Reforms hearten small-biz owners

By David Flaum for the Commercial Appeal
May 29, 2004

Trying to beef up its muscles locally, an action committee of the National Federation of Independent Business held its second workout of the year in Memphis this week.

About 60 small-business owners munched on hors d'oeuvres and sipped drinks Thursday night in the lobby of Union Planters Bank headquarters on Poplar as they reviewed gains in the most recent state legislative session.

"Our objective is to keep issues in front of the legislature that involve small businesses," said Mark White, head of the Memphis Area Action Council and owner of Grand Events & Party Rentals.

NFIB has about 1,100 members in the Memphis area (and 600,000 nationally), about 155 of whom joined since the first action council reception in January, White said.

One of the state lawmakers with a 100 percent grade on small business-related votes was in front of them.

Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, told the group that two of the three objectives he set two years ago - reform of TennCare and workers' compensation - were accomplished in this year's General Assembly session.

The lawmakers went along with Gov. Phil Bredesen's plans to cut TennCare costs by setting limits on hospital stays, doctors' office visits and prescription drugs for many of its adult enrollees.

The worker's compensation changes included a provision to reduce payments to injured workers who return to their jobs, cutting costs for businesses.

Workers' compensation and TennCare changes struck a chord with Steve Reid, owner of Sutton Reid Advertising, who attended the session.

Cuts in TennCare spending were welcome, he said, because the program "is eating up such a large portion of the budget, and that's going to come back on small business."

Indeed, other business owners like James Tucker of Trestleboard Caddstruction were concerned about medical insurance costs for themselves and their employees. He said he hopes NFIB can help him trim those costs.

"The number one concern of small-business owners is access to affordable health care," said Rob Ikard, state director for NFIB in Tennessee.

Ikard said the organization has pressed lawmakers to pass legislation allowing small-business owners to cross state lines to join insurance pools to get just that.

The House passed such a bill three times, but it died in the Senate, he said.

Jeff Muse, owner of Muse Heating and Air Conditioning, appreciates such lobbying.

"I can't go to Capitol Hill, but they can," he said.