US Chamber of Commerce Survey finds small business against Obamacare

Despite the administration's controversial decision to delay forcing companies to join Obamacare for a year, three-quarters of small businesses are still making plans to duck the costly law by firing workers, reducing hours of full-time staff, or shift many to part-time, according to a sobering survey released by the US Chamber of Commerce.

"Small businesses expect the requirement to negatively impact their employees. Twenty-seven percent say they will cut hours to reduce full time employees, 24% will reduce hiring, and 23% plan to replace full time employees with part-time workers to avoid triggering the mandate," said the Chamber business survey provided to Secrets.

Under Obamacare, just 30 hours — not the nationally recognized 40 hours —is considered full-time. Companies with 50 full-time workers or more are required to provide health care, or pay a fine.

The administration recently decided to wait a year before businesses had to comply, but many are trying to get ready anyway. The president did not delay the mandate that Americans must have health insurance or pay a fine, however.

The Chamber's second quarter small business survey found that just 30% are ready for the law and even understand what is required.

Dealing with Obamacare is the biggest worry of small businesses and comes as they continue to see a sluggish economy which has already put a brake on their hiring. Just 17% reported adding employees in the past two years. And only one-in-five small business owners believe that they will add employees in the next two years.

The Chamber added that "nearly one-in-four employers say the health care bill is their biggest obstacle to hiring more employees."

Other key findings from the Chamber Survey:

—77 % continue to think the American economy is on the wrong track. However, small businesses are more optimistic about their local economy and individual business.

—The majority (61 %) of small businesses do not have plans to hire next year.

—Concerns about regulation have increased significantly from 35% last quarter to 42% now.

Small businesses are looking for leadership on issues that will remove barriers and encourage growth.

—88% of all small businesses support addressing entitlement spending to resolve America's growing financial challenges and escalating debt.

—83% support congressional efforts to reform the tax code — with the majority focusing on making it less complex.

—81% of small businesses surveyed believe the immigration system is broken and needs to be reformed.

—In contrast to the president's recent speech pushing new energy regulations, 90% of small businesses support easing EPA regulations and opening up more federal lands for drilling.

The George Zimmerman Trial and the Trayvon Martin media bias

How does Al Sharpton keep getting on television?  The guy is a total idiot.  Today on Meet The Press all he could talk about was how unfair the Zimmerman trial was.  Trayvon Martin was this wonderful young kid.  A perfect citizen and George Zimmerman gunned him down.  How Martin's parents were wonderful people and that there was no way the George Zimmerman trial was fair.

Was Trayvon Martin a little angel?  Not at all.  He was a little punk in truth.  He had been suspended from school twice in the previous weeks and should have been arrested.  The only reason he was not arrested was for the fact that the Miami-Dade School System has their own police department that chooses to overlook such.

The first suspension was for for getting caught with a burglary tool and a dozen items of female jewelry.  Hmmm.  I wonder what was going on there? The second time for getting caught with marijuana and a marijuana pipe.  Great kid.  Instead of helping the kid the school system pushed him aside.

The media along with the two dumbest people in American politics, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, decended on Florida and painted Trayvon Martin as this great kid with great parents.  The facts are this.  Trayvon Martin was not an angel at all.  He was a 17 year old punk that should have been in juvenile hall rather than walking the streets after dark.

Did he deserve to get shot and die at the hands of George Zimmerman?  Hell no.  Not at all.  It was a tragic event that never should have happened.  Both Zimmerman and Martin could have prevented it easily.  Instead they both took dramatic steps to escalate a sad situation.

All sides are at fault here.  George Zimmerman.  Trayvon Martin. The media.  The stupid Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.  The Miami Dade School System.  Everyone.  But the fact is that there was a fair trial and the verdict stands.