Elections/ IRS/ Volunteers in Medicine

From: Scott Hauge
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 6:28 AM
To: Small Business California
Subject: Elections/ IRS/ Volunteers in Medicine

So the election is over and it is time to move forward on a small business agenda for next year. I have asked in the past for ideas for legislation SB Cal could sponsor and I am asking again. Please give me your ideas if you have not already done so.
I would also like to know if you have a relationship with a state Senator or Assemblyman. I would like to keep track of your contacts as legislation unfolds next year. Please let me know of your contacts by return email
On another front I want to remind you that the IRS is targeting small businesses to reduce the $290 billion tax gap. Commissioner Kevin Brown announced that the division is planning a significant increase in audits of small businesses.
The Commissioner has estimated that 75% of this tax gap can be traced to small business owners. Of course we all feel that small businesses should pay what we owe but the tax code is extremely complicated and there is a real fear that small business owners will be paying a lot of interest and penalties for minor errors and misunderstandings.
In the spring I will be getting you more information on what you can do to protect yourself but please let me know if you have been the recipient of an IRS audit in the last year.
The last point and I am gloating here is that the Volunteers In Medicine Institute will be recognized Tuesday night by the Manhattan Institute for our work in developing clinics around the country. The program takes retired doctors,nurses and dentist and allows them to provide health services to the working uninsured. We now have 50 clinics around the country the most recent one in San Diego. I will be going to New York tomorrow to be part of the awards ceremony. I am Vice Chair of VIMI. For more information about us go to www.vimi.org

Enterprise Zones

From: Scott Hauge
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 10:56 AM
To: Small Business California
Subject: Enterprise Zones

I have found that many small business owners around the state are not familiar with Enterprise Zones. Last week the Governor announced the conditional designation of 23 Enterprise Zones. If you are located in an Enterprise Zone and you have hired additional people you may be eligible for thousands of dollars. Please see Zones and details below.
If you want more information please contact me.
Also last week the Insurance Commissioner approved a 9.3% reduction in the pure loss rate effective Jan 1. Companies do not have to accept these and will be doing their filings in the next 45 days. I would fully expect most carriers to be reducing their rates Jan 1.

AB 32 / Health Debate

From: Scott Hauge
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 7:00 AM
To: Small Business California
Subject: AB 32 / Health Debate

These are exciting times for Small Business California. On Wednesday Hank Ryan and I will be traveling to Washington DC where Small Business California will be doing a briefing on AB 32 {Greenhouse Emissions]in the Senate offices. Last week Senator Diane Feinstein and Senator Snowe sent out a Dear Colleagues letter encouraging the Senators and or their staff to attend the event. We also know that a number of states from around the country will have representatives. The discussion will be around global warming and AB 32 and how other states can follow California's lead in implementing green house emission caps.
That evening Small Business California will be honored at a reception put on by the Center for Small Business and the Environment and our good friend Byron Kennard.
Small Business California is getting calls from around the country on this and is being asked by states to help them to bring small business to the table in their states.
On the health front you all know that the Governor is expected to make a major announcement , assuming he is reelected, about how he plans to deal with the uninsured in California. Over the last month we have met or talked to Herb Schultz, John Remy, and Carol Liu in the Governors office, the Blue Shield Foundation , Blue Shield of California, Kaiser, Steve Westly, Lucian Wulsin at The Insure the Uninsured Project and David Panush in Senator Perata's office.
A group of small business owners have been put together to attend some of these meetings and Nov 6 that group will again be talking to Herb Schultz.
As always we welcome your comments on the above issues or any issue that effects small businesses around the state.