With small-business optimism, hiring, pay at record highs, now not the time to tinker
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Suzanne Budge, Idaho State Director, 208-850-3065 [email protected]
or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, 415-640-5156, [email protected]
BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 7, 2019—Something extraordinary happened last year: Small-business optimism, and with it, boosts in hiring and employee compensation, soared through the ceiling. Can it continue in 2019? Results from a survey of NFIB Idaho members released today shows how it can—and it can without any help or hindrance from the Legislature.
NOTE—Catch NFIB State Director Suzanne Budge’s presentation to the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee last Friday on YouTube here.
As it does every year, NFIB, the nation’s and Idaho’s leading small-business association, polls its members on state and federal issues affecting their right to own, operate, and grow their businesses. The 2019 Idaho state member ballot asked four questions.
Should the Legislature allow local governments to impose their own sales taxes?
Yes—12 percent
No—79 percent
Und.—9 percent
Should Idaho strengthen employee protections by passing a requirement for equal pay?
Yes—11 percent
No—79 percent
Und.—10 percent
In light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, should Idaho enact legislation promoting public sector union membership?
Yes—4 percent
No—86 percent
Und.—10 percent
Should Idaho require each of its residents to carry health insurance or pay a penalty?
Yes—8 percent
No—89 percent
Und.—3 percent
“Our small-business owning members remain steadfast in their opposition to giving local governments the power to levy their own sales tax for the simple reason it would create a crazy-quilt of compliance headaches when cities and counties post different rates,” said Budge.
“As for equal pay, NFIB strongly supports equal employment opportunity and appropriate enforcement of the federal Equal Pay Act, which protects all employees, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Federal law already prohibits gender discrimination, including workplace compensation and benefits, but so-called “equal pay” legislation proposed in states are typically little more than increased penalties for behavior that is already against the law. While increasing penalties may enrich a few attorneys who file questionable lawsuits against numerous small-business owners who don’t have the resources to fight frivolous cases in court, they will do little or nothing to improve wages for women.”
NFIB is the state’s leading small-business association. To learn more, visit www.nfib.com/ID and follow @NFIB_ID on Twitter.
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For more than 75 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.
National Federation of Independent Business/Idaho
802 W. Bannock, Ste. 301
Boise, ID 83702
208-345-6632
www.nfib.com/idaho
Twitter: NFIB_ID
