3 bills in particular would have benefited small businesses.
Virginia Assembly Did Not Overturn Gov. McAuliffe’s Vetoes
On
April 20, the Virginia Legislature reconvened in Richmond for a one-day session
to vote on Gov. McAuliffe’s vetoes, but legislators failed to override the
governor’s decision on any of the 32 bills. Here’s a look at three of the
vetoed measures that were particular disappointing to small businesses.
Clean
Power Plan Bill
Senate
Bill 21 would have blocked Virginia’s implementation of some currently
embattled Environmental Protection Agency rules and regulations. The Virginia
Department of Environmental Quality would have been required to prepare an
extensive report highlighting the impact of any proposal to comply with the
EPA’s Clean Power Plan emission requirements, and the General Assembly would
have had to give approval for any plans before they were implemented. NFIB is
opposed to the Clean Power Plan, which will dramatically increase energy costs
for businesses and consumers and unconstitutionally force states to switch
power generation.
Franchise
Bill
House
Bill 18 would have protected franchises from an intrusive ruling from the
National Labor Relations Board, which overturned the existing joint employer
standard and said that employees of an individual franchise are under the
control of the larger franchising corporation. Under this NLRB ruling, owners
of individual franchises in Virginia would be prevented from running their own
businesses, needing permission from the corporation to hire, fire, and
discipline employees. Franchise workers may also have an easier time unionizing.
Local
Minimum Wage Bill
House
Bill 1371 would have prevented local governments from raising the minimum wage.
Keeping policies standard across the state means less red tape and more
simplicity in operating a business. Virginia currently adheres to the federal
minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, but amid a nationwide movement to raise the
minimum wage, protesters in Richmond recently joined in calling for a $15
minimum wage.
