Minnesota Small-Business News From NFIB

NFIB Urges Support of Gov. Pawlenty's Property Tax Cap Proposal Statement

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PST

"We have tried just about every other form of levy limit and for the most part, they have not worked. Governor Pawlenty's proposal would limit most local government property-tax increases to the previous year's plus 3 percent growth, or the growth percentage of the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lesser. Local governments that desire to raise their property taxes higher than that would need to submit the proposal to the voters in a referendum."

Minneapolis Entrepreneur Named Small Business Champion of the Year

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 PST

Minneapolis entrepreneur Bill Gullickson has been named the Solveras/NFIB Small Business Champion of the Year for Minnesota.

Minnesota NFIB Members Get Involved in Key U.S. Senate Race

Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 PST

NFIB members recently gathered in Minnesota to support a true small business ally--U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman. At the event, NFIB member Bill Gullickson announced the NFIB SAFE Trust's endorsement of Sen. Coleman for reelection in November.

April/May 2008 Minnesota MyVOICE

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST

Special NFIB member report on small business issues, April/May 2008. This MyVOICE edition includes such topics as healthcare, budget deficit and activism in Minnesota.

Tax Issues in Minnesota

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST

NFIB's top tax priority for the 2008 session is conforming Minnesota's estate/death tax exemption thresholds to the federal thresholds for small businesses and farms. Minnesota's current exemption thresholds are $1 million and $2 million, while the federal thresholds are $2 million and $4 million.

Health Care in Minnesota

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST

In the 2008 session, NFIB will push for legislation that makes the Small Employer Flexible Benefit Plans a mandatory offer for insurers who control 10 percent or more of the Minnesota market. One of the greatest frustrations is that not one insurance company has offered the new Small Employer Flexible Benefit Plans since the landmark heathcare reform passed in 2005.

Legal Reform in Minnesota

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST

NFIB strongly supports a critical tort reform that will place limits on attorney fees that many business defendants must pay to prevailing parties. Currently, the awarding of attorney fees is a one-way street, especially in employment law cases where former employees or applicants are suing businesses.

Labor Issues in Minnesota

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST

This is a resolution urging Congress to support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). The EFCA is a dramatic rewrite of labor law and how union certification elections are handled. This measure abolishes the secret ballot vote that is critical to making a private decision regarding the important issue of collective bargaining in the workplace. Under EFCA, if a union can simply get a majority of workers at a business to sign union cards, all employees will be subject to collective bargaining and the union dues and rules that generally accompany it.

Transportation in Minnesota

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST

The majority party leaders in the Legislature rammed this large transportation finance bill containing a mammoth $6.6 billion gas tax and other fee increases over a 10-year period through the Legislature and actually overrode Gov. Pawlenty's veto of this measure.

February/March 2008 Minnesota MyVOICE

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST

Special NFIB member report on small business issues, February/March 2008. This MyVOICE edition includes such topics as eminent domain, workers' compensation and taxes in Minnesota.

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.

2008 Political Preview: Races to Watch

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST

The new year has just begun, but the 2008 elections have been on the minds of voters for a while now. Over the next several months you'll continue to hear predictions and statistics relating to the presidential and congressional races, and NFIB is here to keep you informed and help you make sense of it all.

December/January 2008 Minnesota MyVOICE

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST

Special NFIB member report on small-business issues, December/January 2008. This MyVOICE edition includes such topics as eminent domain, the death tax and health savings accounts in Minnesota.

Help Defeat Government-Mandated Sick Leave: Share Your Story

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST

Small business owners value their employees and understand that we all have family obligations.

SBA 2007 State Small Business Profile: Minnesota

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST

The U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy has compiled the 2007 Small Business Profile for Minnesota.

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 Minnesota MyVOICE

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST

Special NFIB member report on small-business issues, October/November 2007. This MyVOICE edition includes such topics as workers' compensation, bad-check writing and independent contractors in Minnesota.

NFIB Launches New Daily e-Newsletter

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST

NFIB is partnering with SmartBrief, Inc. to publish a daily electronic newsletter, NFIB SmartBrief, a new free service for members and other small- and independent-business owners who want to be in the know on issues, trends and other information critical to helping them run their business.

Number of Uninsured Jumps to 47 Million

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:00:00 PST

Despite a decline in the nation's poverty rate for the first time this decade, the number of people without health-care insurance increased from 45 million to 47 million--15.8 percent of the population--according to a report issued Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Small Business Celebrating Labor Day With a Watchful Eye on Congress

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 PST

"In a few days, many Minnesota residents will join Americans across the country to take time to celebrate Labor Day, established by Congress 113 years ago.

"Each Labor Day, employers and employees take time to be with family and friends and to reflect on a year's worth of hard work. Unfortunately, while Americans are enjoying hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, Congress is considering cooking up ideas that would prove costly to small employers and their employees."

August/September 2007 Minnesota MyVOICE

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 PST

Special NFIB member report on small-business issues, August/September 2007. This MyVOICE edition includes such topics as the death tax, budget surplus and minimum wage in Minnesota.

NFIB Monitors 2007, 2008 Political Races

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST

With five states holding elections this fall, NFIB is gearing up for another active political season--and a chance to help the voice of small business be heard at the ballot box.

Leadership Trust Fall 2007 Conference

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST

State Legislative Sessions Come to an End

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST

In most states, the 2007 legislative session was a mix of bills both helpful and harmful to small business. NFIB worked alongside lawmakers to ensure legislation passed would take into consideration the impact on the country's No. 1 job creators, and while we saw many victories, there is much left to be done next session as well.

Unions Protest NFIB Meeting on Card Check

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST

NFIB/Minnesota hosted an Area Action Council meetings in Minnesota the week of June 4 to brief local small-business owners on the so-called "Employee Free Choice Act" that is under consideration in Congress. Union representatives showed up to protest.

2007 Minnesota Legislative Session Ends

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST

On behalf of members of the state's leading business group, the National Federation of Independent Business publicly thanks Gov. Pawlenty for standing strong for small business and Minnesota taxpayers during the 2007 session. The governor vetoed 12 bills and made an additional 33 line-item vetoes that will save taxpayers close to $5.9 billion in new taxes over a four-year period. The bulk of the $5.9 billion came from the veto of the large transportation bill that would have increased transportation taxes and fees by $5 billion over four years.

NFIB/Minnesota Hosts Discussions on Big Labor's Attack on Small Business

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST

NFIB/Minnesota hosted an Area Action Council meeting in Rochester, Minn., June 5 to brief local small-business owners on the "Employee Free Choice Act" that is under consideration in Congress.

NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation Awards Six Scholarships to Minnesota Students

Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 PST

The National Federation of Independent Business Young Entrepreneur Foundation today announced the Minnesota 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 Minnesota MyVOICE

Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 PST

Special NFIB member report on small-business issues, June/July 2007. This MyVOICE edition includes such topics as activism, labor and the business environment in Minnesota.