• NASE Joins Campaign to Highlight 46 Million Uninsured Americans
• Self-Employed Want Changes to the Tax System
• SBA Head Steps Down, Moves On
• Member Poll: Cover the Uninsured

NASE Joins Campaign to Highlight 46 Million Uninsured Americans

With 46 million uninsured Americans, the NASE recognizes the health care crisis in this country and continues to fight for affordable health coverage. The association has teamed up with many national organizations in support of Cover the Uninsured Week 2006. Events will take place across the country bringing together individuals, organizations and leaders to highlight the necessity for health coverage for all people. “With 8 out of 10 uninsured Americans either working or in working families, the National Association for the Self-Employed has made affordable health care a top legislative priority,” said Kristie Darien, executive director for the NASE legislative office. “We encourage all of our members to get involved with this week in their communities.” Former presidents Gerald Ford (R) and Jimmy Carter (D) are serving as the week’s honorary Co-Chairs for the fourth consecutive year and are joined by ten former Surgeons General and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretaries in support of this cause. Cover the Uninsured Week events, including press conferences, health and enrollment fairs, seminars for small businesses, campus activities, business leader summits and interfaith activities, will take place in hundreds of communities nationwide. Events will emphasize the need for all Americans to get health coverage. The NASE works year-round to make health insurance more affordable for small-business owners. The association continues to fight for policy changes like the elimination of the self-employment tax on health insurance costs, health care tax credits, health savings accounts and small business health plans. In addition to this policy advocacy, the NASE will launch an initiative with the goal of educating and assisting micro-business owners with finding affordable health insurance in mid-May. “The NASE seeks to help individuals find affordable health insurance within the current health care system,” said Darien. “While changes need to be made to the system, everyone needs access to health coverage now.” Visit www.covertheuninsured.org for more information and updates on events in your area throughout the week. For more information on the NASE’s Your Health, Your Choice health care initiative launch, contact Katy Dyer at kdyer@nase.org. Self-Employed Want Changes to the Tax System The deadline to file taxes has passed, and micro-business owners expressed their frustrations with tax policy in a recent online member poll by the NASE. Over three-quarters of respondents want the government to permanently allow small businesses to deduct up to $200,000 of business equipment and expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) through increased contribution limits and deductibility for health insurance premiums. One-third of respondents said the complexity of the tax code and tax forms is the most burdensome aspect of the federal tax system. “The spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well in this country, but for how long?” said NASE president and certified public accountant Robert Hughes. “It becomes more and more difficult to keep micro-businesses afloat with a complex tax system that unfairly burdens this nation’s smallest businesses.” Of the NASE Members who opted into the survey: Over half (57 percent) use a tax practitioner to file, a sign that tax filing is an unmanageable task for micro-business owners About one-third (35 percent) utilize tax software on the computer (two-thirds of which then e-file returns) One quarter spend more than ten hours preparing taxes each year Respondents also have strong support for simplifying the home office deduction and implementing a $2,500 standard deduction (72 percent) and simplification of the Earned Income Tax Credit (65 percent). The NASE continues to fight for fair tax policy for the self-employed. Additionally, the NASE offers members a variety of tax resources including TaxTalk, where a tax expert will answer personal questions via e-mail within two business days. To see the full results of the survey, visit http://advocacy.nase.org/membersurvey/default.asp. For more information on NASE tax resources, visit www.NASE.org. Methodology: Posted in the members-only portal on the NASE Web site, the survey was available for members to take during the months of February, March and April. Over 1,000 NASE Members opted-in to the non-scientific survey and members were prohibited from taking it more than once. SBA Head Steps Down, Moves On Hector Barreto Hector Barreto, Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced his resignation from the position yesterday. Barreto has served in this capacity since unanimously confirmed by the Senate in 2001. Barreto will move on to head the Latino Coalition, a Hispanic advocacy group based in Washington. The Bush Administration announced its nominee to replace Barreto as Steven C. Preston, a business executive from Illinois. Preston currently serves as Executive Vice President of Strategic Services at The ServiceMaster Company and previously served as the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The NASE will follow this nomination process closely to ensure that the SBA continues to look out for micro-business interests. Member Poll: Cover the Uninsured The NASE joins a diverse group of national organizations in support of this year’s Cover the Uninsured Week, May 1-8th. Currently, 46 million Americans have no health insurance, with 60 percent of uninsured Americans representing owners, employees or dependents of those working in small business. Let the NASE know your opinions on this issue by visiting the MyNASE Web site at http://my.NASE.org/. Log in to your free MyNASE Web account. If you have not set up an account, you can do so at http://my.NASE.org/ with your member number.