CHAMBER MEANS BUSINESS BREAKFAST HELD

Term limits will force 46 state lawmakers out of office in Missouri this year.

"And, if you think you're seeing a lot of candidates in elections this year, wait until 2002," said Brad Jones, Missouri director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

Jones was guest speaker the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's first-ever "Chamber Means Business" Breakfast, held Thursday at the Holiday Inn.

The breakfast, which will be held every other month, is designed to bring information to small business owners and manager in the Cape Girardeau area.

More than 40 persons attended the initial breakfast.

Jones discussed a number of topics during the session, including small business health insurance costs, the tobacco money, term limits, and employee shortages.

A total of 163 state legislators will be without jobs following 2002 elections, said Jones.

"You'll see more than 300 candidates in the 2002 elections," said Jones. "Even the primary ballots will be full."

The term-limit bill, said Jones, is a popular one with the voters. "As many as 75 to 80 percent of the people want term limits." The NFIB membership runs about the same, added Jones.

Jones told the group that the biggest problems and largest priority areas for small businesses were health insurance costs, and lack of employees.

""We understand the challenges small businesses face when it come to finding affordable health care benefits," said Jones. A new NFIB HealthBenefits plans officers a choice of plan options for small business now. The plan has been designed to meet the needs of health care at a price that makes more sense.

Lack of employees is number two on the problem list for small businesses.

"A lot of areas have unemployment rates ranging form 2.5 to 3

percent," said Jones. "This has definitely given employees more clout."

The tobacco money has created a lot of discussions, Jones told the group.

"Some people want to use the funds to help fund health insurance plans for small business," he said. "Others want to put in the general revenue. And, there area 163 other ideas about how to use the funds."

Jones also touched on the recent Social Security reform measures which has passed Congress.

The new measure, to repeal the law that cuts Social Security benefits by $1 for every $2 a recipient earns in outside income above $17,000, passed the House by a unanimous vote of 41900, and the Senate by 100-0.

The bills goes back to the House now, and is not expected to pass again with a few changes. "And, we understand that the President (Clinton) will sign it," said Jones.

The next "Chamber Means Business" Breakfast will be held at 7:15 a.m. at the Holiday Inn. Additional information and reservations are available by calling the chamber, 335-3312.