NFIB’s Louisiana State Director Dawn Starns says the second special session to address the budget has created more uncertainty for Louisiana’s small businesses. The special session starts Tuesday, May 22.
“Small business owners want predictability,” Starns said. “They’re not going to expand their businesses or invest in new equipment or hire additional workers unless they’re reasonably sure those investments will pay off. Small business can’t have that kind of certainty unless Governor Edwards and legislative leaders set partisan politics aside and work together to stop Louisiana from plunging over the fiscal cliff.
“Congress passed historic tax-reform legislation earlier this year, but Louisiana small-business owners still saw a tax increase,” Starns said. “That’s why NFIB members are urging legislators to tell Governor Edwards ‘no’ on raising the individual tax rate.
“We should be overhauling our broken tax system, not taking a piecemeal approach to raising taxes without addressing the underlying issues.
“Small business owners understand that government must provide basic services, but it must also do that efficiently and effectively,” Starns said. “NFIB looks forward to working with the Legislature this special session to ensure that small business does not bear the brunt of the state’s fiscal woes.”