• Lawmakers Bicker Over Internet Tax Moratorium Timetable
• Self-Employed More Likely To Be Uninsured Than Corporate Counterparts
• Uninsured Show Four Year Coverage Gap
• Focus On The Self-Employment Tax

Lawmakers Bicker Over Internet Tax Moratorium Timetable

House and Senate legislators are disagreeing over a tax that would place taxes on Internet access. However, the discussion involves determining how long a ban on the tax should be put in place, or whether the tax should be permanently eliminated. “Affordable Internet access is essential for micro-business owners looking to stay competitive in today’s economy,” said Kristie Darien, executive director of the NASE’s legislative office. “Keeping the current moratorium will ensure entrepreneurs will be able to stay connected until more comprehensive legislation can be drafted.” Those favoring extensions argue that ever-changing technology make periodic re-examination necessary. Others have pushed for a permanent ban on the access-tax. The conflict continues after a two-time extension of the ban; the tax went into effect in 1998. Many lawmakers had planned to pass an extension before the annual recess in August. Legislation in the House and Senate has seen little movement in past months.

Self-Employed More Likely To Be Uninsured Than Corporate Counterparts More than three in five uninsured workers were either sole proprietors or working in small businesses in 2006, according to a recent study. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) recently released its October 2007 Issue Brief which explores socioeconomic and demographic factors of the uninsured population. In addition nearly two in three micro-business workers were uninsured, compared with 13.0 percent of workers in businesses with 1,000 or more employees. The survey findings included the following: Workers in the field of agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and construction were the least likely to be insured. Men are more likely to receive employer-based benefits; however, women did outpace men in the 55–64 year-old age group. Employees who worked less than 30 hours per week and seasonal workers were less likely to be insured. The authors of the study also found correlations between income level, gender, and race or ethnic origin and the likelihood of having insurance. To read the entire survey, including other variables that were studied, visit http://www.ebri.org/publications/ib/index.cfm?fa=ibDisp&content_id=3850.   Uninsured Show Four Year Coverage Gap   About 17 million uninsured Americans have gone without coverage for at least four years, according to the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ). Nearly one-third of that group had a household income of between $38,614 and $77,228 for a family of four in 2004. That range was calculated as two and four times the federal poverty level by the authors. Those who fell below the poverty line - $19,307 for a family of four – were found to be the most likely group who was continually living without coverage. They made up nearly one quarter of the group. The U.S. Census recently updated the number of uninsured to approximately 47 million. For more information on the AHRQ, visit http://www.ahrq.gov/. Focus On The Self-Employment Tax Did you know that you could be paying hundreds or even thousand dollars in additional taxes each year just because you are a sole proprietor? “The extra money would cover a large part the cost of continuing education – which often requires traveling out of the area, (since I live in a small town) incurring costs for travel, hotel and meals as well as the cost of the conference. [It] could also cover the cost of hiring an intern to work with me, which would help with the growth of my business.” - Gloria Wright, psychotherapist and NASE member Learn more about the self-employment tax and speak out for micro-businesses by visiting the NASE’s Legislative Action Center at http://advocacy.NASE.org/. Share your experiences as a micro-business owner! Sound off on key legislative issues and get some free publicity for your business in the process by becoming a media contact. Visit www.NASE.org/mediarelations/contactsheet.asp to fill out an informational sheet on the background of your business. Then, send it back to us at the contact information listed on the sheet. If getting involved in the legislative process suits you better, go to the Advocacy page and “Tell Your Story” (http://advocacy.nase.org/issues/issues.asp). You have the option of allowing the NASE to share your micro-business story with your Members of Congress. By allowing the NASE to tell your story to legislators, you can play a vital role in illustrating the real life consequences and affects of issues they debate on a daily basis.