NSBA yesterday hosted an issue briefing teleconference on the midterm elections and what it means for small business. With a broad number of participants, NSBA leadership and staff provided an informative analysis of the previous days’ election outcomes.
Led by NSBA Vice Chair for Communication Jeff Van Winkle, Partner, Clark Hill PLC, the call kicked off with some broad elections insight from NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken. McCracken summarized the midterm elections and what the 112th Congress will look like, and then discussed some of the political challenges that await groups like NSBA in the coming months and years.
Following McCracken, NSBA’s chief lobbyists spoke to the specifics of the key small-business issues and how they are likely to change given the new make-up of Congress. Daniel Jones addressed the likely changes expected under the new House Republican leadership relative to health care reform, immigration and various workforce issues. Dan underscored the likely changes to Big Labor’s ongoing efforts to pass card-check legislation.
Next up was Jody Milanese who spoke to the key tax changes that must be acted on before they expire, including: estate tax, expiration of the current tax rates, and the tax extenders. Milanese also expanded on the new 1099 reporting provisions and what efforts are afoot to repeal that provision which was passed as part of the new health care reform law.
Kyle Kempf then spoke to the likely shifts in economic development policy including small-business lending, credit-card reform and SBIR. He went on to discuss how small-business energy efficiency initiatives are likely to fare in the 112th Congress.
NSBA Chair of the Board Larry Nannis of Levine, Katz, Nannis + Solomon, P.C. then spoke to some of the key changes in the various committees with oversight on key small-business issues. Nannis also detailed NSBA’s key policy initiatives in both the pending lame-duck Congress and in the 112th Congress.
For more information on NSBA's issue briefing teleconferences, please click here.
