On November 19, John Reynolds, the Vermont State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), was a guest on WDEV’s Vermont Viewpoint with Ross Connolly. The discussion focused on issues facing small businesses in Vermont, including healthcare costs, taxes, and energy expenses.
During the program, Reynolds emphasized the importance of healthcare for small businesses in attracting and retaining employees. He stated, “Healthcare is so important for small businesses as a recruitment tool, a retention tool, for finding and keeping workers, which is a struggle for everyone I talk to in the state. No surprise there.”
Reynolds also addressed how healthcare costs affect business owners personally. He said, “It’s also a struggle for small business owners personally… The small business owner is the business in most cases. They work there right alongside their employees and if they can’t work, that’s a big problem. Them not being able to afford coverage is just as much a problem as them not being able to offer coverage or their employees not being able to afford coverage.”
He highlighted concerns about rising health insurance premiums in Vermont compared to neighboring states. “The situation in Vermont is just out of control… the average silver plan premium is $1,300 a month… It’s just nuts, it’s mindboggling. Who could afford that? You look next door in New Hampshire and the average silver premium – same plan – is $400 a month. How can that be?” Reynolds said.
The conversation also touched on other challenges such as taxes and energy costs affecting small businesses across Vermont.
