Results of Chapter Public Policy Survey:
Affordable Health Care is Top Concern
At the state level, members of the Baltimore Chapter of the National
Association of Women Business Owners are most concerned about affordable
health insurance for them and their employees, according to a recent
survey by the chapter's public policy committee. Thirty-one chapter
members, representing approximately 50% of voting and emerging members,
responded to the survey.
The purpose of the survey was to help focus the public policy committee's
efforts at the state and federal level, based on our members' concerns,
and to make better use of our pro bono lobbyist, Dennis Rasmussen.
Interestingly, this finding -- concern for affordable health care
coverage - is consistent with a survey of 300 women business owners
from across the country. That survey was part of a U.S. Chamber of
Commerce initiative, the results were released in September at the
Chamber's National Businesswomen's Health Care Summit in collaboration
with the National Women's Business Council. Moreover, a recent article
in the Baltimore Sun said that the Ehrlich administration is developing
"an insurance plan with fewer benefits that will make coverage
more affordable to small employers."
On the federal level, 18 out of 31 respondents to NAWBO BRC's public
policy survey ranked National NAWBO's position on Association Health
Plans as most important to them. National NAWBO is in favor of allowing
workers in small businesses and the self-employed to join together
to purchase health insurance across state boundaries by forming association
health plans.
Members also expressed concern about the lack of economic incentives
for small businesses in Maryland, difficulty in finding qualified
employees, the tax burden on small business and the sales tax.
In general, slightly less than one-half of respondents to the NAWBO
BRC survey said the federal government had the greatest impact on
their businesses. Roughly one out of three respondents said the state
had the greatest impact.
Overwhelmingly, respondents to our chapter survey support National
NAWBO's public policy positions on Association Health Plans, reauthorization
of the Workforce Investment Act, opposition to federal legislation
that supports contract bundling, the goal for federal agencies to
award five percent of their procurement dollars to women-owned businesses,
tax equity for small business, permanent repeal of the estate tax,
and 100% deductibility of business meals and entertainment rather
than the current allowance of 50% for such expenditures. There was
some disagreement on a couple of National NAWBO's positions, however,
notably the privatization of Social Security and standard deductions
for a home office. For example, 19 respondents agreed that NAWBO should
support recommendations that would permit workers to invest their
retirement payroll taxes (FICA) in individually-directed personal
retirement accounts; six respondents disagreed. Nineteen respondents
agreed with National NAWBO's stance regarding a standard $2,500 home
office deduction for home-based businesses; eight respondents disagreed.
Member
Education
It was also clear from the survey that at least some NAWBO
BRC members do not know enough about National NAWBO's positions on
public policy issues to agree or disagree with them. The number of
"don't knows" represents an opportunity for the public policy
committee to address these issues through member education.
Profile
of Respondents
InSlightly less than one-half of survey respondents has one to three
employees, including themselves. Approximately 20 percent of respondents
has four to 10 employees and an equal number has 10 or more employees.
Two respondents has 49 employees or more.
Two out of three respondents said they used independent contractors;
15 of the 31 respondents have home-based businesses; and three of
the respondents said they were federal contractors. More than 50%
of the respondents were in service businesses; other respondents were
in retail, manufacturing, the medical, legal or financial fields.
The public policy committee would like to thank Kerch McConlogue
and Megan Pulliam for their assistance with this survey.
--- Susan Middaugh, chair
Public Policy Committee, NAWBO BRC
