2008 SMALL BUSINESS DAY
Thursday, March 27, 2008

Co-Sponsored by: The Business Council of New York State, Inc., Chamber Alliance of New York State (CANYS), National Federation of Independent Business, New York Main Street Small Business Coalition

Agenda

Join Us in the Fight to Reduce Health Insurance Costs

For the last several years, small businesses have identified the rising cost of health insurance as among the most serious problems facing New York’s small business community.

The percentage of businesses offering health insurance to their workers has declined steadily over the last five years as the cost of providing coverage continues to outpace inflation and wage growth. In fact, between 2001 and 2007, health insurance premiums rose 78%, a much faster rate of increase than general inflation (17%) or workers' earnings (19%).

The high cost of health care is crippling small businesses in New York State. The time has come for small businesses to take action and send a message to the Governor and Legislature that something must be done immediately! But in order to do this, we need YOUR help. Please join us in Albany on March 27, 2008 for Small Business Day – A day that gathers together the voices of New York’s small business community and makes them heard.

While you’re busy running your businesses, the halls of the Capitol are filled with special interest groups lobbying on issues that may negatively impact your business. To counter-act these groups, we need your participation. The Legislature needs to hear from you first hand how difficult it is to run a business in New York, and how the cost of health insurance is making it difficult for you to provide your employees with quality health care.

There are over 1.6 million small businesses operating in New York. The small business sector accounts for 99 percent of all New York businesses and accounts for almost 57% of the total employment and over 42% of the total gross receipts generated in New York State. The Governor and Legislature need to be reminded of these facts – and the best way to do this is by participating in the process.