.htmlThe U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion today that will help small business owners defend themselves against employment discrimination lawsuits. Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36301.htmlIn March, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider a critical tax case that will determine how long taxpayers have to challenge the Internal Revenue Service for unconstitutional tax assessments made by the agency. Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST