Here's a look at some of NFIB/Virginia's victories during the 2012 General Assembly:
Private Property Protections
NFIB secured the second passage of a constitutional amendment to prevent eminent domain abuse. The proposed amendment will be on the ballot this November for Virginians to approve.
NFIB believes its one thing for government to take private property for longstanding and well-agreed public uses, but it’s just plain wrong for the government to take someone’s home, business or farm so someone else can develop the land.
The amendment will tighten up the state’s definition of "public use" with regard to when the government can take your property. It would ensure that your property can not be taken and given to another private entity for economic development purposes. It also would ensure that private property cannot be taken without just compensation to the owner and that no more property than necessary is taken. Of particular interest to Virginia’s small business owners, it also allows “loss profits & access” to be considered as part of just compensation.
Labor Issues
- Project Labor Agreements: With NFIB’s support, legislation passed that prevents state government from imposing costly and anti-competitive project labor agreements on state construction projects. The legislation ensures that all qualified contractors and their skilled workers, regardless of labor affiliation, can compete on a level playing field for Virginia construction projects. This legislation ensures that Virginia’s non-union small businesses can participate in state procurement projects.
- Child Labor - NFIB defeated efforts to increase the red-tape an employer would have to go through to hire teenagers. The legislation would have increased the age at which children are required to have a work permit from 16 to 18.
Taxes and the Budget
Once again NFIB/Virginia helped defeat efforts to re-instate the Commonwealth’s estate tax.
NFIB eliminated a new proposed Unemployment Insurance tax on all employers to fund Virginia’s interest payments to the Federal Government. This new “surcharge” would have been on top of already increasing UI taxes business owners who are having to pay to replenish the Fund and would have set a precedent for a new tax.
NFIB worked to eliminate several fee increases in the budget that would have increased the inspection fees for restaurants, prepared foods (i.e. grocery stores) and weights and measures (i.e. – deli scales, gas pumps, etc.).
Health Care
NFIB supported efforts to bring more transparency and accountability to the health care industry through the creation of an All Payer Claims Data Base (APCD). The APCD will provide a tool for comparing the costs and services of health care plans.
Economic Development
NFIB supported Governor McDonnell’s proposal to create a small business investment grant fund and program that would provide a grant equal to 10 percent of a qualified investment in a small business for an eligible investor. This proposal will encourage private sector investment in small businesses that are still having difficulty gaining financial backing from a bank.