Aloha Members, Businesses, and Friends,
As most of you know, the unemployement insurance rates will be skyrocketing this year and have a huge impact on business if something is not done. The new rates will start in April without action by the legislature. Per Sept. 18, 2009 Star Bulletin article: "Employers, who are paying an average of $90 per employee a year in unemployment insurance taxes, can expect to pay an average of $1,040 to $1,250 per employee - 1,055 to 1,289 percent increases - depending on how low the state coffers drop."
The main Chamber is working hard to put forth legislation to help businesses, but we need to send in testimony to help the effort. Please see below.
Mahalo,
Antya Miller, Executive Director
North Shore Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 808-637-4558 Fax: 808-637-4556
www.GoNorthShore.org
ACTION ALERT!
Dear Chamber Members:
As you are aware, the Chamber has been actively advocating on behalf of its Chamber members and pushing for a bill that mitigates the huge increase in the unemployment insurance tax. We have been meeting regularly with legislators and stakeholders to ensure that information is shared and our position is effectively communicated.
A hearing (Hearing Notice) has been scheduled on two unemployment insurance bills for this Tuesday, January 26 at 9:00 a.m. at the State Capitol in Room 309.
Although the bills provide some tax relief, the Chamber believes they do not provide enough assistance to help reduce the "tax shock" and safeguard the statewide unemployment rate. Therefore, we are asking the committees to amend the bills. The attached handout provides a more detailed explanation.
We urge you to submit testimony and testify at the hearing so that a strong statement can be made to the committee. Our united efforts could result in a UI bill passing the Legislature before March.
For your convenience, attached is a talking points handout. Feel free to cut and paste the template below and some of the talking points.
DIRECTIONS ON SUBMITTING TESTIMONY
Testimony will NOT be accepted via e-mail. Members can submit testimony via:
1. On-line at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony/
OR
2. Faxed to (808) 586-6331 or 1-800-535-3859 (neighbor islands)
Try to submit testimony 24 hours prior to the hearing. This allows the chair and committee members enough time to thoroughly review the testimonies. HOWEVER, if you are unable to submit testimony by this deadline, please proceed to submit. It will still be considered.
DIRECTIONS ON ORAL TESTIMONY
The following provides some information for those attending the hearing:
* A two-minute oral testimony limit will probably take place.
* The UI bills are the first two on the agenda., so contingent on the number of testifiers, the hearing should end by noon.
* You are not required to stay for the entire hearing and may leave after you provide testimony. The order of testifiers is based on the order the committee receives written testimonies.
* Metered parking is available at the Capitol. Discounted parking is available at Alii Place on Alakea or at any downtown municipal parking lots.
* Tell your "story" however, please be courteous and professional.
If possible, please e-mail me a copy of your testimony and let me know if you plan to attend the hearing. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your time and support. Together we can make a difference. Below is a template for testimony:
"Testimony to the House Committee on Labor & Public Employment
Tuesday, January 26, 2010; 9:00 a.m.
Conference Room 309
RE: HOUSE BILL 2169 and 2207 RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY
Chair Rhoads, Vice Chair Yamashita and Members of the Committee:
My name is [FULL NAME] and my company is [NAME AND DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY INCLUDING # OF EMPLOYEES]. I appreciate the efforts made by the chair and the committee in addressing the unemployment insurance tax increase. I support HB 2169 and 2207 with amendments.
[STATE HOW THE INCREASE WILL IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS INCLUDING POTENTIAL JOB LOSSES, BENEFITS, AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS COST PER EMPLOYEE, IF POSSIBLE].
To help reduce the "tax shock" and safeguard the statewide unemployment rate, please amend the bill by holding the tax rate schedule to D in 2010 and F in 2011, permanently set the taxable wage base at 90% and maintain the adequate reserve multiplier at 1.0.
This will reduce the impact of the tax increase on the average and small businesses. Extending the tax assistance beyond 2010 will save jobs, preserve businesses and spur the economy by keeping more dollars flowing into the economy through wages and purchases. This will help businesses plan expenses over a longer period of time.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony. If you have any questions, please contact me at [FULL CONTACT INFORMATION]."
Sincerely,
Sherry Menor-McNamara
Vice President, Business Advocacy & Gov't. Affairs
1132 Bishop Street, Suite 402
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Ph. 808-545-4300 x 394
Fax 808-545-4369
www.cochawaii.org
smenor@cochawaii.org
No comments:
Post a Comment