|
The El Paso Hispanic Chamber advocates on issues relating to
small business to local officials and state and federal legislators.
Below are the issues the EPHCC supports or opposes.
Franchise Tax
The legislature may broaden the franchise tax, the state’s
primary business tax, to encompass a greater number of businesses that
currently do not pay, including its possible application to partnerships and
sole proprietorships. click here to learn more
Business Taxes
Legislators are seeking to reduce property taxes through
creation or increase in business taxes to fund the public school system.
Proposals may arise to augment or replace the franchise tax with a different or
more comprehensive tax linked to business tax or added value. Components could
include income, gross receipts, or payroll, or some combination of the three
with an option to pay the lesser based on dollar or percentage thresholds.
click here to learn more
Sales Tax
Lawmakers may consider broadening the sales tax base and/or
raising its rate to support public school financing.
click here to learn more
Worker’s Compensation System Reform
Lawmakers may reexamine issues related to the system of workers’
compensation insurance. Low return-to-work rates combined with high medical
costs have prompted a review of the system, which has resulted in proposals to
reform networks of physicians, control costs, and limit utilization.
click here to learn more
Reform of the Texas Unemployment
System
Small business owners face many burdens when working with our
state’s unemployment system. Abuse by workers and complicated regulations make
the system frustrating and time-consuming. Employers who see their rates rise
while terminated employees collect benefits unfairly; feel helpless in a system
where the cards seem to be stacked against them. Several changes in the law
could help improve the system for employers and employees alike.
click here to learn more
Government Competition with Small
Business Enterprise
Some state and local governments have begun engaging in
activities that can be cost-effectively performed by private businesses.
click here to learn more
State Agencies Use of Texas HUB
Certified Businesses
Texas small businesses compete for state contracts every date,
seeking to provide the state’s administrative agencies with the goods and
services that keep state government running. Many state agency purchasing
guidelines encourages them to seek the “best value” for the state but the
definition of “best value” is vague and agencies are left to make their own
determinations. click here to learn more
Contract Bundling
Contract bundling is defined in section (o) of the SBA Act to
mean the consolidation of 2 of more requirements for goods and services into a
single procurement that is "unlikely to be suitable for award to a small
business concern." Small businesses for years have played a key and
important role in the supplying of goods and services to the military and
government. When government contract bundling occurs, small businesses
are no longer able to compete because of the size, diversity, aggregate dollar
value, or specialized nature of the procurement requirements.
click here to learn more
Federal Prison System
Federal Prison Industries (FPI), a government-owned corporation
operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, has become one of the most blatant
examples of unfair government competition. FPI does not have to compete;
it is a mandatory source for all government competition. Instead of
market-driven wages, FPI workers receive an hourly wage of $1.50. FPI can
use production excess from other government agencies at no cost.
click here to learn more
US-Visit Program
US-VISIT helps to secure our
borders and expedite the entry/exit process while enhancing the integrity of
our immigration system and respecting the privacy of our visitors.
The goal of US-VISIT is to enhance
the security of the United States without slowing the system for legitimate
visitors. While this has required some changes in our entry and exit
procedures, many things have not changed. The United States of America is still
a nation where diversity is celebrated and people from all over the world are
welcome. Today we - like most other countries - are working to keep our borders
secure while we maintain the freedom to exchange ideas, keep businesses
thriving, and enrich lives all over the world. Click
here to learn more
|