NFIB State Director Dawn McVea released the following statement today as the Louisiana Legislature began its 2022 regular session:
“These are trying times for Louisiana’s small businesses. Two years after Main Street businesses sent workers home and closed temporarily to slow the spread of COVID-19, owners are contending with challenges ranging from rising fuel prices to soaring inflation to the ongoing lack of qualified job applicants.
“Our hope is that the Louisiana Legislature does no harm and acts in the best interest of Louisiana’s job creators.
“As this year’s session gets underway, our members are urging their legislators to shore up the nearly depleted unemployment trust fund and oppose supposed one-size-fits-all employer mandates.
“The sudden increase in claims linked to the start of the pandemic drained the fund. It’s essential that we use available funds to replenish the unemployment trust fund and avoid unbearable payroll tax increases on small businesses. When we balloted our members this winter, 81% supported reforms that would increase benefits while reducing the length of time people could receive benefits.
“As the economy began to recover, small business owners voluntarily increased pay and benefits, but most say they still have positions they can’t fill. Our 2022 NFIB Louisiana Member Ballot shows 89 percent believe the legislature could help address this issue by funding additional education and training to give people the skills to meet the evolving needs of the marketplace.
“Finally, we hope the legislature will finally address the need to bring Louisiana’s sales tax collection system into the 21st century. Our current tax collection is unnecessarily complicated and time-consuming for taxpayers, making it inefficient and creating obstacles to compliance. It’s time we fixed that.”
