On Monday, November 9th, 2009, I was invited by The Business Council of NY to attend “FORUM 2009: Federal Health Care Reform – Understanding the Impact on Business.”  It was an all-day event, chock full of speakers, panels, and more data than one could ever hope or wish for.  A tremendous tip of the hat to the Business Council for putting together such an impressive event. The quality of speakers and amount of meaningful information was priceless.  What really amazed me was the quality of the information presented by the various speakers – nothing was slanted or spun to favor one political agenda or another.  This was real world information.  One of the speakers stated that he was just presenting facts, but if you bought him a couple of glasses of wine later that evening at the reception, he would let you know how he REALLY felt! 

I had the opportunity to chat with four forum attendees – 3 were from their respective company’s HR / benefits departments, and the other is the CEO of a dialysis center.  The range of opinions regarding federal health care reform was diverse: there was a gentleman from a manufacturing company who was very concerned and upset with the President’s plan, stating that it would penalize those companies who have stable health plans in place, and that the government should leave well enough alone.  A young lady from a packaging company that has been in business for over 150 years said that they had their own internal benefits program, and her boss wanted her to attend to get an understanding as to what other businesses are concerned about.  The third person is the benefits manager for a utility company that privately manages their employee and retiree health care plans.  She is very confused and concerned with the overabundance of information and was hoping to get some straight answers.  The CEO of the dialysis center has to deal with issues concerning not-for-profit organizations.

When I participated in the Times-Herald Record’s Health Care Roundtable this past summer I was optimistic that the President’s plan would cut through the fat and get right to the heart of the matter.  Over time I’ve grown increasingly concerned with the proposals and how they would affect small business, and after yesterday’s forum I am very disappointed to state that I am totally against this plan.  It will ruin small business – companies will have to let go of workers, they will cut back on growth, and many will eventually whither away and die.  It figures – just when I’m getting ready to make the push in 2010 to expand the company!

I’d like to express my sincere thanks to Mark Amodeo from The Business Council for inviting me to attend the forum.

 But wait – there’s more!  My other VIP at The Business Council, Mark Kessler, called me last Thursday and asked if I’d be interested in joining a group of small business owners to meet with Gov. Patterson to discuss issues of interest to small businesses in NYS.  Not being one to turn down an opportunity while in Albany (since I don’t get up there too often) I gladly accepted the invitation.  That meant cutting out early from the Health Care Forum and scooting over to the Capitol Building, making sure to get there in time to pass through security and get into the inner sanctum.  I’ll skip the embarrassing story of parking and (eventually) finding the Capitol Building (however, I did tell it to my wife and she was in tears from laughing so hard).

I made it through security unscathed and without those annoying flashing lights and high-pitched alarms (those of you who have been to Albany with me in the past know what I’m referring to).  Once inside I found myself surrounded by almost 50 other invitees.  During the meeting, we all had the opportunity to introduce ourselves; there were sole proprietors, small-to-medium sized companies, heads of business organizations and even special interest groups.  At least a dozen people in the room were from the Mid-Hudson Valley.  After his opening comments, the governor asked for questions and comments about what is going on in NYS with small business; it was a 60-40 split between patronizing comments and meaningful questions.  I tried to jot down some of the comments he made:

1. He stated that the business community has to become an advocate for itself.

2. The value that small business has isn’t being played up. He would be willing to visit a business in order to drum up support and visibility for small business, since it is the spark that drives business and revenue in the state.

3. Small business owners should embrace editorial boards and smaller TV stations and enlighten them on how important it is to support business.

4. Government should relax standards to generate job growth.

5. Businesses should be given latitude in order to promote job growth.

Someone also asked a question about municipality consolidation.  The governor stated that the only way to get cities, towns, even school districts to consider consolidation would be to give them tax incentives.

 I knew I had to get my $.02 in about the MTA, so I said the following: “Some of us in the room are affected by the MTA Payroll Tax. You recently met with some members of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and commented about the tax.  Do you think a forensic audit of the MTA would shake things up / shake things out / free up some money in order to reverse the tax?  It’s affecting us on so many levels – for example, some municipalities have had to lay off employees because of the payroll tax.”

 The governor said that there is an audit, but the MTA doesn’t listen to it.  He thinks it would only free up “single millions of dollars.” 

 At that point he began a very vague discourse about where the MTA provides service and how some businesses in outer counties aren’t close to service; at that point, I have to admit that my mind just shut down.  I put my pen down and politely nodded while he spoke.  He unfortunately didn’t say anything of substance.  I realize that it’s a difficult topic to address when there are so many other issues going on, but he didn’t even dip his big toe into the water.  Oh well…

 I’d like to thank Mark Kessler from The Business Council for inviting me to attend this “interesting” session. 

And with that, my report about my day in Albany has come to a close……and I’m exhausted!

 Rich

I was selected to participate in a roundtable discussion about healthcare reform hosted by The Times Herald-Record on August 6, 2009.  Here is a video highlighting some of the discussion.

Small Business Day in Albany has been critical to business’ efforts to convince lawmakers to make more affordable health insurance available to sole proprietors, reduce taxes and make other critical improvements for New York State. We need you to come to Albany to ensure that the voice of small business is heard!  This year, Small Business Day will focus exclusively on reducing the $4.1 Billion in new taxes in the Governor’s 2009 Budget. 

This year’s event is more important than ever!  We need our elected officials to hear the message that any additional taxes will send many businesses over the edge.  Make your voice count!  Click on the link to get details:

SMALL BUSINESS DAY, MARCH 10, 2009 – ALBANY

The Orange County Chamber of Commerce will be sending a contingent of (hopefully) hundreds of small business owners to show our unity against tax increases.  After a morning program of speakers and panel discussion, we will meet with our area elected officials (Larkin, Gunther, Calhoun, etc) to discuss the issues with them face-to-face.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE ORANGE COUNTY CHAMBER TO ATTEND SMALL BUSINESS DAY!  Please feel free to contact me if you like more information.  As a small business owner, I thank you for your support.

Rich

March 2nd, 2009, at the Hilton Gardens, Newburgh NY (next to OC Choppers).  It’s the MTA “Payroll Tax” hearing.  This is our chance to tell the MTA that this proposed tax is wrong for so many reasons.  To help boost your spirits and get you fiesty, I put together a little ditty for you to tap or hum along with.  The words are listed below, in case you want to rap along!

 NO WAY, MTA!  

Words, music, performed, produced by Rich Rossi

 What do we say to the MTA?

We say, NO WAY!

What do we say to the MTA?

We say, NO WAY!

 The MTA wants to make a tax

they think will fix their budget gaps

but why should we have to pay their bounty

when we live and work HERE in Orange County?

 What do we say to the MTA?

We say, NO WAY!

What do we say to the MTA?

We say, NO WAY!

 33 cents on every hundred dollars

We need to scream and yell and holler

How can we keep our businesses going

They can’t even keep their trains and buses rolling!

 What do we say to the MTA?

We say, NO WAY!

What do we say to the MTA?

We say, NO WAY!

 So let’s stand up and fight the good fight

And show the MTA that this isn’t right

We are the proud, we are the mighty

WE ARE THE UNITED ORANGE COUNTY!

 What do we say to the MTA?

We say, NO WAY!

What do we say to the MTA?

We say, NO WAY!  

  

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is the leading small business association representing small and independent businesses.  NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of members to own, operate and grow their businesses.  They have a great service where you can email a letter to your elected officials on any upcoming legislation; a letter is pre-scripted and all you have to do is fill in the blanks with your information, and the email is sent to the politicians in your area.

We need to let our NYS legislators know that the proposed MTA payroll tax is going to do a lot of damage to businesses in the Hudson Valley areas under the MTA, specifically Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Rockland and Westchester. 

MAKE YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! Click on this link: TAKE ACTION NOW and follow the steps.  It’s pretty quick and easy.  If you need help with it give me a call.  We have to let the MTA know that we will not stand for this!

New York State is in serious economic trouble (who isn’t these days?), and it is looking to impose crazy new taxes and cut back on services that will deal a serious blow to every business owner and resident.  One of the most outrageous taxes being proposed is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) mobility tax , also known as the “PAYROLL TAX”.   The reason for the tax is to help bail out the MTA, which is facing a $1.2 BILLION shortfall in it’s 2009 operating budget.  The problem with the payroll tax is that it will place a 0.33 percent — 33 cents on every $100 — tax on payrolls in the MTA’s 12-county service area: Orange, Rockland, Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk and the five counties that comprise New York City.

The payroll tax will affect ALL BUSINESSES – from major corporations all the way down to sole-proproprietors. It would apply to every payroll — villages, towns, counties, school districts, nonprofits and self-employeds, as well as conventional businesses.

The biggest issue is that businesses which are owned and operated in the Mid-Hudson Valley, especially Orange County, DON’T USE THE SERVICES THAT THE MTA PROVIDES!!!!  The MTA provides train and bus service to metropolitian areas like NYC; if you have a business in Orange County you don’t take the train or bus to work. Why should we be taxed for services we don’t use, can’t use, and will never use?

The Orange County Chamber of Commerce has created a letter to send to our state representatives to show our opposition to the payroll tax.  The letter appears below; if you have the opportunity to do so, please send copies to your local elected officials.  If you have questions or need to know who your representatives are, contact me and I’ll get you the proper info.

We have to show Albany that we’re mad as hell and we aren’t going to take it anymore!

*****************************************

<to NYS elected officials>   

As a business operating in the Mid-Hudson Valley, I am adding my voice to those who strongly oppose the Ravitch Commission’s recent recommendation to impose a payroll tax (one-third of one percent on total payroll) on businesses and organizations within the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s service territory.  

I thoroughly understand the importance of having a safe and efficient transportation system. However, the billion dollar deficit being faced by the MTA should not be the responsibility of our region’s businesses, particularly when individuals, businesses, not-for-profits and governments within the MTA district already contribute significantly to the MTA through several other taxes and assessments. The addition of a payroll tax to this list of mandates is unacceptable, especially in counties like Orange and Rockland where there is limited access to train stations and where many of the businesses that would be required to pay the tax would receive little or no benefit in return.  

It is no secret that we all are facing unprecedented challenges in today’s roller coaster business world. Compromises must be made on all sides when it comes to solving the complex problems that face our businesses, our communities and our government. However, the imposition of a tax on selected businesses and organizations to solve one organization’s financial woes is not the way to go.   

Please join me in standing against this proposed new tax on New York’s businesses. Thank you.

As mentioned in the previous post ”MMSC ON THE RADIO“, I was interviewed by Michael Mazzariello on his weekly radio show “Closing Arguments” on 1-17-09.  Besides talking about the business, I was asked to elaborate on my quote in the paper about healthcare coverage for small businesses.  Here is the clip of that interview:

After my interview, NY Congressman John Hall was on the show.  Michael asked him to comment on my remarks.  Here is that clip:

Keep it tuned right here for more details on this imortant topic!

Rich

I was interviewed on 1-17-09 by Michael Mazzariello, host of “CLOSING ARGUMENTS”, a weekly radio show heard locally in the Hudson Valley on WGNY 1220-AM, and also streaming on the web: http://www.wgny.net/pages/1267077.php.

The interview is broken up into 2 parts, along with a special feature.  In Part 1, Michael interviews me about the business.  You can listen to that clip at the end of this post.  In Part 2, he asks me about the Orange County Chamber’s Elected Officials breakfast.  And then, in the Special Feature, he speaks with NY Congressman John Hall about the small business healthcare issues I talked about.  Those two parts are in the next posting.

Click here to listen to Part 1: 

Rich

As a small business owner, I have struggled for almost 10 years trying to obtain and keep health care coverage.  Premiums are outrageous, renewals are ridiculous, and it seems that no one on the Federal or State level can do anything about it!  But I have chosen to carry the torch and make people aware of the issue. Here is a link to some comments I made recently at the “Elected Officials Breakfast” held annually by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce.

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090116/BIZ/901160355

Rich