Small business owners told the House Small Business Committee that Affordable Care Act mandates, regulations, and the current tax code, are negatively impacting their businesses.
“I ask Congress to fix the broken ACA system,” Skip Paal, the owner of Rutland Beard Floral Group in Baltimore, Maryland, testified on behalf of the Society of American Florists. “It is detrimental to me and countless other main street businesses. If something is not done quickly, I fear that when I receive next year’s health insurance quote it will simply be unaffordable to the point where we would no longer be able to offer that benefit to our employees.”
Paal said one the biggest concerns for him and fellow industry members is the instability and lack of clarity in legislation and regulation.
“It is impossible for small businesses to make decisions and plan when legislation and rules are constantly changing,” Paal said. “I have discussed the challenges I face with several of my peers in different segments of the floral industry. Every single person told me their greatest concern was either uncertainty or lack of clarity.”
Anne Chambers, CEO of the Cincinnati-based marketing agency Red 212, explained how regulations impact her business.
“Federal regulations cost businesses just under $10,000 per employee annually, with the annual total cost burden on the typical U.S. business coming in at a $233,182,” Chambers said “This problem is exacerbated by the government’s inability to provide long-term policies on which businesses can rely.”
Maxine Turner, the founder of Cuisine Unlimited, a catering business in Salt Lake City, Utah, cited research by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation that says the annual cost of complying with regulations is about $1.9 trillion for small businesses.
“New opportunities for entrepreneurs, beginning with tax reform, regulatory reform, and other priorities, would result in an economic vigor that would benefit every family across this country,” Turner said. “A health care program that meets the needs of our citizens with reasonable costs would spark new optimism.”