Tag Archives: Freelance workers

Why the PRO Act is ANTI-Small Business, by Eric Groves

The Democrats are quietly advancing legislation that would torpedo a lot of independent contractors and small business owners. From Eric Groves at alignable.com:

For the first time in months, you’re feeling more optimistic about your post-COVID future, according to recent poll results. And while that is something to celebrate, there’s also a new bill popping up in Washington that might put a damper on that hope.

It’s called the PRO Act and it comes with some serious implications for small business owners, ones that may be as or more dangerous than the COVID virus.

So what is the PRO Act and how could it affect your business? Let’s take a look at the details of this proposed law including recent data that shows just how big the impact could be and how you can raise your voice.

What is the PRO Act?

The PRO Act 2021, or Protecting the Right to Organize Act, focuses on reducing the barriers for employees to unionize. Based on a version of a similar state law that passed in California (AB5), it makes it easier for workers to form a union with the aim of protecting them from unfair working conditions.

But unions aren’t the issue—what comes along with the bill is where things get ugly.

If this legislation passes, there’s a provision within it that could act as a virus that would target the dreams of freelancers and independent contractors who depend on contract work for survival.

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Government Outlaws Freelance Work, by John Stossel

This is almost a dog bites man story: laws end up hurting the people they were ostensibly meant to help or protect. From John Stossel at townhall.com:

Government Outlaws Freelance Work

Freelance jobs are “feudalism,” says California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez.

She persuaded California’s legislature to pass a new law reclassifying freelance workers as employees. That means many people who hire them must now give them benefits like overtime, unemployment insurance, etc. Politicians said it would help freelancers a lot.

Of course, much of the media agreed. Vox called it “a victory for workers everywhere”!

Sigh. Young reporters just don’t understand that stifling economic freedom always creates nasty side effects.

Actually, more understand now, because they got a very personal lesson. Once the bill passed, Vox media cut hundreds of freelance writing jobs.

When Gonzalez was asked if she felt bad about that, she sneered, those weren’t “real jobs.”

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