South Carroll Business Association News

Membership Dues

Dawn Hipsley — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 14:14:42 GMT

Happy New Year!!! The SCBA looks forward to a fun, happy, and healthy year ahead for our members, guests, and community. Dues are now $150 for the year. Be sure to join or renew so you can be in our brand new directory which will be mailed to over 15,000 homes in Carroll County. Contact scbaoperations@gmail.com or Trembling Giant Marketing for more information. https://www.tremblinggiantmarketing.com/

FREE Breakfast August 13th

Dawn Hipsley — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 20:18:08 GMT

Join us on Tuesday, August 13th at 7:30am at Liberty Chiropractic on 770 Old Liberty Rd, Suite 2 for a networking breakfast with the SCBA. Liberty Chiropractic is owned by Desiree Williams. Bring your name tag and business cards and enjoy this Free networking event. https://libertychiro.com/

Dues

Dawn Hipsley — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:15:28 GMT

Please note that SCBA Membership dues decreased to $75 on July 1st. This amount will remain the same through the end of this year. It's a great time to join! Please click on the Join button on the Home page or contact Patti Murphy at 410-861-0506 or scbaoperations@gmail.com for more information.

Larry Helminiak Letter - December 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 19:35:58 GMT

Letter from Larry Helminiak
SCBA Board member and Government Affairs Chairperson

December 2018

To all members of SCBA:

It’s the end of another business year. Christmas is near and it’s a good time to dwell upon 2018.

For business, this is one of the best I remember. More people are working than ever before.

It’s easier to get loans than in the past. And, most important, I think, we are not at war.

In my life, I remember many times when we had to send our young men and women to fight wars all over the world. We need to be grateful for all America has to offer.

The United States is the only country where people want to come from all over the world.

Take a moment to be grateful for this.

Merry Christmas.

Larry Helminiak

December 2018

To all members of SCBA:

It’s the end of another business year. Christmas is near and it’s a good time to dwell upon 2018.

For business, this is one of the best I remember. More people are working than ever before.

It’s easier to get loans than in the past. And, most important, I think, we are not at war.

In my life, I remember many times when we had to send our young men and women to fight wars all over the world. We need to be grateful for all America has to offer.

The United States is the only country where people want to come from all over the world.

Take a moment to be grateful for this.

Merry Christmas.

Larry Helminiak

Larry's Government Relations Letter - November 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 12:11:28 GMT

Letter from Larry Helminiak
SCBA Board member and Government Affairs Chairperson

November 2018

To all members of the SCBA:

There is no greater right that we have than the right to vote.

If you have not voted in the Early Voting days, Tuesday is your last chance.

There is one thing that separates us from other Democracies, and that is the fact that we have the US Senate.

Each state, no matter how small, as 2 senators. No more. No less.

Tuesday is your last chance.

Vote.

Larry Helminiak

November 2018

To all members of SCBA:

There is no greater right that we have than the right to vote.

If you have not voted in the Early Voting days, Tuesday is your last chance.

There is one thing that separates us from other Democracies, and that is the fact that we have the US Senate.

Each state, no matter how small, has 2 Senators. No more. No less.

Tuesday is your last chance.

Vote.

Larry Helminiak

Larry's Government Relations Letter - October 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 14:18:57 GMT

Letter from Larry Helminiak
SCBA Board member and Government Affairs Chairperson

October 2018

To all members of SCBA:

If you are a member, you are an employer. If you are an employer, you have employees. They respect you. In one month there is an election. Who controls the country is actually at stake. However you feel, you should vote in November to support your favorite candidate. You should tell your employees to vote. Don’t wait until the day after the election and say, “I wish ‘so and so’ had won.”

Whomever wins will affect your business.

Vote. And have your family, friends, and employees vote.

Larry Helminiak

Larry's Government Relations Letter - September 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 14:15:08 GMT

Letter from Larry Helminiak, SCBA Board member and Government Affairs Chairperson

September 2018

Let me remind everyone again that in two months we have another election. Marylanders have a habit of not turning out very well in election years where we do not vote for Governor. In these “off years” we vote for those who will represent us locally. I ask everyone to vote, and to encourage their families and friends to vote.

Other countries can only DREAM of the right to vote to affect how they are governed. Please look over every candidate, read their literature, and decide who mirrors YOUR opinions. There will be public events where you can attend, and ask questions. Attend those meetings and ask questions that pertain to your business.

Larry

Larry's Government Relations Letter - August 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 20:09:29 GMT

Letter from Larry Helminiak, SCBA Board member and Government Affairs Chairperson

August 2018

How many times have you heard someone say, “I didn’t vote because my one vote won’t make a difference.” Fact is, in the primary election for county executive, in Baltimore County, the winning candidate got only about 10 votes more than the losing candidate. Nationwide, there are 231 million people eligible to vote; but only 139 million actually voted.

If you remember the presidential election in 2016, it was 3 o’clock in the morning before states like Florida and Ohio were finally decided.

You’ve heard the word “Gerrymandering”. What that means is that some districts are so outrageously drawn that the voting district looks like a salamander. The roots of this word is from Massachusetts where, in the 19^th century, Governor Gerry drew district lines so odd that someone in the Boston Globe said that it looked like a salamander, so he combined the names and called it Gerrymandering.

This year in Maryland we will vote for Governor. What’s so important this year is that the person who wins the Governorship gets to supervise the drawing of the re-districting lines in 2020. If you’ve ever seen an electoral map of the State of Maryland you’ll know how important this is.

On the national scene, both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are so closely divided that just a few votes (relatively) could decide which party controls the House and the Senate.

Please take the time to vote. We learned in Baltimore County that you and the voting members of your own family may just decide who makes our laws for the next four years.

Larry's Government Relations Letter - July 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 18:38:50 GMT

Letter from Larry Helminiak, SCBA Board member and Government Affairs Chairperson

July 2018

The Primary election ended on June 26th. Seems like primary voting has lasted forever, even though it was only 8 or 9 days. Frankly, I can’t understand why the primary election was moved from September to June. It’s unfair to anyone running in a primary. When the primary was in September, candidates had all summer to knock on doors or greet voters at fire carnivals. I hope it goes back to September.

For those who have not noticed, Maryland has moved from the 46th state in business friendly to to the 2nd in business friendly. Whomever you support, make sure you, your family, and your friends vote in November.

Larry's Government Relations Letter - June 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 17:07:48 GMT

A Letter from Larry Helminiak, SCBA Government Relations Chair

June 2018

June 26th is the date we get to vote in the primary election. Early voting starts June 14th, at Westminster and the South Carroll Swim Club. The General Election is November 6th. So many people I talk to say they never vote in primaries. What would you say if I were to tell you that, in some jurisdictions, when the primary is over, the General Election is over?

There are some jurisdictions that are so overwhelmingly one party that the opposing party has virtually no chance. Carroll County and Baltimore City are two such Jurisdictions. 1996 was the last time I remember a Democrat being elected in Carroll County to a county office. Theodore R. McKeldin was the last Republican elected in Baltimore City and that was a half century ago.

So many people, especially young people, register as “unaffiliated.” Did you know that, as such, you can’t vote in the Democrat or Republican primaries?

Here are some facts about Carroll County: In 2014, 25.82% of registered voters voted in the primary, compared to 57.34% in the general election. This means that your vote counts more in the Primary than it does in the General election.

My advice to all new voters is this . . . . First – register as either a Democrat or Republican so that you can vote in the Primaries. Second, be sure to vote in the Primary because that is when the eventual winner is traditionally chosen in Carroll County.

Larry's Government Relations Letter - April 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 19:06:52 GMT

To SCBA members

This is a message from Delegate April Rose regarding The Maryland Healthy Working Families Act. This is the message that she sent out February 12.

On February 11, 2018, the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act is scheduled to go into effect. The Department of Labor has made a draft sample employee notice poster available on our website for your place of business at www.dllr.maryland.gov/paidleave. The department is also developing sample policies that will be available on the department’s website in the near future.

To the extent that the Commissioner of Labor and Industry receives complaints immediately after the law goes into effect, the commissioner will work closely with employers and employees to make sure both parties understand the requirements and limitations of the law and resolve any issues as fair and equitable implementation.

Governor Larry Hogan issued Executive Order 01.01.2018.04 creating the Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance to assist small businesses in complying with House Bill 1 (HB1). Questions can be sent to this office at its dedicated email small.business@maryland.gov.

May I suggest that all business owners go to this website, get familiar with the new law and get them to send you some of the posters so that your employees see it.

Larry Helminiak

Larry's Government Relations Letter - March 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 20:05:05 GMT

There is a new Maryland Law affecting Employers.

Name: Maryland Healthy Working Families Act

Effective Date: February 11, 2018

Questions: Everybody has questions. The main one is “Does this law apply to me?”

The State of Maryland has a website that answers the most frequently asked questions about this bill.

Please go to the following website. It probably answers questions for you.

www.dllr.maryland.gov/paidleave

In addition to FAQs, the department has provided a draft sample employee notice poster for your place of business, available through a link on this site: www.dllr.maryland.gov/paidleave or directly here: http://www.dllr.maryland.gov/paidleave/paidleaveposter.pdf

If you still have questions, send them to small.business@maryland.gov

Larry's Government Relations Letter - February 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 18:08:03 GMT

February 2018

SCBA members:

The Legislature is in session. We have to keep focus on proposed laws that affect small business. We are fortunate to have a number of pro-business Senators and Delegates representing us in Annapolis.

Delegate April Rose sent me a proposed new law on Paid Sick Leave. Rather than try to explain it, I am simply forwarding her entire email. Read it, decide how it may affect your business if passed, and consider going to Annapolis to testify FOR or AGAINST it. As I have told you every year, YOU know more about how a law may affect small business more than the people who MAKE the laws.

Larry Helminiak

From:Rose, April Delegate [mailto:Delegate.A.Rose@house.state.md.us]
Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2018 11:42 AM
To: 'larry@goplarry.com' <larry@goplarry.com>
Subject: FW:Hogan Administration Takes Action to Help Small Businesses Comply With Flawed Paid Sick Leave Bill

Larry – please share this with the South Carroll Business Association.

The Governor has assigned a single point person within DLLR to assist businesses with implementation of the mandatory sick pay bill. There is a link below. Compliance is required in 30 days.

April

For immediate release:
January 15, 2018
Contact: Shareese Churchill shareese.churchill@maryland.gov 410-974-2316

Hogan Administration Takes Action to Help Small Businesses Comply With Flawed Paid Sick Leave Bill
Executive Order Creates Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance; Governor Continues to Push Compromise Legislation

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today issued Executive Order 01.01.2018.04 creating the Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance to assist small businesses in complying with House Bill 1 (HB1), the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act, passed by the Maryland General Assembly over the governor’s veto. As stipulated in the Maryland Constitution under Article II, Sec. 24, the Maryland General Assembly has 50 days to consent or pass a resolution of disapproval.

“We all agree that hardworking Marylanders need and deserve access to paid leave, and our administration is committed to providing these benefits to workers without crushing small mom-and-pop businesses and killing thousands of jobs,” said Governor Hogan. “Now that legislators have openly admitted that there are serious problems with the bill that they passed, I hope we can all come together to find real, common sense solutions. In the meantime, it is our responsibility to use every tool at our disposal to ensure that our small businesses can continue to create good jobs for thousands of Marylanders.”

The order reorganizes state government to create the Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance, directs the Governor’s Business Ombudsman Randall Nixon to serve as Executive Director, and moves employees from the Office of Small Business Resources under the Department of Commerce to staff the new office. The office will be housed and report directly to Secretary Kelly Schulz within the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, the agency tasked with promulgating regulations for the new law.

“A strong and healthy workforce benefits all Marylanders, and the Hogan administration is committed to expanding access to paid leave for workers,” said Nixon. “The Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance stands ready to help businesses provide these benefits for their employees while ensuring they can continue to grow Maryland’s economy and create jobs.”

Immediately upon establishment of the office, Nixon contacted the over 1,000 small businesses and workers who previously provided their information to the governor’s Committee on Paid Leave Policy in order to solicit their input and provide a venue to address their concerns. He also contacted every member of the Maryland General Assembly, asking them to refer any small businesses in their districts now being mandated to comply with the new law.

The governor’s order specifies that the new office will assist businesses with the implementation of the new law, facilitate responsiveness of state government to small business needs, and serve as a central clearinghouse of information for business assistance programs and services available in the state. The office will be required to report to the governor and the legislature regarding problems encountered by small businesses complying with the law and its regulations and recommend policy improvements and solutions.

The governor’s order follows widespread calls by legislators to fix serious flaws in HB1 and delay the bill’s implementation by 90 days due to its potential negative impact on small businesses. The governor continues to call on the legislature to pass his Paid Leave Compromise Act of 2018, which would address HB1’s most punitive provisions for employers, and his Small Business Relief Tax Credit, which will provide direct aid to help with compliance costs. Leading legislators indicated willingness to take up the governor’s proposals following last week’s vote.

“For more than a year, I have implored legislators to work with us in a bipartisan fashion to make sure we get this right for Maryland workers and job creators. There is still time to work together to ensure our small businesses and workers are protected and provided the benefits they need,” said the governor.

In November 2016, Governor Hogan became the first Republican governor in the nation to advocate for paid sick leave legislation by proposing the Common Sense Paid Leave Act of 2017. The legislature did not act on the governor’s bill and instead passed HB1, which the governor vetoed while simultaneously announcing actions to expand paid leave benefits within the executive branch of state government and creating the Committee on Paid Leave Policy to study the issue. After conducting in-depth research and over 100 interviews with workers and business owners across the state, the Committee issued its final report to the governor in November 2017, which identified key flaws in HB1 and recommended solutions. The governor subsequently proposed the Paid Leave Compromise Act of 2018 and the Small Business Relief Tax Credit, both of which are pending before the General Assembly.

Maryland small business operators and workers can contact the Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance atSmall.Business@Maryland.gov.

Larry's Government Relations Letter - January 2018

Dawn Hipsley — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 18:06:22 GMT

Letter from Larry Helminiak, Government Relations Committee Chair:

If you’re reading this on the SCBA page, you are likely the owner of a small business.

I went in business in 1969. There were rules and regulations regarding the insulation business but you could fit them all in a small binder.

Year after year after year, politicians and government agencies have added rules to the point that no one knows them all, and if you break one, you need a lawyer to defend yourself, and even the LAWYER has to look it up to defend you.

There are rules on how to treat your employees. There are rules regarding your company vehicles. Pretty soon some counties in Maryland will have more rules regarding employee compensation depending upon how many employees you have.

Labor laws served a purpose. They fixed a lot of problems and we are all better off now because of them. The issue many people have is that government has gone from an impartial judge to having its thumb on the scale against companies. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) became a partisan joke. Now a new general counsel has taken over and a lot of stuff is going to get fixed. Critics will say that it’s favoring business over workers. But the pendulum is still dramatically on the side of the workers. Business owners don’t want to tilt things back to the day when workers had no rights. They just want things to be a little closer to fair.

A growing economy fixes a lot of labor issues. Low unemployment means workers who don’t like their situations can easily go find another one. Companies with growing revenues can afford to pay more for quality workers. Everyone wins. But when regulation is so burdensome that companies and employers choose not to invest money into their businesses because they don’t see a chance of earning a return on it, everyone loses.

When Donald Trump was elected he promised that for every ONE new regulation he signs into law he will eliminate TWO old regulations. A report came out recently which stated that since January of 2017, for every NEW regulation at the Federal Level, SIXTEEN existing regulations have been removed from the books. Let’s hope this continues.

Larry Letter - December 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 16:30:00 GMT

Dear SCBA Members and friends,

In the past week, we celebrated Thanksgiving. Historically, it is said that the first Thanksgiving was in 1621, after the Pilgrims had their first harvest in the New World. The first official Thanksgiving was declared by President Abraham Lincoln on November 26, 1863.

There are many things to be thankful for but I think that being fortunate enough to have been born in the United States ranks up there near the top. What other country has people trying so hard to get IN?

When I was actively employed, I was in the insulation contracting business. Insulation manufacturers, to entice you to buy their itchy product rather than their competitor’s itchy product, would offer foreign trips as prizes. Buy this many dollars worth of a particular brand in a set period of time and win a trip to an exotic place for you and your wife.

Over the years, we were able to go to Europe, Hong Kong, Africa and even Australia. There was one thing that most of the people we met had in common. They knew as much about the United States as many Americans do. Wherever you went to shop, the sales people spoke English. They knew our cities and often asked if I lived in New York.

Whether you like or don’t like who is holding a particular political office at a given point is time, or what political party they belong to, isn’t all that important. What is important is that there are over 6 billion people on earth and only 300 million of them live in the United States of America. That’s one out of twenty.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, take the time to thank God for living here.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.

Sincerely,

Larry Helminiak

Larry's Letter - November 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 13:02:12 GMT

Dear Members:

Pretty soon, the legislators that we elected will be in session in Annapolis. If you’ve never visited the capitol to watch laws being made, you should go. It is a process that is beneficial to all citizens. And you may not know that tours are available! Please visit this web site for information: http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdstatehouse/html/tours.html

There are other options for tours as well. If you're interested, a gentleman named John Wafer, who was the secretary for MdGOP for several years, holds trips to Annapolis for high school students during the Legislative session. His tour is generally open to high school students and their chaperones, with a preference to those 16 and older. The trip would include a visit to the balcony to watch the General Assembly in session and lunch. A typical itinerary includes the following: arrive in Annapolis by 11:45 am, have lunch with the delegation at noon, tour the Statehouse at 1:15, get a photo with Governor if possible, sit in on Legislative hearings from 3:00 to 5:00. If the group chooses the day that Carroll County has a reception, they should be invited.

If you are interested in finding out more information, please contact Mr. Wafer directly at jdwafer@verizon.net or 410-262-3170.

Very sincerely,

Larry Helminiak

Government Relations Committee Chair

SCBA board member

Larry's Letter - October 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 17:39:06 GMT

If you’re reading this letter, you are likely to be a small business owner or work for a small business. It is likely that you joined SCBA to help your business, and that’s good. That’s one step toward making your business grow. All of us want to do what we can to help our business.

Are you registered to vote? Are your employees registered to vote? Keep in mind that the people who make the laws that affect your business have to get elected to be able to pass these laws.

I’ve heard so many people over the years say that their one vote won’t make a difference. So how can you make your vote count the most? I have a suggestion.

Before going further, let me say that I am a member of the Republican Central Committee of Carroll County. If you go to the local fire department carnivals you may have seen me working the voter registration booth. That experience has actually allowed me access to a number of unregistered voters.

The majority of new voters we sign up are students just coming of age to vote. I give them the card. When they hand it back, the overwhelming majority of them fill in “unaffiliated.” At that point I ask them to sit down and we have a talk. I ask them why they don’t want their vote to count. They seem shocked. Here are some points to be made

· Unaffiliated (a.k.a. independent) voters, in a primary election, can only vote for school board.

· Unaffiliated voters can’t vote in local OR national Democratic OR Republican primaries as primaries are only reserved for voters who are registered as members of that party. If you are a registered member of the Green Party, for example, you can only vote for Green Party candidates in primaries, on both the national & local level – and that’s, of course, only if there are any! This rule applies to all party affiliations.

· In many primary elections, particularly local ones, the eventual winner is determined.

o In Carroll County, no Democrat has been elected in this century, for any office except school board.

o In Baltimore City, Theodore R. McKeldin was the last Republican elected as mayor, and that was in 1963, 54 years ago.

o There are some jurisdictions that go back and forth between parties, but some jurisdictions typically vote solidly one way or the other with long standing regularity. For example, Carroll County is known for its strong Republican voter base and Baltimore City is known for typically electing Democratic candidates.

My point is that, if you want your vote to count, and live in a jurisdiction that goes with the same party election after election after election, in order for your vote to affect the outcome, it is worth carefully thinking about whether it is in your best interests to register with the party that usually wins in that jurisdiction. This may be especially meaningful if it is common for that district to ONLY have candidates from the leading party. It does not mean that you agree with the national party line – although it will mean that you will only be able to vote in your registered party’s national or local primaries. But this method may give you an opportunity to make your vote count on the local level.

Larry's Letter - September 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 20:38:07 GMT

Democracy or Republic

I can’t help but notice, on TV and in the papers, how often the United States is referred to as a Democracy, rather than a Republic.

On August 9^th, on the Wall Street Journal editorial page (A 14), Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, Washington, wrote a letter entitled “School Vouchers Diminish Public Education.”

A few excerpts from the submission include the following :

1) Regarding your editorial: Randi Weingarten’s “Racism Rant” (July 24) Public education is, and has always been, foundational to our democracy.

2) ……………while also detailing the threats public schools and our democracy

3) Our collective response to that question will determine whether our democracy gets stronger

Or comes apart

This person is PRESIDENT of the American Federation of Teachers and in one letter referred to the United States, three times, as a Democracy instead of a Republic. Is this what our kids are being taught? If so, it has to stop.

I ask all of you with kids to ask them to name our form of government and see if they answer that it is a Democracy or a Republic. It’s important, and they need to know the difference. I pulled the following paragraph off the internet. These are not my words but are rather the words pulled from the internet. See: http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-democracy-and-republic/

The main difference is that in the case of democracy the majority rules, whereas in a Republic the Government rules according to law. Both of them are governed by constitution too. In a republic the government rules according to the law prescribed by men of caliber. In a democracy, MOBOCRACY prevails. Mobocracy can be defined as political control by a mob.

Think of the last election. We’ve all heard that Hillary Clinton got 3 million more votes than Trump. Trump won because he received more ELECTORAL COLLEGE votes. Each state, based on population, receives a certain number of ELECTORAL votes. Every state actually has a say.

If we were a Democracy, politicians would spend ALL of their time in California, New York, Massachusetts and Illinois. The population in these four states, plus a small number from the other 46 states, would determine who is in power.

Again, ask your school children the question. If they answer DEMOCRACY, you need to spend some time teaching them from our Founding Papers.

Larry's Letter - August 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 19:35:32 GMT

SCBA letter for August, 2017

Next time you see a grandfather’s clock, notice this. For every TICK there is a TOCK. In business, for every ACTION by government (the TICK) , there is a REACTION from business (the TOCK).

The other night I saw a gathering of activists on TV and heard one gentlemen say, “Every worker deserves a living wage. We should raise the minimum wage to $ 15.00 an hour”. I can assure you that this person never owned a business.

The first minimum wage was in the late l950’s and was $ 1.00 per hour. My father owned a neighborhood grocery store. I remember working in the store and also remember some of the prices. A loaf of bread was 10 cents. A quart of milk was 21 cents. A can of Campbell’s tomato soup was 15 cents.

I bought my first new car in 1964. It was a beautiful Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible for which I paid a total of $ 3,250.00 A new convertible today would cost $ 40,000.

When I got married, in 1969, my wife and I could go to MARS supermarket in Dundalk and buy a full bag of groceries for $ 15.00. We rented a two bedroom apartment for $ 105.00 a month.

My first house in Carroll County in 1969. A 3 bedroom rancher with a full basement on Klee Mill Road, for which we paid $ 19,500.00. A couple of years ago it sold for almost $ 300,000.

My 35,000 sq. ft. building on Venture Way, when I built it in 1983, costs $ 875,000, complete with finished offices. The county says it’s now worth three times that. I could go on; but you get the point.

One of my favorite sayings is "All plans are based on logic; all logic is based on assumption. If the assumption is wrong, the plan will fail."

The inescapable fact is that, when the federal minimum wage goes up, the cost of you doing business goes up accordingly, and you have to raise your prices. In the end, the worker does not benefit and the government has to raise the minimum wage again.

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK

Larry's Letter - July 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 17:34:51 GMT

From Larry Helminiak, SCBA Board Member and Government Relations Chairperson

July 2017

I would guess that a high percentage of SCBA members vote. At least, I would hope so. I wonder how many voters actually understand exactly what determines what district we vote in, and why. It’s called gerrymandering.

All states, regardless of size, have two Senators who go to Washington. In the House of Representatives, each state has a different number, from Montana with 1 to California with 53. Why is that? How are the 435 members assigned?

Every 10 years, there is a national census. Right now, the number of people living in the United States is about 330 million. The government takes the total number of people and divides it by the number of seats in the House of Representatives. So we divide 330 million by 435 and come up with 758,620. Each state will get ONE Representative for every 758,620 residents. Maryland, with 6 million residents, has eight, for now, based on the 2010 census. That could change after the 2020 census.

The big question is “Who determines what district I live in?” One would assume that this is an easy question to answer; but it’s not. Get familiar with the word “GERRYMANDERING.” What does it mean and where did the word come from?

In the 1880’s, there was a governor of Massachusetts named Elbridge Gerry. After one census, he influenced the division of the districts assigned to Massachusetts by drawing a map. Even though the number of PEOPLE for each district was correct, he split the state so that it would give the advantage to his party. When you looked at the map of districts, some were SO distorted that they looked like a SALAMANDER. Thus, Gerry + Salamander = Gerrymandering. It simply means that the map is drawn to the advantage of a particular party as opposed to simply geography.

Of the 435 districts in the United States today, Maryland is the SECOND WORST in Gerrymandering. A case will soon go to the Supreme Court to see if it can be simplified, eliminating Gerrymandering as much as possible.

Whomever is Governor in 2020 will supervise how districts are drawn in Maryland. How you vote in 2018 will determine how those districts are drawn.

Larry's Letter - June 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 17:34:02 GMT

Maryland Government Affairs Update for June 2017

There are two new Maryland laws that directly affect local businesses that SCBA would like to draw your attention to for evaluation as to how they might affect your business.

The “More Jobs For Marylanders Act” was signed into law by Governor Hogan this month. This Legislation takes effect on June 1st, 2017. The bill provides tax incentives to eligible manufacturers that are designed to create jobs and provide workforce development initiatives for existing employees. New manufacturers that open shop in high unemployment tier 1 counties which include Western Maryland, the Eastern shore, and Baltimore City, will receive a 5.75% wage tax credit, a state property credit, and sales and use tax credits for ten years. State filing fees are also waived for companies that create at least 5 new jobs. Existing manufacturers can qualify for the property tax credit.

The second bill that was passed addresses paid sick leave. This legislation states that part-time employees who work at least 12 hours a week are eligible to receive up to 5 paid sick days per year, earning 1 hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. All companies with 15 or more employees are required to provide this mandatory paid leave once the employee is on the payroll for 106 days. The “106 day” test was put in place to aid businesses, such as those in Ocean City, who routinely hire seasonal employees. Governor Larry Hogan has vetoed this bill as of the distribution of this newsletter. Governor Hogan has stated that he feels strongly that it will be an undue burden on the small businesses which it largely affects. He had proposed that only businesses with more than 50 employees on one site be affected by the measure but that was rejected by the largely Democratic governing body. Hogan had also wanted to offer tax credits to smaller businesses in order to give them incentives and financial help to implement the measure. That was rejected also with opponents stating that Hogan hadn't offered a way to pay for the tax cuts. This is a hot-button issue with concerns for the financial health of small businesses on one side and employee safety nets on the other. Supporters argue that many employees spend much of their lives on the brink of financial difficulties and that not being allowed to take paid sick leave for themselves or for dependent care is unreasonable. However, detractors of the bill are adamant that it is a very difficult burden for many businesses to bear, especially small businesses that employ as few as 15 people. In all, Governor Hogan's veto will delay its implementation until the General Assembly meets in 2018 and could process a veto override. The bill did pass the General Assembly with a veto-proof margin assuming that all those who voted for the bill would also vote to override a veto. So, stay tuned for this one – but if you are a business with more than 15 employees, SCBA would suggest that you review how this bill may affect your policies and procedures so you are ready to handle it when it officially becomes law.

Larry's Letter - May 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Wed, 10 May 2017 17:32:50 GMT

Report for May Newsletter

The legislative session in Annapolis is now over. Following are some of the things that may or may have affected business owners.

HB771 Public Health. This bill streamlined and reduced the amount of effort a mobile food truck operator has to go through

HB531 Labor and Employment – Labor Regulations – Right to Work. 29 states have enacted “right to Work” legislation. This allows an employee to choose whether or not to join a union. This bill failed .

HB536 – Speed monitoring in Work Zones. A bill to remove this failed.

HB 100 Income Tax Subtraction Modification – Retirement Income of Law Enforcement, Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Personnel. This bipartisan initiative gives tax relief to First Responders and Emergency Response Personnel. The first $ 15,000 of retirement income for first responders and emergency personnel who are at least 55 years old will not be subject to state tax.

Paid Sick Leave The General Assembly pushed forward with HB-1 Labor and Employment Maryland Healthy Working Families Act. This legislation mandates up to 40 hours of “sick and safe” leave for employees who work for businesses with 15 or more employees. In addition, HB 1 carries heavy fines for non-compliance. This bill requires paid sick leave for part-time employees who work as little as 8 hours per week, and it does not exclude temporary seasonal employees. These provisions would allow a teenager working after school, as well as summer workers in Ocean City to qualify for paid sick leave.

The greatest concern regarding this bill are the employees that could lose their “paid time off. Many employees get PTO that can be used for any situation, illness, vacation, etc. With the state requiring mandatory sick leave, employees may lose their flexible PTO as it is reclassified and can only be used for “sick leave.”

SB 317 - More Jobs for Marylanders Act of 2017. Is Governor’ Hogan’s jobs initiative that will spur job growth by providing tax incentives for new and existing manufacturers to hire more employees. The bill targets jurisdictions across Maryland while giving priority to areas where job growth is not keeping pace with the rest of the state. These new business entities are required to offer job skill training programs or educational programs in order to foster a pipeline of potential workers. The More Jobs for Marylanders Act of 2017 will provide increase employment opportunities for areas across the state that need it most.

SB 307 Roadkill Repeal During the 2016 Legislative Session, the General Assembly passed a highly-partisan bill that meddled in Maryland’s transportation policy. “Fixing” a problem that did not exist, the bill manipulated the process by which major transportation projects were funded and skewed the preference towards funding mass transit projects in urban areas. Earning the name “The Road Kill Bill”, the legislation’s scoring system would kill all but 7 of the 73 major priority transportation projects in the state, with the vast majority of all funding going to Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Governor Hogan made the repeal of this bill his # 1 priority in the 2017 session. A compromise was reached in the Senate and the bill was amended to delay implementation of the bill while a workgroup of legislators and transportation officials study and issue a report regarding the scoring system. This bill passed unanimously in the House and Senate.

Larry's Letter - March 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:04:55 GMT

SCBA Government Relations Letter – March 2017

This letter will be brief.

The Legislature is in session, and Delegates and Senators HATE to go home without creating new laws.

If you don’t receive regular updates from your own representative, I suggest you get in touch with them and ask to be placed on their email list.

Brian Frosh, the state’s Attorney General, was given the right to sue the federal government without going through the Governor first. Until now, the Governor had the ultimate power to do this.

Governor Hogan and Lieutenant Governor Rutherford welcome you to the Vacancies and Potential Seats Report for Maryland state boards and commissions. The openings are available on line for the first time.

YOU could serve on a state board or commission. There is NO PAY for most; but your input, being an experienced person in business, is valued and valuable.

The Vacancies and Potential Seats Report will provide the following information:

Seats that are currently vacant;

Terms that are soon to expire, within one year from the run date of this report; and

Terms that have expired, but still have members serving in a holdover status.

Candidates may apply for any board or commission at any time, but priority attention is paid to vacancies and seats that are soon to expire.

Check it out!

Sincerely,

Larry Helminiak

Government Relations, SCBA

Larry's Letter - February 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 13:57:14 GMT

Larry’s Letter for February

Larry Helminiak

The Maryland General Assembly is in session. If this is like any other year, nearly 3,000 bills will be submitted for consideration. Most will not make it out of committee but many will become law.

With a new president in office who is from the business community, expect many laws, such as those dedicated to regulating business, to be changed or eliminated.

Last month, I suggested that every business owner join their particular trade associations. This month, I suggest that you actually talk to your Maryland legislators to get an idea of what’s coming down (or up) from Annapolis that will affect your business.

But how can I talk to my Senator or Delegate? Where do I go? Glad you asked.

The Republican Central Committee of Carroll County holds an annual breakfast and invites all the elected officials who represent you in the county and in Annapolis. You are free to ask questions.

Date Saturday, March 11

Place Best Western Hotel Westminster

Cost $ 30.00

Anyone interested in attending, email me at Larry@GOPLarrly.com and I will see that you get the invitation

Larry's Letter - January 2017

Dawn Hipsley — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 22:15:24 GMT

Larry’s Letter - January 2017

On January 20, 2017, Donald J.Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Rather than what he IS, it may be even more important to point out what he is NOT. He is NOT a Senator. He is NOT a Congressman. He is NOT a Governor. He has never held an elected office. Rather, he has spent his entire life in running a private business, and has had to deal with every law that elected officials can come up with to regulate and tax business. You may not have thought of it this way; but . . . . . . . . . . . HE IS ONE OF US. How do WE deal with that?

Over the past eight years many rules, regulations and taxes that affect business have come down from Washington. If the new president keeps his promises, many of these will be modified or eliminated. I would wager that most business owners who read this letter don’t know all of those which affect your own business. Changes are likely to be FAST AND FURIOUS. The big question for you is, “How do I know when a new law or rule affects my business?” The answer is for you to belong to the association related to your business.

I was an insulation contractor. Since Carroll Insulation installed insulation in new homes, I belonged to HBAM (Home Builders Association of Maryland). When the organization printed their annual membership booklet, which went to every builder I wanted as a customer, my name, address and phone number was there. So, if a builder got upset with the insulator he was using, he opened the book and saw my name. To increase market penetration, I went to monthly organization meetings and ran for office, and was elected to the highest position a sub-contractor can hold. This put me in meetings where I could personally ask builders for their business.

In the 1980’s, because so many new laws were coming from Washington and the States, a national organization was started specifically for insulation contractors. ICAA Insulation Contractors Association of America. Being a member empowered us to actually meet in Washington and in State Capitals with the heads of departments that make the rules. I joined, became active, and was elected President in 1983 and in 1998.

So, knowing that so much is going to change in the next year that affects your business, I suggest that every SCBA member join the association that represents your business and become active. Simply joining and sending in a check doesn’t cut it. 1) Join 2) attend all the meetings 3) Become an officer.

Larry Helminiak

Larry's Letter

Dawn Hipsley — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 21:22:05 GMT

Larry's Letter

December 2016

Dear SCBA Members:

If you are reading this you are a member of the South Carroll Business Association and you know that on November 8th, Donald Trump was elected to be the 45th president of the United States and will be sworn in on January 21, 2017.

The next four years are likely to be very different than the past as they affect our businesses. Here are a few things that may affect you, as a business owner:

Personal Taxes: Trump’s campaign promise was that he is going to reduce personal taxes to a maximum of 25%, down from their current level. My hope is that, along with lowering, they are less complicated.

Business Taxes: We’ve all read about large businesses moving their headquarters overseas to avoid paying the highest tax rate in the world. If they are lowered, there is at least the chance that these companies will move headquarters back to this country and bring the money back that they now have in foreign banks. The size of government. Trump has promised to freeze hiring of federal employees and to not fill openings when a worker retires. This should reduce the cost of government, and, hopefully, taxes.

Regulation: Perhaps the biggest change of all. During my career I have seen federal and state regulations on business grow and grow and grow. I remember none that actually helped my business; but many that simply raised the cost of doing business. In 2010, I was fortunate to be on a Baltic Cruise with the Young America Foundation, and our small group was granted a meeting with the President of Estonia, Mart Larr. He said that, as the first president after Soviet occupation, he had to come up with a quick method of taxing. He was able to implement a flat tax of 23% on all citizens. Make a million dollars and pay $230,000. Make $ 10,000 and pay $2,300. No categories. In this way, everyone knows what they have to pay and everybody cares about taxes going up. Filing is simple. The country needed jobs, so Mr. Larr announced to the world that any business that came to Estonia would pay zero taxes. Businesses came, and Estonia grew dramatically. One member of our group,

Governor George Allen said he heard that Estonia has the fastest growing economy in Europe and President Larr said, “Actually it’s the fastest growing country on earth.”

Another member in our group, former Attorney General Ed Meese, asked if there were any people in Estonia had any trouble finding work and Mr. Larry replied, “Yes. Accountants and lawyers because we don’t need either one.”

Sincerely,

Larry Helminiak

SCBA Government Relations Liaison

Ever heard of George Will?

Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:57:47 GMT

If you are as addicted to the Sunday morning political shows as I am, you would know that, for decades, he has been analyzing and opining on the political scene. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he knows more about political history than anyone on TV.

Without a doubt, this is the most important presidential election of our lives. If we elect the Democrat, we are promised a continuation of Obama’s policies. If we elect a Republican, we are sure to see an attempt to reverse the past eight years.

The Democrats are running Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and our own Martin O’Malley. All promise a bigger Federal Government.

The Republican list is as long as any in memory. Alphabetically, they are Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carlie Fiorina, Jim Gilmore, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum and Donald Trump. Five more, Rick Perry, Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal, Lindsay Graham and George Pataki have already dropped out.

Every few days we see polls telling us who has the most support. The consistent first four are, in alphabetical order, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump. What makes this race different from the past races in recent memory is that at least three of the four are considered “outsiders”. Ben Carson is a brain surgeon. Donald Trump is a businessman. Neither has ever run for ANY political office. Ted Cruz is a Senator; but is a certified maverick in the U.S. Senate. Most other senators consider him an outsider.

The DNC (Democrat National Committee) is doing everything in its power to promote Hillary Clinton. They scheduled their last national debate on a Saturday night, when it is known that few people will watch. The next debate is on a weekend, at the same time as two football games.

The Republican debates have been on weekdays, in prime time, and have set records for numbers of viewers. Like them or not, they have set viewing records, and millions of people know more about them than they did before the debates.

Both parties want “insiders” to be their candidates in the general election. This is because they know what to expect if that person becomes president. Having a president who has never been part of the establishment threatens the status quo, and makes them quite nervous.

If you like, the way the country has been going, then, by all means, vote for one of the candidates favored by the DNC or RNC. If you think the country has been going in the wrong direction, then, by all means, vote for one of the “outsiders.”

Back to George Will. He once said, “Before election day, you will see ad after ad after ad telling you to be sure to exercise your right to vote.” George Will disagrees with this. He says that he works to know as much as possible about each candidate and casts his vote for the one that is, in his opinion, best for the country. Then, someone who has done no research, and knows nothing about their policies, casts an uninformed vote that cancels out his.

I agree with George. If you are going to vote, check out the positions of all the candidates and vote for the one that most agrees with yours. If you, like so many, tend to go into the polling place with no knowledge of what anyone stands for, and then please, stay home.

Carroll County Schools

Fri, 06 Nov 2015 16:57:43 GMT

If you read the paper, you know that the Commissioners and the Board of Education are presented with a decision on closing schools.

The largest growth of Carroll County was in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. Young couples came from Baltimore City and many nearby counties. They were drawn by our county’s beauty, the relative low cost of living, and our great schools. They had kids who filled our schools.

Things changed. I remember going to public meetings where people actually stood up and yelled. “The schools are filled. The roads are crowded. We must stop all this new development,” The people doing the loudest complaining were those who had moved in in the previous five years. What they were really saying was, “I moved to Carroll County because of the beautiful open farmlands and the rural character. Now that I’m here, let’s stop anyone else from coming.” They got their wish Building moratoriums were put in place and the number of new houses dwindled to a fraction of their previous numbers. Rules from the state increased the cost of building a house. Sprinklers were made mandatory. Septic tanks are now many times the cost of what they used to be because of a state rule mandating state of the art septic systems.

I am reminded of an old saying, “Be careful what you wish for.”

For the last decade or so, the number of new houses are down, and the people living in them the existing homes are older, and are not producing the kids to fill the schools.

At public hearings and in letters to the editor, citizens are giving every reason they can think of to NOT close their favorite schools.

Having a job where you have to go outside the county , or just owning a business, often makes it hard, if not impossible, to attend public meetings.

Because of simple numbers, some schools will have to be closed. Whatever your opinion, please take the time to write a personal letter to the commissioners and the Board of Education members. They need to hear from you.

Larry Helminiak

Making Maryland More Business Friendly

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 16:40:37 GMT

Making Maryland More Business Friendly

I understand that Governor Hogan has finished his cancer treatments. Being under treatment has taken much of the time of his first year in office that could have been spent on state business. In the last couple of weeks, he has been playing catch-up.

Making Maryland more business friendly was one of his goals, and he has taken the first steps to do so. We, as business owners, know what it is to pay license fees. In September, the governor cut almost all the LICENSE FEES that we must pay to stay in business. Some as much as 20%. This is a start and sends a message that he is trying to keep his campaign promises.

A hot topic across the country is the fight over funding, or not funding Planned Parenthood. It is likely that, in next year’s session, decisions will be made regarding what Maryland will do.

There are people who feel strongly on this issue, FOR and AGAINST. It is hard to find anyone who does not have an opinion. No matter which side you are on, I encourage you to write to your local Delegate and Senator to express your opinion.

They make their decisions on their own feelings; but are strongly influenced by the positions of their constituents. Do not send emails. Nothing has a greater effect on an office holder than a letter, written by a constituent, on your company’s letterhead, and signed by you, the owner.

Do not wait until the session begins. With over 3,000 new bills being submitted in every session, things get lost in the process. Take the time to write a letter now, when it has the greatest impact.

Larry Helminiak

CURRENT ROAD PLANS FOR 2015

Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:20:42 GMT

With no new laws being passed in Annapolis, I inquired about the plan for roads In South Carroll.

Liberty Road west of 32

Currently, the road changes from four lanes on each side then down to two lanes a little further up.

The PLAN, in the near future, is to widen Liberty Road so that it will be four lanes all the way to White Rock.

Route 32

An idea in the works is to widen 32 from Bennett Road and add a turn lane by Liberty High School

News from Larry Helminiak, August 2015

Sat, 01 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT

Jesse Waters Stops Random Students on College Campuses

If you watch TV, you must have noticed that there’s talk of a presidential election in 2016.

If you watch FOX, you have likely seen WATER’S WORLD , where Jesse Waters stops random students on college campuses, and asks them who the Vice President of the United States is. Many, far too many, don’t know.

If you are a member of SCBA, you are likely a boss, with employees. Perhaps YOUNG employees. I’ve noticed that many of them spend more time on social media than watching news on TV. Many simply don’t know what they don’t know. Some do; but they tend to be the exception. Their lives are too bush to pay that much attention.

When I owned Carroll Insulation, it was common for employees to come up to me in the week before an election and ask them to advise them who to vote for. The truth is, they respect your opinion.

It would be nice to be able to vote more than once on Election Day (like they do in Philadelphia, where some precincts recorded 100% turnout with NO votes for Romney. Or in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where turnout exceeded 100% of registered voters.) Check it out if you don’t believe me. Lastly, there are three counties in North Carolina where thousands of people voted who are over 112 years of age. Check google if you don’t believe me.

My point is this………………….. Your employees look up to you. They cherish your opinion. If YOU can’t vote more than once, you CAN, through your advice, multiply your votes by advising your employees.

If you now expect me to tell YOU who to vote for, you are wrong.

My advice:

· Do some research on ALL the candidates
· Look for the one who will be best for private business.
· Wait for an employee to ask for your advice
· Tell them who that is, and be sure to remind them to vote.

In this way, you multiply the chances of the best business person being elected.

Larry Helminiak

Praying for a quick recovery for our Governor

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 16:42:50 GMT

Praying for a quick recovery for our Governor

As every Marylander knows, Governor Larry Hogan announced in a press conference that he has been diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. This is serious; but treatable.

On June 27, he started his first chemo treatment which lasted four days. After that treatment he announced that he feels great, and will continuing to perform his duties as governor.

Attention has now turned to Lieut. Governor Boyd Rutherford. Most people usually have trouble even NAMING the Lieutenant Governor. It is worthwhile getting to know him, as he will take the governor’s place whenever necessary. He said in a press conference, “The governor and I ran on making the state more business friendly and that is what we are setting out to do. That’s why we’re so excited to welcome the world’s largest shipping company back to the Port of Baltimore. “

Another quote on Mr. Rutherford, “Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford’s new role as his boss’s stand-in was on full display Wednesday, when he took the lead in welcoming a major shipping company back to the Port of Baltimore.

Still his cautious self, Rutherford celebrated the return of the Denmark-based Maersk. It represents the launch of an important partnership between the state and an industry leader in Maersk. It represents the launch of an important partnership between the state and an industry leader in Maersk. Our great port is a critical economic asset for Maryland and today reaffirms that.”

Rutherford is a lawyer and career bureaucrat, and has largely defined his political career as a behind-the scenes guy who enjoys poring over documents looking for government waste.

The point, for SCBA, is this. Governor Hogan ran, and intends to perform, as a business friendly governor. His occasional absence will be filled by a very capable Lieutenant Governor with the same goals.

I can’t end this letter without asking you all to pray for a quick recovery for Governor Hogan.