Nebraska State Victories
The following NFIB victories will make a real difference for your business.
Recent NFIB/Nebraska victories:
Helped pass tax reform, reducing taxes by $300 million
NFIB joined forces with other business organizations to enact the governor's tax relief proposal. Estimated to reduce taxes by $300 million over the next three years, the measure reduced income, sales and property taxes, including the onerous sales tax on residential construction labor services.
Defeated workers' compensation proposals, keeping premiums down
A group of proposals that would have resulted in higher costs to the workers' compensation system were soundly defeated. For example, one proposal would have allowed an injured worker to receive vocational rehabilitation benefits for a maximum of 300 weeks. The state estimated that if an injured employee received maximum pay plus the full vocational rehabilitation benefit, it would cost the state $43,179 per employee. As these costs increase, workers' compensation insurance premiums would also increase, causing a rise in business owners' operating expenses.
Reformed eminent domain laws, protecting property rights
NFIB supported passage of legislation designed to address the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo vs. City of New London, in which the court upheld the use of eminent domain by government to acquire private property for the purpose of economic development. This legislation will help protect property rights of small-business owners by prohibiting the use of eminent domain with regard to agricultural land.
Helped block an increase in state's minimum wage, keeping payroll costs down and protecting jobs
NFIB members responded to the call by contacting legislators and telling them how an increase in the minimum wage would negatively impact their business. The proposal would have increased the current minimum wage of $5.15 to $5.52 the first year; to $5.89 the second year; and to $6.26 in the third year. NFIB presented testimony on this measure at a hearing before the Business and Labor Committee and lobbied senators when the measure was debated on the floor.
VICTORY: 2002 -- NFIB/Nebraska successfully opposed legislation requiring employees to pay their "fair share" of labor union costs and also helped to prevent additional health insurance mandates from being imposed upon small business.
VICTORY: 2002 -- Projected budget shortfalls and the need for additional revenue will place increasing pressure on the state budget. Potential teacher raises and the money necessary to fund them will add to that pressure. NFIB will continue to insist that legislators control the budget through common sense spending policies
HOT BUTTON: Recent interest in raising teachers' salaries and the corresponding need for additional revenue will place increasing pressure on the state budget. Insist that legislators keep the state budget under control through common sense spending policies. The budget should not be balanced on the backs of small business owners. NFIB will fight efforts to add to the tax burden of small business owners.
VICTORY VALUE: NFIB successfully opposed legislation requiring employees to pay their "fair share" of labor union costs and also helped to prevent additional health insurance mandates from being imposed upon small business.
2000:
Labor Bills: NFIB successfully opposed legislation requiring employers to provide employees with one day of rest in every seven and a measure to require employees to pay their "fair share" of labor union costs.
Health Insurance Mandates: NFIB and other groups were successful in preventing additional health insurance mandates from being passed by the legislature.
Rural Assistance: Small and mid-sized businesses in the state's rural counties will be able to apply for tax incentives under the Rural Economic Opportunities Act (LB 936). Qualifying firms may receive tax credits if they add a certain number of full-time workers, pay them a benchmark wage and meet minimum investment requirements.
1999:
Taxation of Public Property: Lawmakers approved a measure that will provide for taxation of public property used for non-public purposes and place government on a level playing field when competing with private enterprise.
Unemployment Insurance Vacation Leave: A recent interpretation of state UI law which effectively allowed employees to receive unemployment compensation benefits while on paid vacation leave was overturned by legislation promoted by NFIB.
Employment at Will: NFIB successfully opposed proposed changes in the right of an employer to hire and fire employees at will.
1998:
Tax Cuts: NFIB supported legislation which extended indefinitely a 4.38 percent income tax rate cut and full deductibility of health insurance premiums for self-employed individuals.
Environmental Self-Audits: NFIB supported legislation to allow small-business owners to perform environmental audits on their facilities without fear of being fined or sued.
Unemployment Compensation Employer Taxes: NFIB supported administrative action taken by the Department of Labor which resulted in a 50 percent reduction in employer unemployment taxes for 1998.
1997:
Income Tax Cut: The Legislature adopted a two-year income tax cut that reduces individual income tax rates by 4.38 percent across the board, and increases the personal exemption credit by $10 per dependent. NFIB supported the tax cut, which will reduce state tax collections by approximately $127 million during the next two years.
Property Tax Relief: The legislative sequel to last year's property tax rate lids provided an additional $110 million in state aid to education and an extra $20 million that could be distributed in 1998 to local governments.
Health Insurance Deductibility: The income tax reduction bill included provisions supported by NFIB which allow 100 percent deductibility of health insurance premiums for the self-employed on their state income tax.
1996:
Property Tax Reform: The legislature adopted historic property tax reform legislation which is estimated to reduce property taxes by 20 percent over the next four years.
Minimum Wage: Efforts to raise the minimum wage were defeated with the help of NFIB.
