Roundtable featured conversation on the permanency of the 20% Small Business Deduction, the Credit Card Competition Act, and regulatory issues
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the state’s leading small business advocacy organization, hosted a roundtable discussion with U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS). Held at Hazel Hill Chocolate, anNFIB member small business in Topeka, the roundtable was an opportunity for several small business owner members to ask questions and voice their concerns to Sen. Marshall.
Participants thanked Sen. Marshall for his leadership on the Credit Card Competition Act, a bipartisan bill that would encourage competition between processing networks, which would help drive down swipe fee costs for small businesses.
“We appreciate Sen. Marshall’s leadership in the Senate on behalf of small business owners,” NFIB Principal Dylan Rosnick said. “Credit card fees have more than doubled since 2012, exacerbating the affordability crisis small business owners are facing. Our members are calling on Congress to encourage competition in the credit card marketplace.”
“It was great to have Sen. Marshall here to meet with our members,” NFIB State Director Dan Murray said. “Small business owners want to create jobs and meet their customers’ needs, but they’re facing tremendous cost pressures from swipe fees. The Credit Card Competition Act is a commonsense reform that will help give Main Street relief.”
Photos of the event are below.
Sen Marshall addresses NFIB small business owner membersSen Marshall addresses NFIB small business owner members
Two Topeka TV stations covered the roundtable. Their coverage is below:
“’Insurance premiums have gone through the roof, especially property insurance has escalated dramatically,’ Nick Xidis, Hazel Hill’s owner, said. ‘And, at least in my family, being an independent business guy and having to shop for our own health insurance, that’s our family’s biggest expense.’ ‘Health care is now rising back to the top of concerns for small businesses, something I’m trying to take head on,’ Sen. Marshall concurred.”
“Another major issue discussed was the cost of credit card processing fees, often called swipe fees. Marshall is backing the Credit Card Competition Act, which supporters say would help lower those costs for retailers. […] According to Marshall, retailers are often charged 4% to 5% when customers use a credit card – a rate he said is roughly seven times higher than what retailers in Europe pay. Some business owners at the roundtable said they now spend more on swipe fees than they do on utilities or even employee health insurance.”