http://www.nfib.com/Keep up with the latest news, politics and events for small business in Vermonten-usEM3 iOnwebmaster@nfib.orghttp://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36686.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on 2008 Member Ballot results in Vermont, April/May 2008.Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36463.htmlLegislative leaders are taking up several workers' compensation reform proposals all over the State House. However, action on this important issue will not occur without your support and involvement.Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36239.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_36219.htmlThe Vermont General Assembly returned to Montpelier on Jan. 8, 2008 to complete the second of the two-year biennium. Committees got down to work immediately taking on workers' compensation, health care and energy issues.Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36212.htmlNFIB/Vermont's top priority is to achieve true workers' compensation reform this session. Meaningful reform must include provisions that address safety, benefits and administration. NFIB/Vermont member, Rep. Richard "Dick" Lawrence (Lyndon), has been appointed to a workers' compensation sub-committee of the House Commerce Committee. Please support Rep. Lawrence in his effort to move this issue forward by reaching out to your legislators and urging them to support real workers' compensation reform.Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36217.htmlThere are several proposals under consideration that include expansion of Catamount, and the elimination or reduction of waiting periods. This issue is at the forefront of the legislative agenda with leaders calling for further reforms in health insurance and healthcare. NFIB/Vermont is very concerned over proposals to expand the Catamount Health Plan and do away with, or reduce, the waiting periods for such programs. These proposals are likely to continue to undermine the private health insurance market, leading to additional government costs and taxes on employers. Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36057.htmlThe mortgage crisis, rising energy prices and exploding health care costs have many small-business owners worried about our shaky economy -- now is not the time to hit them with higher taxes. Speaker Symington's proposal would deliver a costly retroactive tax on many of Vermont's small employers at a time when many are struggling to make payroll and make ends meet. Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36005.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on small-business issues such as health care and energy in Vermont, February/March 2008.Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35894.htmlRegister 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. Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35721.htmlFri, 04 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35475.htmlSpecial NFIB member report looking ahead to 2008 in Vermont, December/January 2008.Fri, 30 Nov 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_34945.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on small-business issues such as taxes and minimum wage in Vermont, October/November 2007.Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34187.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on small-business issues such as health care, taxes and spending in Vermont, August/September 2007.Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_33842.htmlFri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_33813.htmlIn 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. Wed, 13 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_33783.htmlLawmakers will be called back to Montpelier on July 11 in what we anticipate to be an inconsequential effort to override a gubernatorial veto of the so-called "global warming" bill H.520. Gov. Jim Douglas is particularly outspoken on the matter, and has vowed to veto the legislation.Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_33754.htmlYou should be receiving information from the Vermont Department of Labor in the coming days. The information includes important changes to be made by the Employer Assessment for Catamount Health as a result of legislation passed last month and signed by Gov. Jim Douglas this week. Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_33587.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on small-business issues such as employer assessment, property taxes and fuel-savings charge in Vermont, June/July 2007.Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_33318.htmlIt's all over but the nose-to-nose horse trading for the 2007 legislative session and the smart money is betting that the Legislature will call it quits at the end of the week.Mon, 07 May 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/2007LTmeeting.htmlWed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_33146.htmlWhile most of the country is breathing a sigh of relief that tax season is finally over, small-business owners are heading back into the ring to fight tax proposals in state legislatures. And NFIB is right there out front, talking to lawmakers to ensure the burden from any new taxes implemented does not fall unfairly on the shoulders of the small-business community. The following are some of the tax proposals being considered around the country.Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_33176.htmlPolitical hot potatoes were flying in the State Capitol this week. Some were aimed at Gov. Jim Douglas, but most of them ended up in the lap of House Speaker Gaye Symington.Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_33021.htmlAs if the dreaded April 15 wasn't enough to get you down: On the heels of tax season, the big spenders in Montpelier are already hard at work trying to figure out ways to take a bigger bite out of our wallets next year. Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_32838.htmlEducation reform appears to be on life-support in the Vermont Legislature this year. Despite a much-hailed agreement between the legislative leadership and administration over the need for education reform at the beginning of the session, action this week in the House may have sealed the fate of this issue for 2007.Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_32750.htmlThe House approved a bill making it much easier for unions to organize state workers. The legislation passed (78-59) despite opposition from the Vermont League of Cities & Towns, University of Vermont, business organizations and some union members themselves. The proponents argue that workers in Vermont are adults and can make a decision about whether or not to join a union without a formal information-gathering process. Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_32668.htmlDuring the 2005 legislative session, the General Assembly passed a bill that would have established a government-run, taxpayer financed health-care system. Governor Jim Douglas swiftly vetoed the bill for 11 specific reasons.Mon, 19 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_32634.htmlAnyone betting on education finance reform this year better fold his hand and cut his losses because legislative leaders evidently have decided Vermont is not facing a school crisis.Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_32516.htmlMon, 05 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST