Posted on 02/22/2013 9:33:36 AM PST by MichCapCon
Michigan's newest member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, R-Milford, is introducing his first bill.
Under the measure, small businesses could avoid sanctions for violating federal regulations if they correct the problem within a required time period.
"For the 89 percent of employers in America with fewer than 20 employees, there is an ever-present fear that they may be sanctioned or even put out of business for a violation of any one of the seemingly endless array of federal regulations," Rep. Bentivolio said. "The list is so long, at over 80,000 pages, that it is almost unknowable.
"This bill is transformational, yet quite simple," he said. "It takes on the fundamental question of prior restraint, across the board. It acknowledges the small business owner's natural inclination is to obey the law, protect the community, and ensure the safety of his or her employees."
The legislation has been titled the Protect Small Business Jobs Act of 2013. If enacted, small businesses found guilty of violating federal regulations would be given six months to correct the problem. If the problem were corrected in that time frame, the business would not be penalized. The legislation allows for an additional three month extension if the business is making a good-faith effort to correct the problem.
Rep. Bentivolio said the bill was drafted in a way that repeat offenders could not take advantage of it and the legislation would not apply to cases of imminent danger.
"This way, no business is permitted to ignore regulations on an ongoing basis, but small companies are given a chance to become compliant without being hit by devastating fines," Rep. Bentivolio said. "We view this as a common-sense, bipartisan bill by every measure."
Rep. Bentivolio said the legislation was developed with input from small business groups and former Small Business Association officials. He said it should receive bipartisan support.
"It encourages the great American tradition of entrepreneurship and competition in an age when most Americans believe the government favors the large business at the expense of the small business," Rep. Bentivolio said. “Small businesses account for two out of every three new jobs created in America over the last 30 years.”
Rep. Bentivolio said he is seeking co-sponsors for the bill and pursuing the introduction of a companion bill in the Senate.
Unfortunately this will be sent to committee to die with all the other good bills.
Michigan's other Paulbot, Justin Amash, also has a serious challenger in Brian Ellis.
Has Bentivolio done anything deserving to get bounced out after a single term ? A real turn-off for me was the vicious and unfounded remarks during his last campaign that he was some sort of deranged criminal nut.
As for Amash, he’s simply too strange. When he covered for that Ahmanutjob guy, that was a bridge too far.
That’s he’s a Paulbot is reason enough for me. Especially to have one sitting in vulnerable seat is a horrible idea. Look at his feeble fundraising. I don’t think he’d lose this year but look out in 2016. The recent “Tea Party Express” (# pimps for Milton Wolf amongst other foolish choices, remember Walt Minnick?) endorsement for KB does less than nothing for me.
Amash is certainly the worst of the 2 though. Ellis’ website savages him
http://www.ellis4congress.com/
Hopefully. Ellis’ website will wake them up. It's not "principled" to vote with the RATs on major issues, no matter what excuse he has for doing so.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.