Client News
Tallahassee Democrat: Business and freedom go hand-in-hand
Monday, September 24, 2012
On Monday, we recognized National Citizenship Day, to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. It also recognizes all who have become U.S. citizens. In conjunction with this holiday, we must tout the unique freedoms that allow us to grow and thrive.
Our small-business community supplies 85 percent of Florida’s workforce and builds on American principles with hard work and sacrifice. Small-business owners have felt severe heartburn in regards to overreaching federal regulations.
In fact, according to the federal Small Business Administration, the cost of complying with regulations for the typical small business is $10,500 per year, per employee. A firm with 10 workers, for example, must pay more than $100,000 every year just to remain on the right side of the rules imposed by Washington.
This hurts small businesses, and the federal government continues to add to this burden with duplicative, conflicting and excessive regulation. We need rules to protect the environment, public health and safety. But what is filtered down from Washington is a virtual tidal wave that threatens our vigorous small-business community. It’s time for President Obama and his team to address this issue and throttle back on the regulatory engine.
National Citizenship Day commemorates the very life and breath of free enterprise. Our entrepreneurial spirit must remain intact and not discourage the very soil on which America was founded.
BILL HERRLE
Florida executive director
National Federation of Independent Business