Montana’s lawmakers are going to have to move one issue up when they reconvene
HELENA, Mont., July 2, 2020—The release of yesterday’s NFIB Jobs Report didn’t hold out much hope for a rapid turnaround of the economy, which today led the association’s state director to encourage Montana’s lawmakers to move one issue up for consideration when they reconvene in January if not sooner.
“I’m hearing more and more from small-business owners about their concern with liability protection,” said Riley Johnson, Montana state director for NFIB. “We simply can’t ask Montana’s small businesses to reopen, stay open, and start hiring again if we don’t protect them from plaintiffs claiming they contracted the COVID-19 virus while in their places of business, even though it can’t be proven. Legislators should get on board with other states that have pulled their small businesses out of harm’s way. We can’t wait for Congress to act.”
Yesterday’s Jobs Report showed the small business labor market has further weakened in June. Firms reduced employment by 0.28 workers per firm over the past month, weaker than the decrease of 0.17 workers per firm in May. Unchanged from last month, 6% reported increasing employment an average of 2.6 workers per firm and 22% (up one point) reported reducing employment an average of 4.6 workers per firm (seasonally adjusted).
Commented NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg, “As states change reopening rules and dates, sometimes easing restrictions, small businesses are feeling various levels of uncertainty as to what comes next. With recent COVID-19 spikes in some cases, many state governments are reversing prior decisions and reducing the potential for small business to earn needed revenue.”
Keep up with the latest on Montana small business at www.nfib.com/MT or by following NFIB on Twitter @NFIB_MT
Contact: Riley Johnson, Montana State Director, [email protected]
or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, [email protected]
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For more than 77 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since its founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.
National Federation of Independent Business/Montana
491 South Park Ave.
Helena, MT 59601
406-443-3797
www.nfib.com/montana
Twitter: @NFIB_MT
