Don
09-24-2004, 09:08 AM
The last one generated much debate so I figured I'd post this one and see what happens.
Welcome to the September 23, 2004, edition of VOICE: Volunteers Organized to Influence Congress and Elections. This e-newsletter is sent to NFIB members twice monthly. Look to NFIB to keep you informed about what's happening in Washington and the states, and how YOU can shape the politics and policy that affect small businesses.
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MAIN STREET MESSAGE
U.S House Passes Legislation to End Frivolous Lawsuits
On Sept. 14, the U.S. House passed the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act (HR 4571). The bill would change the way meritless lawsuits have been treated under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by requiring federal judges to impose financial sanctions against attorneys who file frivolous lawsuits or motions.
Civil litigation was once a last resort remedy to settle limited disputes and quarrels, but recent years have brought a litigation explosion. The number of civil lawsuits has tripled since the 1960's. Litigation has become big business, and it is putting small businesses out of business. It is estimated that it costs a small business about $100,000 when a lawsuit goes to trial. Small-business owners do not typically have legal departments with in-house counsels, the resources to hire attorneys or even the time to spend away from their businesses fighting frivolous lawsuits.
As a result, small businesses are viewed as targets of frivolous suits because trial lawyers know that the likelihood of settlement is much higher from a small-business owner than a large corporation. With the average small-business owner's salary being less than $50,000 per year, it's easy to see how one frivolous lawsuit can wipe out an entire small business.
Small-business owners are often forced to settle a case at the urging of their insurer, even if the small-business owner would ultimately prevail in the suit. This in turn drives insurance rates up; it does not matter if the business owner was ultimately held liable after a trial. Not surprisingly, small-business owners rank the "Cost and Availability of Liability Insurance" as the second most important problem facing small-business owners today, according to a survey released by the NFIB Research Foundation.
As the nation's legal system continues to spiral out of control and billion-dollar lawsuits become the norm, NFIB is working hard for legal reform in all 50 states. Along with pushing for legislation that abolishes joint-and-several liability and caps excessive punitive damages, NFIB will fight for legal reform that levels the courtroom playing field for small business. After all, just one frivolous lawsuit can force a small business to close its doors forever.
Liability-reform legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate. Contact your senators today and urge them to finish what the U.S. House of Representatives started. Tell them to pass this important legislation. Visit www.NFIB.com/getinvolved for contact information.
VOICEBOX
Contact your U.S. senators. Tell them that frivolous lawsuits are putting small businesses out of business. Urge them to pass liability-reform legislation.
FEDERAL FOCUS
Recent NFIB Survey Shows Positive Signs For Job Creation
"Now Hiring" signs should start popping up in the windows of American small businesses soon, according to NFIB's latest Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) report, a monthly survey of small-business owners' plans and opinions.
Job creation plans leapt four points to a near-record net 19 percent of firms polled in August. This is a very strong reading," said William Dunkelberg, NFIB's chief economist. "It's within shouting distance of the record reached in 2000."
In August, owners reported a net addition of 0.3 employees per firm. Reports of hard-to-fill job openings were virtually unchanged and at a strong level, indicating that the unemployment rate will fall for August and September.
Adding to the positive signs of economic growth was the Small Business Optimism Index reading. The August reading was 102.9 - a continuation of a 17-month string of readings above 100.
Dunkelberg said that although there are a number of uncertainties facing financial markets, such as energy prices, the election and the threat of terrorist disruptions, the economy is looking quite solid.
POLITICS
Get Ready for Nov. 2: Double-Check Your Voter Registration Today
We rarely think of voting as something we have to get ready to do. But you do have to be registered - and you need to make sure you're up to date!
Double-check your registration: Take a moment today to whip out your voter registration card. Is your address correct? Have you moved since the last election? Check your polling location online at www.NFIB.com/politics or by calling your local election office. Even in the smallest towns, polls may move from election to election.
There's still time to register: Not registered? No problem. Just visit www.NFIB.com/politics and use NFIB's easy online voter registration form. These easy steps will make a big difference for small business on Election Day. The process takes minutes and features clear, step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process. Encourage anyone you know who is not registered to do the same, but hurry - some states cut off voter registration for the general election beginning Oct. 2.
Your vote counts: In the 2000 presidential election, voters saw that every vote counts. In 2002, U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez won in Colorado's 7th District by a mere 121 votes. With these recent elections in mind, more people than ever are expected to turn out to vote on Nov. 2. And with a delicate balance of power in Washington and critical small-business issues before Congress, it is essential to elect candidates who support a pro-small-business platform.
Welcome to the September 23, 2004, edition of VOICE: Volunteers Organized to Influence Congress and Elections. This e-newsletter is sent to NFIB members twice monthly. Look to NFIB to keep you informed about what's happening in Washington and the states, and how YOU can shape the politics and policy that affect small businesses.
----------------------
MAIN STREET MESSAGE
U.S House Passes Legislation to End Frivolous Lawsuits
On Sept. 14, the U.S. House passed the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act (HR 4571). The bill would change the way meritless lawsuits have been treated under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by requiring federal judges to impose financial sanctions against attorneys who file frivolous lawsuits or motions.
Civil litigation was once a last resort remedy to settle limited disputes and quarrels, but recent years have brought a litigation explosion. The number of civil lawsuits has tripled since the 1960's. Litigation has become big business, and it is putting small businesses out of business. It is estimated that it costs a small business about $100,000 when a lawsuit goes to trial. Small-business owners do not typically have legal departments with in-house counsels, the resources to hire attorneys or even the time to spend away from their businesses fighting frivolous lawsuits.
As a result, small businesses are viewed as targets of frivolous suits because trial lawyers know that the likelihood of settlement is much higher from a small-business owner than a large corporation. With the average small-business owner's salary being less than $50,000 per year, it's easy to see how one frivolous lawsuit can wipe out an entire small business.
Small-business owners are often forced to settle a case at the urging of their insurer, even if the small-business owner would ultimately prevail in the suit. This in turn drives insurance rates up; it does not matter if the business owner was ultimately held liable after a trial. Not surprisingly, small-business owners rank the "Cost and Availability of Liability Insurance" as the second most important problem facing small-business owners today, according to a survey released by the NFIB Research Foundation.
As the nation's legal system continues to spiral out of control and billion-dollar lawsuits become the norm, NFIB is working hard for legal reform in all 50 states. Along with pushing for legislation that abolishes joint-and-several liability and caps excessive punitive damages, NFIB will fight for legal reform that levels the courtroom playing field for small business. After all, just one frivolous lawsuit can force a small business to close its doors forever.
Liability-reform legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate. Contact your senators today and urge them to finish what the U.S. House of Representatives started. Tell them to pass this important legislation. Visit www.NFIB.com/getinvolved for contact information.
VOICEBOX
Contact your U.S. senators. Tell them that frivolous lawsuits are putting small businesses out of business. Urge them to pass liability-reform legislation.
FEDERAL FOCUS
Recent NFIB Survey Shows Positive Signs For Job Creation
"Now Hiring" signs should start popping up in the windows of American small businesses soon, according to NFIB's latest Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) report, a monthly survey of small-business owners' plans and opinions.
Job creation plans leapt four points to a near-record net 19 percent of firms polled in August. This is a very strong reading," said William Dunkelberg, NFIB's chief economist. "It's within shouting distance of the record reached in 2000."
In August, owners reported a net addition of 0.3 employees per firm. Reports of hard-to-fill job openings were virtually unchanged and at a strong level, indicating that the unemployment rate will fall for August and September.
Adding to the positive signs of economic growth was the Small Business Optimism Index reading. The August reading was 102.9 - a continuation of a 17-month string of readings above 100.
Dunkelberg said that although there are a number of uncertainties facing financial markets, such as energy prices, the election and the threat of terrorist disruptions, the economy is looking quite solid.
POLITICS
Get Ready for Nov. 2: Double-Check Your Voter Registration Today
We rarely think of voting as something we have to get ready to do. But you do have to be registered - and you need to make sure you're up to date!
Double-check your registration: Take a moment today to whip out your voter registration card. Is your address correct? Have you moved since the last election? Check your polling location online at www.NFIB.com/politics or by calling your local election office. Even in the smallest towns, polls may move from election to election.
There's still time to register: Not registered? No problem. Just visit www.NFIB.com/politics and use NFIB's easy online voter registration form. These easy steps will make a big difference for small business on Election Day. The process takes minutes and features clear, step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process. Encourage anyone you know who is not registered to do the same, but hurry - some states cut off voter registration for the general election beginning Oct. 2.
Your vote counts: In the 2000 presidential election, voters saw that every vote counts. In 2002, U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez won in Colorado's 7th District by a mere 121 votes. With these recent elections in mind, more people than ever are expected to turn out to vote on Nov. 2. And with a delicate balance of power in Washington and critical small-business issues before Congress, it is essential to elect candidates who support a pro-small-business platform.