From ERA CEO Tom Shanahan
February 17, 2009 |
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Here is the link to this week's bulletin from our Washington lobbying organization, the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC). (You will need your ERA member password to access) This bulletin is longer than usual -- running five pages -- because it contains a summary of provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is being signed this week by President Obama.
I urge you to read this bulletin and discuss pertinent sections with your accountant and/or other business advisors.
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We receive SBLC Bulletins every week and are now posting the most recent issues on this Legislative Update page. Check back regularly to review current issues.
If you have any questions about the SBLC or ERA's participation as a one of the Council's 64 association members, please contact me at info@era.org or 800-776-7377 or 312-527-3050, ext. 218.
Tom Shanahan
Executive Vice President and CEO
Electronics Representatives Association
December 8, 2008
* Our Washington lobbying organization, the Small Business
Legislative Council (SBLC), has issued a lengthy issue paper on
HEALTH CARE REFORM that includes detailed summaries of
President-elect Barack Obama's proposal and a new proposal from Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), both of which have much in common with the existing Massachusetts system (which is also summarized in the paper). The SBLC has taken no position yet on any pending proposals, and ERA insurance consultant Pat Brown agrees with SBLC President John Satagaj that the economic crisis of recent months will probably cause this entire issue to be placed on the back burner. If you would like to read the SBLC paper, please just e-mail your request to Tess Hill at thill@era.org.
* An alert has been received from the National Federation of
Independent Business (NFIB) about the possibility that legislation
affecting employers and INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS may be resurrected in 2009. Then Senator Obama was a co-sponsor of the Independent Contractor Proper Classification Act of 2007. The bill would amend the 1978 law that protects the tax status of companies employing independent contractors by removing an exemption for firms that designate workers as such based on long-standing practice in that industry. Critics argue that standard is too easy to meet, and a Joint Committee on Taxation report last year said the law is "construed liberally in favor of taxpayers." The bill also would enable the IRS to determine if workers should be "reclassified" as employees, allow the agency to write regulations on how workers should be classified, and require companies to notify contractors of their right to seek a determination of whether they should be designated employees.
The NFIB and SBLC say this "reform" could cripple the ability of
small businesses to work with independent contractors. ERA will
monitor and keep you updated on any activity concerning this bill if
it is re-introduced.
* Also, from John Satagaj of the SBLC come these comments re: the much-anticipated ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE:
"We are heartened about the President-elect's stimulus efforts.
First, we need action, and we need it quickly. Talking to a number of you, lay-offs, always difficult in a holiday season, are beginning to escalate. Second, the main emphasis of the plan is consistent with what we have been lobbying for since the second stimulus bill, i.e., investment in infrastructure. We view that as a win-win-win and consistent with long time SBLC policy. Maintain and create jobs quickly and improve our long-term infrastructure upon which small businesses rely to get their products and services to their customers. Third, we are heartened by the fact the President-elect may be backing off from top marginal rate increases now."
ERA will keep you apprised of SBLC's analysis of the stimulus plan when it is finalized.
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