The Lisbon Reporter

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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The Maine Wire: National Federation of Independent Business says Obama “ignoring warning of fiscal cliff”

National Federation of Independent Business says Obama “ignoring warning of fiscal cliff”

In a letter from President Dan Danner, the National Federation of Independent Business accused President Obama of “ignoring small business warning of ‘fiscal cliff.’”

The letter is concerning the impending expiration of what the NFIB calls “crucial tax provisions,” referring to the potential expiration of Bush-era tax rates that were friendly to businesses. The business-friendly rates are set to expire at the end of 2012, and that could spell trouble for the small-business community that is already struggling with a slow economy.

“Warned repeatedly of a rapidly approaching ‘fiscal cliff’ that will have lasting economic consequences, the president is refusing to steer the economy clear of an impending tax increase of major proportions, proclaiming ‘the private sector is doing just fine,’” said NFIB President Danner. “But the facts are clear. According to the latest NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, Main Street reversed its engines in June. Owners’ hopes for better times ahead plunged three percentage points, wiping out any gains made earlier in the year.”

Danner goes on to say in the letter that it is critical to small business around the country that the tax rates are renewed, and says the inaction of President Obama and Congress to renew the rates to help stabilize businesses, could cost those businesses as much as $500 billion.

“It’s not too late. The president can avert the plunge over the fiscal cliff,” Danner said. “A failure to extend these key tax lifelines to small firms will only cause more damage to America’s floundering economy.”

Read the full letter below

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Letter from NFIB President Dan Danner addressing Obama’s unwillingness to help small businesses

President Obama’s politically based move to block the extension of crucial, soon-to-expire tax provisions will have very real consequences to small businesses. His decision to increase taxes on all Americans who earn more than $250,000, small-business owners in particular, will impact businesses that are in the best position to create jobs.

Warned repeatedly of a rapidly approaching “fiscal cliff” that will have lasting economic consequences, the president is refusing to steer the economy clear of an impending tax increase of major proportions, proclaiming “the private sector is doing just fine.”

But the facts are clear. According to the latest National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index, Main Street reversed its engines in June. Owners’ hopes for better times ahead plunged three percentage points, wiping out any gains made earlier in the year.

Nine of the survey’s 10 indicators fell negative: job creation became very weak—far short of that needed to reduce the 8.2 percent unemployment rate while weak sales reached the top of the list as the biggest problem for one-fourth of owners, followed by taxes and unreasonable regulations. Credit conditions offered the only positive note, but more than nine of 10 owners have no need to borrow in this struggling economy.

Small firms, historically the primary source of the nation’s new jobs, are struggling; many are going under. But the Obama administration shows no intention of tossing them a lifeline. Instead, the president has made it clear he believes the economy’s rescue can only be achieved through higher taxes, bigger bureaucracies and greater regulation, all key components of his new health law.

That’s why he’s ignoring the red flags being waved furiously by economists, business leaders and worried Main Street entrepreneurs who grasp the danger that the Dec. 31 tax expiration deadline holds. This combination of tax increases and spending reductions could send the economy back into a recession further exacerbating small business owner’s outlook. But if it unfolds as the president hopes, it will generate a huge windfall to fuel more government growth and help pay for Obamacare.

In all, these tax increases amount to a $500 billion tax bill for the private sector, mainly small businesses whose reluctance to expand is caused by political uncertainty. Allowing the provisions to lapse will end important tax provisions. Most brackets will rise, as will capital gains rates on long-term assets; dividends will be taxed as ordinary income; and credits for earned income, dependent care and adoptions will cease.

In addition, estate taxes will leap 20 percentage points to 55 percent, expensing limits will fall, employees’ payroll taxes will rise by one-third to 6.2 percent and 31 million additional taxpayers will be forced to pay alternative minimum taxes.

It’s not too late. The president can avert the plunge over the fiscal cliff. A failure to extend these key tax lifelines to small firms will only cause more damage to America’s floundering economy.