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NFIB: Not All Businesses Created Equal

NFIB

When it comes to laws affecting businesses, size matters. That's according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

"I think what's frustrating from  small business owner's perspective is they get lumped in with these large corporations," said Kim Clarke Maisch.  She is the Illinois Director of the NFIB.   The members tend to be smaller operations, including Main Street establishments, she added.  

Maisch said debate over wages, paid sick leave and other issues often fails to differentiate.

"When you are looking at a small pizzeria in downtown Springfield that employs maybe 15 people, they are not the same as a McDonalds or Burger King or some large franchise.  So to treat them the same when it comes to wage costs and labor laws is really unfair."

Making it more difficult to get the point across in the legislature is that many members don't come from a business background, according to Maisch.  

That's one reason her group has jumped on board Governor Bruce Rauner's Turnaround Agenda.  The business-friendly proposals, like reducing worker's compensation costs, are applauded by the NFIB.  

Maisch said while her members want to see fair compensation to employees, the pendulum has swung too far in another direction.

'We've seen organized labor have a strong hand in what goes on in state government.  And things gotten out of whack," she commented.  "We just want to bring that pendulum back to the middle."

A recent national survey of NFIB members found only a small increase in optimism for making capital outlays, increasing inventories or expanding.  While the numbers don't specifically break down how small businesses in Illinois feel, Maisch said it's similar to what she's heard from employers here.

Among biggest concerns are the political climate and it's uncertainty as well as inability to find enough qualified workers.  

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