Jim in the News: Business weighs in with hopes and fears

Business weighs in with hopes and fears
 
From the Laconia Citizen Article
By Bea Lewis
Thursday, June 24, 2010
 
Local business leaders as well as three of four candidates for state Seante met with representatives of the Business and Industry Association on Wednesday to discuss New Hampshire’s business climate.
 
During the forum held at Meredith Village Savings in Laconia, BIA President Jim Roche explained the event was designed for business leaders to talk about their top challenges and concerns and help shape the BIA’s legislative and regulatory agenda for the upcoming year. He said the roundtables are the first of four steps the BIA will take as it works to develop its 2011 Public Policy Priorities.
 
Things that are having a negative effect on local business included the uncertainty regarding the state budget and fiscal policies and the rising cost of health care and health insurance.
 
Jim Forsythe of Laconia, a GOP candidate for the District 4 senate seat, said the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is driving up electricity costs for business. He also expressed concern about the bevy of new taxes levied on business, including the local option rooms and meals tax, the LLC tax and the campground tax that has since been repealed.
 
Action steps the roundtable identified to help solve some of the identified problems included creating a study commission to improve the state budget process and opposing immediate or retroactive taxes.