Tag Archives: National Federation of Independent Business

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The Real Voices of Small Business

10/19/2012 Nativegrl77

What Small Businesses Really Think About the Issues

Republicans talk a lot about small businesses out on the campaign trail, but often times the “small businesses” they talk about are anything but. According to Republicans, Donald Trump, Oprah, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and construction giant Becthel, the largest construction company in America, are all small businesses.

In order to clear the air, the Center for American Progress and Small Business Majority, an advocacy group for actual small businesses, talked to the owners of small businesses across the country about a range of issues, including taxes and Obamacare.

Here’s a couple examples of what we heard.

Small Businesses Aren’t Impacted by Expiration of Bush Tax Cuts

Mike Brey, owner of Hobby Works in Fairfax, Va., wants to set the record straight on the Bush tax cuts—cuts on those with income above $250,000. Despite some saying that allowing the cuts to expire will hurt small businesses, the vast majority of small business owners like him simply won’t be affected. Allowing the tax rates to go back to where they were will help bolster the economy and with it, Mike’s customer base—the middle class.

Affordable Care Act Makes Portland Business More Competitive

For Mike Roach, owner of Paloma Clothing in Portland, Oregon, providing health insurance for his employees is not just the right thing to do—it makes his business more competitive and helps him retain valuable employees. Mike explains how the Affordable Care Act has allowed him to pick up more of the tab of his employees’ healthcare premiums, a key benefit that keeps his small store competitive with the big chains.

Check out our entire series of small business voices HERE, which includes small business owners weighing in on taxes, Obamacare, public lands, clean energy, and more.

These are the real voices of small business, unlike the National Federation of Independent Business. Though the group purports to represent the interests of small businesses, it often advocates against their interests, is funded by millions of dollars from Karl Rove’s secret money group Crossroads GPS, and spends most of its time attacking the Obama administration and running campaign attack ads targeting Democrats. NFIB was also the lead plaintiff in the partisan legal attacks on Obamacare, though thankfully its efforts failed at the Supreme Court.

NFIB is in the news today because it recently hosted a conference call with Mitt Romney, the audio of which leaked yesterday. On the call Romney urges employers to tell their employees who to vote, something the Koch brothers and other CEOs have been caught doing in recent weeks. You can listen to the shocking audio of the leaked call HERE.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

The Defense of Marriage Act was struck down by a federal appeals court — in an opinion written by an extremely conservative judge.

Despite court order, Ohio’s GOP Secretary of State is still cutting back on early voting.

Romney’s economic policy director was lobbying for Wall Street just three months ago.

Virginia health commissioner resigns in protest of new politically-motivated, restrictive regulations on abortion providers.

No, Mitt Romney’s sketchy tax plan still doesn’t add up.

Maryland voters appear set to approve both marriage equality and a DREAM Act.

Why won’t the Romney campaign say where he stands on equal pay laws?

A tale of two Romneys.

Romney’s bizarro version of equal rights.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Patient Protection – Affordable Care Act Case – March 26 – 28, 2012 and the Supreme Court

03/26/2012 Nativegrl77

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cases

March 26-28, 2012

The Court has granted review of cases challenging provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The orders, briefs, and other information are available at this link. The Chief Justice’s 2011 Year-End Report

The Clerk’s Office and was told that they will post audio files and transcripts on their website >>> http://www.supremecourt.gov with morning session information being posted by 2pm that day and the Wednesday Session will be held from 1pmET – 2pm ET with audio & transcripts being available by 4pm ET

The C-SPAN cable network said it would play back the arguments on a broadcast channel and on radio as soon as they are available.

Listed below are live links to the orders, case filings, and other information pertaining to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act cases. Click on each item to access further information.

Orders

11-14-11	Grant Order
11-18-11	Amici Appointment Order
12-08-11	Briefing Schedule
02-21-12	Allocation of Oral Argument Time


Case Filings

11-117	Thomas More Law Center, et al., v. Barack H. Obama, President of the United States, et al. Petition for Writ of Certiorari Brief in Opposition Reply Brief

11-393	National Federation of Independent Business, et al., , v. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al., Petition for Writ of Certiorari Appendix to Petition Brief in Opposition The American Bar Association has provided a link to the briefs at the merits stage of this case at this link.^*

11-398	Department of Health and Human Services, et al., v. Florida, et al. Petition for a Writ of Certiorari Appendix to Petition Brief of Private Respondents Brief of State Respondents Reply Brief The American Bar Association has provided a link to the briefs at the merits stage of this case at this link^* for the anti-injunction act and this link^* for the minimum coverage provision.

11-400	Florida, et al., v. Department of Health and Human Services, et al. Petition for Writ of Certiorari Brief in Opposition Reply Brief The American Bar Association has provided a link to the briefs at the merits stage of this case at this link.^*

11-420	Virginia, ex rel. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II, Attorney General of Virginia v. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services Petition for Writ of Certiorari Brief in Opposition

11-438	Liberty University, et al., v. Timothy F. Geithner , Secretary of the Treasury, et al., Petition for a Writ of Certiorari Brief in Opposition Reply Brief

I spoke to the Clerk’s Office and was told that they will post audio files and transcripts on http://www.supremecourt.gov with morning session info being posted by 2pm that day and the Wednesday Session held from 1pmET – 2pm ET with audio&transcripts being available by 4pm ET

The C-SPAN cable network said it would play back the arguments on a broadcast channel and on radio as soon as they are available.