http://www.nfib.com/Keep up with the latest news, politics and events for small business in Virginia.en-usEM3 iOnwebmaster@nfib.orghttp://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37107.htmlDell and the National Federation of Independent Business said Tuesday that TecAccess of Rockville, Va., is among 10 finalists for the Fifth Annual Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award.Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36962.htmlHealthcare, taxes and minimum wage issues are debated and discussed in state legislatures on a regular basis. But there is another issue that is gaining ground on the scale of importance to small business owners around the country: immigration.Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36687.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on Small Business Day in Virginia, April/May 2008.Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36437.htmlThe U.S. Department of Homeland Security will increase fines for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers beginning March 27. The penalties are severe. For example, the maximum fine per employee will be $16,000, meaning that an employer who hires 10 illegal immigrants could be fined as much as $160,000.Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36227.htmlWe have reached the halfway point of the 2008 General Assembly Session. NFIB has successfully defeated increased regulations and taxes on Virginia's small businesses.Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36237.htmlSmall-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. Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36006.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on getting involved in Virginia, February/March 2008.Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35878.htmlThe 2008 General Assembly Session started Jan. 9, and the economic outlook wasn't sunny. Delegates and senators are faced with a growing budget deficit, now forecast to be $641 million. To make things more complicated, the governor is faced with a one-time opportunity, as a one-term governor, to leave his mark on Virginia with the introduction of the FY 2009/2010 state budget. The governor and progressive members of the Senate would like to tap into the rainy-day fund to make up for the deficit while conservative House Republicans propose targeted budget cuts to fill in the gap. Because things could become very heated, it is possible that the budget talks will keep session from adjourning as planned on March 8.Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35537.htmlYesterday, voters in Ohio and Virginia elected two new pro-small-business Congressmen by wide margins. Despite recent wins in the state legislature, Virginia Democrats failed to challenge state Delegate Rob Wittman in the race to succeed the late Rep. Jo Ann Davis. With a record of supporting small business in the Virginia legislature, Wittman defeated Iraq War veteran Phil Forgit with 60 percent of the vote.Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35489.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small-business advocacy group, has announced its endorsement in the special election for Virginia's 1st U.S. Congressional District. The election to fill the U.S. House seat of the late U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 11, and NFIB will encourage its members to get out the vote on election day.Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35468.htmlSpecial NFIB member report looking ahead to 2008 in Virginia, December/January 2008.Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35277.htmlVoters headed to the polls across Virginia yesterday, Tuesday, Nov. 6, in the culmination of a competitive and expensive 2007 election season. In the biggest news of the day, Democrats gained control of the state Senate by picking up the four seats they needed for a majority of 21-19. Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35166.htmlThe U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy has compiled the 2007 Small Business Profile for Virginia.Mon, 29 Oct 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 http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35097.htmlVoters in five states are focusing their attention on upcoming elections that could be considered barometers for what to expect in the 2008 presidential election. We're keeping a close watch on the following 2007 campaigns, as state laws and regulations often have an immediate impact on small business. Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35078.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, Virginia's leading small-business advocacy association, today announced its endorsement of Delegates Bill Howell (District 28) and Mark Cole (District 88). Howell is Virginia's Speaker of the House.Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35067.htmlDownload a PDF of the winning candidates who were endorsed by the NFIB/Virginia SAFE (Save America's Free Enterprise) Trust that were seeking election or reelection. NFIB's political support is based on each candidate's position and record on small-business issues.Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34996.htmlSmall-business participation in this election cycle will help keep our economic growth strong, business costs low and an excellent quality of life for all Virginians. Sixteen of 40 Senate seats and 59 of 100 House seats will be uncontested this November, so the battle for power and control rests in a few districts. NFIB/Virginia is rolling out our endorsements and working to drive supporters to our candidates so we can maintain a pro–small-business General Assembly. Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34981.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, Virginia's leading small-business advocacy association, has announced its endorsement of three incumbent candidates from Southwest Virginia for the House of Delegates -- Terry Kilgore (District 1), Bill Carrico (District 5) and Dave Nutter (District 7). Nutter, who serves Montgomery and Pulaski counties and the city of Radford, earned a 100 percent NFIB Voting Record in the 2006-07 sessions.Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34985.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, Virginia's leading small-business advocacy association, has announced its endorsement of Sen. Steve Martin (District 11). Martin's district encompasses Colonial Heights and part of Chesterfield County.Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34986.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, Virginia's leading small-business advocacy association, has announced its endorsement of five incumbent candidates from the Hampton Roads area -- Nick Rerras (District 2), Fred Quayle (District 13) and Harry Blevins (District 14) for Senate and John Cosgrove (District 78) and Bob Purkey (District 82) for the House of Delegates. Blevins, who serves parts of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, earned a 100 percent NFIB Voting Record in the 2006-07 sessions.Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34987.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, Virginia's leading small-business advocacy association, today announced its endorsement of five incumbent candidates from the Valley and Southside Virginia -- Frank Ruff (District 15), Roscoe Reynolds (District 20), Emmett Hanger (District 24) and Mark Obenshain (District 26) for Senate, and Danny Marshall (District 14) for the House of Delegates. Ruff, Hanger, Obenshain and Marshall earned 100 percent NFIB Voting Records in the 2006-07 sessions.Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34932.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on the small-business issues such as the upcoming elections, activism and sales-tax holidays in Virginia, October/November 2007.Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34947.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, Virginia's leading small-business advocacy association, today announced its endorsement of 12 candidates from Northern Virginia -- 11 incumbents and one challenger. Seven are Republicans, and five are Democrats. The challenger is Dave Hunt in House District 34. Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34768.htmlLate last month, NFIB hit the road to share information with members and field their questions on two key issues – lack of access to affordable health care and the state of politics in Virginia and across the country.Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34756.htmlFormer Virginia Gov. Mark Warner announced Thursday he's running for retiring Sen. John Warner's seat. Warner made his announced via a video posted on his campaign Web site. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34770.htmlFormer Virginia Gov. Mark Warner has announced he's running for retiring GOP Senator John Warner's seat. Warner made his announcement via a video posted on his campaign Web site. Warner could face U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Davis III or former Gov. James S. Gilmore III. Political pundits believe that both men are likely to seek the Republican nomination, but neither is expected to announce plans until after the Nov. 6 state elections.Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34626.htmlThirty-year veteran Sen. John Warner announced Friday, Aug. 31, that he would retire at the end of his current term.Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34525.htmlGov. Tim Kaine recently addressed the General Assembly's money committees with a report on the fiscal state of the Commonwealth. The report wasn't positive. The Governor's Office projects a budget shortfall of $641 million in state government revenues by next summer. In his speech, Kaine noted sharp drops in the housing market, an increase in income tax refunds and land preservation tax credits are to blame for a majority of the lost revenue. In response to the shortfall, the governor has ordered all state agencies to reign in all discretionary spending.Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34310.htmlLast week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security adopted tough rules to combat businesses that employ illegal immigrants. Under the new rules, employers have 30 days to respond to a notice of a discrepancy regarding an employee's legal working status, or "no-match" letter. Penalties for failure to comply with the new rules are stiff – up to $10,000 per violation. In addition, all federal contractors will be required to participate in the agency's electronic employment verification system. Some protections have been created to help businesses meet the requirements of the rules. Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 PST