What is SBE Council doing right now to promote entrepreneurship, business startup and growth?
SBE Council is working on multiple fronts to protect small business, promote entrepreneurship and rebuild a strong economy. While SBE Council remains hopeful that pro-small business initiatives will advance in 2010, the bulk of proposed policies and legislation continues to trend in a direction that will burden small business owners with new costs. Entrepreneurs are struggling in the recession -- the last thing we need are higher taxes and intrusive new regulations. Even in the best of economic times, imposing new government burdens on small business hurts our ability to grow and compete in the global economy.
Health Care Reform: President Barack Obama signed a new health care law that will raise the cost of health insurance for small businesses and the self-employed. The new law imposes new taxes and costly mandates on our sector. It dicates how health insurance plans will be designed, and imposes new compliance requirements on small business. SBE Council is working now to repeal the most onerous provisions of the new law. We have launched a "PROTECT HSAs" project as this affordable, flexible health insurance option is threatened under this new law.
Tax Increases and Card Check: SBE Council will continue to push for pro-growth measures to help restore the U.S. economy. We will oppose the vast array of tax increases that are set to take place soon if Congress and President Obama do not act to extend them, or make them permanent. SBE Council will oppose new tax increases and work to repeal those included in the new health care law signed by President Obama.
Small Business News: SBE Council keeps our members updated on all legislative initiatives that impact entreprenuers through our regular enews -- Small Business News. This highly acclaimed e-newsletter also includes important information, trends, resources, articles, conferences and other FREE or low cost training opportunities to help your firm grow and prosper during this challenging economic period. Small Business News will remind you about upcoming events -- for example, dates and times for our regular Growth Without Barriers webcast series that will continue in 2010.
ADVOCACY:
SBE Council will urge the Obama Administration and congressional leaders to move forward with positive tax and economic growth policies -- measures that incentivize small firms to invest in their businesses, hire employees and expand into new markets. Our staff will continue to produce the most cutting-edge and insightful analysis for our members, the media, and elected officials to help our key audiences understand the impact of legislation moving through the Congress, as well as President Obama's proposals -- both positive and negative -- on small business, entrepreneurship and our struggling economy.
SBE Council has already set the groundwork for remaining an influential voice within the new Administration and on Capitol Hill on the following issues:
• "Card Check": Turn-key union organizing without the "secret ballot" will have a major impact on operational flexibility within firms, and the ability of owners to manage costs. The so-called "Employee Free Choice Act" advanced in the House, and the Senate is now considering the legislation. SBE Council is fighting against this radical legislation, but we need your voice and support.
• Tax increases on capital and higher-income entrepreneurs: Unfortunately, proposed tax hikes on higher-income earning entrepreneurs and on capital gains work against the goal of getting our economy back on a healthy growth track. Small businesses and our economy need robust amounts of capital right now. Tax increases hurt job creation, innovation, and our nation's competitiveness. The Obama budget included an array of tax hikes on small business owners, investors, individuals and companies. The budget blue print that passed both Houses will raise taxes as it allows most of the temporary tax relief measures to expire. Does anyone really believe that taking more money out of the economy and private sector will improve economic conditions? SBE Council will continue to push back on tax increases and advocate for keeping taxes lowered during this challenging economic period.
The death tax is now at ZERO -- but it is set to go back to high rates in 2011 if we do not permanently repeal this wasteful tax. SBE Council is advocating for full repeal, and we need your help!
• Health care afffordability and access -- SBE Council supports an open and competitive system that incentivizes consumer engagement and healthy lifestyles. Mandates requiring small businesses to purchase health insurance for their employees when they can barely meet payroll is not a sound way to help the economy or our loyal workforce. Taxing health insurance companies, health insurance plans and our most innovative companies in the health care sector will raise health care costs.
SBE Council supports the expansion of Health Savings Accounts, a national marketplace for health insurance, medical liability reform, small business purchasing pools, tax credits for small businesses and individuals and other reforms that bring more market discipline -- and less government -- into the health care system.
• Access to credit and capital/tax relief and certainty -- Policies should encourage capital formation and credit access, and not place further restrictions and costs on availability. SBE Council continues to urge Congress and the Obama Administration to make permanent key tax relief measures, rather than raising taxes on productive, hard-working entrepreneurs.
• Regulatory modernization and reform. Government agencies and the Congress will continue to advance new laws that impose more costs and controls on small business and the economy -- a regulatory "time out" is needed as regulatory excess is squeezing the profitability and survivability of many small firms. Already, small businesses pay over $7,000 per-employee to comply with federal regulations.
SBE Council will keep a close eye on EPA regulations and proposed workplace laws that could disproportionately impact small businesses. We will support efforts that streamline and modernize the regulatory process. Unfortunately, a "cap-and-tax" bill has passed the U.S. House. Now, the Senate is set to take action where its fate is less certain. "Cap-and-tax" rations energy and will raise costs for small business owners.
• Access to global markets. Small businesses cannot afford an era of protectionism. Entrepreneurs want and need access to international markets to sell our goods and services. The U.S. must continue to engage other nations in trade agreements to enable a more prosperous, interdependent and peaceful world.
The views and ideas of SBE Council members and staff continue to be in demand on Capitol Hill, and with elected officials and policymakers at all levels of government. "Influentials" in the media and the private sector tap into SBE Council analysis and our staff to help them better grasp complex issues. SBE Council can assure our members that will always have a seat at the table when issues impacting entrepreneurs are being discussed, debated or decided.
BUT we need your voice -- the authentic voice of small business!
Specific Issues SBE Council continues to work on, include:
• Affordable Energy by Tapping American Ingenuity and Supply
A comprehensive supply-driven policy, including -- greater oil and natural gas exploration and development in the U.S.; more nuclear power; clean-coal technology; and incentives to accelerate technological innovation in alternative energy sources all must be pursued -- and with a high sense of urgency -- in order to make the U.S. more energy secure and competitive. SBE Council is the leading small business advocate for an aggressive approach to U.S. energy policy, and played a key role in lifting the ban on safe offshore exploration and development of energy sources.
• SBE Council is protecting worker privacy, and business flexibility - we are strongly opposing "card check"
SBE Council is a leading voice to stop legislation that would eviscerate employee freedom, privacy and choice in regards to union organizing drives. "Card check" is a very dangerous piece of legislation. Not only will employee rights be vastly infringed upon, small businesses could lose significant control over business operations -- particularly in the cost-containment and decision-making arena as union contracts may demand salary outlays (with built in increases) and benefits that a small firm could not possibly afford. Labor cost flexibility is critical to the growth and survival of small businesses.
• Health Care Affordability, Choice and Flexibility. SBE Council is supporting efforts to give small firms more affordable choices in the marketplace. From keeping HSAs as a health insurance option to allowing small firms and their workforce to shop nationwide for a health care plan that best meets their family or financial needs, SBE Council continues to advance initiatives that will give entrepreneurs more flexibility in the marketplace. We are now working to "undo" the more burdensome and costly measures in the new health care law, and have launched "PROTECT HSAs" in an effort to make sure this affordable health care option is preserved for small businesses and the self-employed.
• Stopping tax increases on small businesses
SBE Council is not exaggerating when we say that Congress comes up with a new way to tax your business each and every week. From efforts to take away long-standing tax incentives, to imposing new withholding provisions and requirements (like the 3% withholding mandate on government contractors slated to take effect in a couple of years!), and allowing all the beneficial 2001 and 2003 tax relief measures to expire...Congress continues to find creative ways to tax our most productive, innovative, job-creating sector - that is, small businesses!
SBE Council will continue to fight against losses in key tax incentives, and against tax hikes that will create barriers to accessing capital.
At the state and local level, SBE Council is making it voice heard as well, weighing in with our state-based allies to reign in tax-hungry legislatures. Our new "Business Tax Index" ranks the states regarding their pro-entrepreneur, pro-investment tax climates, and our members and allies have used the Index with great success in fighting against harmful tax increases on small firms.
• Working to repeal a forthcoming law that mandates government at the federal, state and local levels withhold 3% of payments for goods and services.
This new withholding mandate impacts almost all government contractors, and is slated to take effect in 2011. Fortunately, a bill in the House and Senate to repeal this measure is gaining steam on Capitol Hill. The 3% withholding mandate will be costly for small businesses, drastically hurt cash flow, and render many small firms non-competitive in the government procurement space.
• Supporting access to global markets for small businesses - SBE Council is strongly supporting the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement
Trade agreements, such as the U.S.-Colombia trade pact, make it easier, less costly and less risky for small firms to sell their products into promising overseas markets. Particularly as the economy sputters, the U.S. cannot afford to close off new markets for small businesses to sell their goods and services. Unfortunately, political games are bottling up trade agreements, like the U.S.-Columbia pact. These games hurt the economy, our competitiveness and U.S. standing overseas.
SBE Council is doing much, much more on the tax, regulatory, energy and health care front! SBE Council is working hard at the federal, state and local levels to help small firms compete and survive in today's very challenging and uncertain economy.
PLEASE JOIN SBE COUNCIL TODAY!
For more information, please call:
(703) 242-5840
SBE Council is a 501c4 nonprofit advocacy and lobbying organization. Contributions to the SBE Council are not tax deductible.
