A half-dozen state representatives from throughout Georgia were in town Monday hoping to hear specific examples of rules and regulations that keep businesses from growing or hiring.
Unfortunately, the businesses they hoped to help didn’t show.
“I guess this means we must be doing pretty well as a state,” quipped Rep. David Knight, R-Griffin, chairman of the House Small Business Development Committee, about an hour into the three-hour scheduled meeting at the Georgia Southern University’s Coastal Center in Savannah.
Led by Knight, the lawmakers found themselves facing an audience fewer in number than their panel — with at least half of those there in official capacities, rather than with issues.
Representatives from the city of Savannah, the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Ports Authority were all there “just to listen.”
That left Gary Brand, a local CPA, plenty of time to talk about the issues facing his clients.
Among the biggest concerns, Brand said, was the high rate of unemployment compensation companies have to pay, even to temporary workers.
“When a client has a large temporary job that lasts only a few weeks, such as a factory refit, he has to hire a lot of temporary workers,” he said. “Those workers know that this is a short-term job with lots of available overtime, but when the job is over and they file for unemployment, the company can be liable for up to 99 weeks.”
It’s a regulation that discourages companies from accepting such jobs, he said.
“You aren’t the first one to bring up this issue,” Knight told Brand. “These are exactly the kinds of things we need to be aware of so we can start looking at solutions.”
Monday’s forum was the second “Red Tape Watch” meeting for Knight and his committee. The first was held in Macon and others are planned for Valdosta, Augusta and Albany. Knight said the turnout in Macon was fairly light, but didn’t give specifics.
Similar hearings last year resulted in changes designed to streamline real-estate transactions and redevelopment.
The Red Tape Watch Initiative is a personal priority of House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge.
“Regulatory challenges continue to be some of the leading issues that small businesses must contend with in their day to day operations as they seek to keep their doors open and grow,” Ralston said. “I hope Georgians will use this opportunity to appear before this committee and share with its members their experiences in dealing with the regulatory environment in this state.”
Knight agreed.
“We had great response at the state capitol, but our charge now is to go out to small businesses and find out what’s standing in the way of their success,” he said, adding that the committee wants to look at regulations that are outdated or unnecessary and get rid of them.
Joining Knight in Savannah Monday were Reps. Valencia Stovall, D-Ellenwood; Karla Drenner, D-Avondale Estates; Mack Jackson, D-Sandersville; Paulette Braddock, R-Powder Springs, and David Stover, R-Newnan.
Rep. Ben Watson, R-Savannah, came in to observe.
In addition to meeting around the state, the committee will take written comments on its website, www.house.ga.gov/redtapewatch.