Fitzpatrick Votes to Protect Small Business Job Creators

WASHINGTON – Local Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-8^th) March 3 issued the following statement on the passage of H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011. The House passed the bill by a vote of 314-112 with broad bipartisan support. Fitzpatrick was an original co-sponsor of the bill, according to a release.

“Last year Congress and the President approved the Affordable Care Act of 2010. One of the most onerous and misguided provisions of the law was the requirement that small businesses use a 1099 form to document and report to the IRS any transactions that exceed $600 in a single year. This requirement was opposed by both small businesses and accountants. Even the IRS taxpayer advocate warned of its far reaching negative impact.

“The 1099 requirement, burdensome by itself, is also symbolic of the overreaching and job crushing effect of the Affordable Care Act, which does nothing to make healthcare more affordable. Repealing this provision is an important step in getting the IRS out of the way to let small businesses create jobs.”

In addition to repealing the 1099 requirement, Congressman Fitzpatrick supports efforts to repeal and replace last year’s healthcare law with meaningful reform that includes: medical malpractice reform, forcing insurers to compete across state lines, and putting patients in control of their own healthcare.