Thread: PIA regulations!!!

Tax cuts? No tax cuts? Makes my head spin.

Regulations. Now there is something I can understand. Some are stupid. Some are expensive.

What regulations (local or federal) cause you the most pain/cost?

I figure lack of regulations and/or enforcement in the financial industry cost me a couple thousand dollars.

So over 300 of you don't have any problem with regulations. Then what is the GOP harping about??

Well. You're in CT, so this might be a relevant read for you:

CONNECTICUT’S HIGH ELECTRIC RATES AND THE LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE

I'll give this a go, admittedly many of my beefs are as a (younger) consumer moreso than a business owner, because as of yet my business isn't self-supporting, just money on the side.

My first beef is with the EPA. The things they've done to dick over the Diesel industry and keep efficient cars and trucks out of the hands of consumers are borderline unforgivable. And I don't even live in California...

The CPSC, last week I heard they want to ban toys made out of magnets (buckyballs), because idiots swallow them. These toys say intended for children 13 and up. If you've failed so bad as a parent that your 13 YEAR OLD CHILD cannot keep from eating magnets, I'll gladly lend you my gun and pay for the ammo for you to off yourself. We don't need an overbearing government agency to keep me from having cool toys because some idiots aren't responsible enough to keep their dumb kids from swallowing them.

The DOT. I hear this varies based on locality, but around here I'm told that if you get pulled over by these A-holes, you get a ticket. They routinely stop every heavier-than-light-truck vehicle on a major road near where I work. While I don't own any semi's, I have no doubt in my mind that such quotas cause the products I want to buy locally to cost more. Since the DOT doesn't seem to pull third shift often (if at all) I don't think they're making the roads safer, i think that smarter owner-operators just make sure to roll thru markedly bad DOT locales in the dead of night.

The FCC. Rolling over for clear channel, RIAA and jesus freaks, keeping the little guy and internet radio down. No personal experience with this organization, I just don't like what they do or how they grab more and more power every time they can.

TSA. Making it more inconvenient and expensive to fly, while failing miserably at reducing the danger of flying.

DHS. Giant, bloated, wasteful organization that is bound to obfuscate the dollars spent on it, trample individual rights and reduce government clarity and accountability. Just look at whats happening in Anaheim right now. I'm not happy footing the bill for this. I don't believe for a second I'm any safer as a result of this bloated pork project.

I'm with PeteM, although I would add that the GOP controlled congress repealed Glass-Steagall which I'm under the impression precipitated most of the mess contributing to our down economy. So fuck the GOP and Republicans, they've enabled most of this mess I sure as hell don't trust them to undo it. And fuck Democrats too while we're at it, Clinton signed the dotted line to push it into law.

Greenbuggy

" And fuck Democrats too while we're at it, Clinton signed the dotted line to push it into law."

Of course you look at it like that. You are too stupid to realize HOW our Congress works. "Clinton SIGNED it."

It takes a 2/3 vote to over ride a Presidential VETO. This bill was passed this way.

"On November 4, the final bill resolving the differences was passed by the Senate 90-8,[13][note 4] and by the House 362-57.[14][note 5] The legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November 12, 1999.[15]

Now, IF you have ANY idea how the Gov works, Clinton could have "tabled" it, and in 14 days it would become law. Or he could sign it, and it becomes Law. With the Vote, it could not NOT become Law. Clinton did not MAKE that Law. Reps did, with very little help from Dems, though I am STILL very pissed that I will wake to see Dem proposals with Dem opposition, and Rep proposals with Dem support.

When I buy a politician, ie, I give him my vote, I expect him to stay bought. We have a Dem who beat a Rep, here, Altmyer, who more often votes against Dems than his former opponent, a Rep, did. HE says his area is Rep, he has to vote in their favor. Bullshit. Rep in sheeps's clothing.

Hell of it is, the woman he beat is even more Rep.

George

So far, nobody has come up with a single real specific regulation that makes their business harder.

In my business, there are things like contract requirements, usually to cover people's asses for liability, that I dont like, but they arent usually regulations per se.

I am not crazy about having to hire structural engineers to stamp the design I come up with, but I understand why it happens, and again, its not a regulation per se- its part building code, usually, and part liability again.

The biggest paperwork hassle in my business is employee with holding- which, I guess, is regulations. But I have had employees since 1982, and I am pretty used to it by now. It costs a certain amount in dollars and time, you factor that into bids, and life goes on.

But on the micro level, if you discount employee taxes and building codes, which everybody in the USA has to deal with, I cant think of a single "regulation" that actually affects my day to day business at all.

I make stuff, I sell it, I make some more stuff. My shop is too small for Osha to worry about, no jackbooted government thugs have ever visited except for the electrical inspector when I built the building.

We provide health insurance for all of our employees, we have invited OSHA to come in from time to time to guide our safety committee, we keep MSDS sheets current and keep permits current for volatile emissions from our paint booth. We track all of our purchases for the Washington Dept of Revenue for use tax, we verify employment status for all employees for the Dept of Labor, we file income tax returns for every state that we conduct business with. We follow all the rules for stewardship over the retirement plan / 401k education of employees on options, etc. All part of doing business.

We are about to cross the 50 employee line and as such, FMLA will kick in, the need for a structured HR person kicks in . . . two additional costs that are not insignificant. I have to say that we have been avoiding this threshold for several months - but at this point, it looks like we will take the plunge. We are working with an accounting firm and atty to figure out just what all we need to comply with.

Originally Posted by gmatov

It takes a 2/3 vote to over ride a Presidential VETO. This bill was passed this way.

"On November 4, the final bill resolving the differences was passed by the Senate 90-8,[13][note 4] and by the House 362-57.[14][note 5] The legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November 12, 1999.[15]

While I am apt to agree with you that the president's veto would have been overturned given the overwhelming support the bill had, it doesn't excuse that he did sign it in the slightest. Had he put up a stink and veto'ed the bill it could very well have brought the attention from constituents needed to keep every greedy repub in the house from voting to overturn the executive veto.

If it makes you feel any better, I think Obama is just as much of a coward for signing NDAA with its indefinite detention provisions. This is a constitutional law scholar who just sort of gave up on half the amendments in the bill of rights? Give me a break.

Now, IF you have ANY idea how the Gov works, Clinton could have "tabled" it, and in 14 days it would become law. Or he could sign it, and it becomes Law. With the Vote, it could not NOT become Law. Clinton did not MAKE that Law. Reps did, with very little help from Dems, though I am STILL very pissed that I will wake to see Dem proposals with Dem opposition, and Rep proposals with Dem support.

So I don't particularly identify with Democrats or Republicans, not because of what they say mostly because of what they do. But from what I hear from the GOP talking heads in between hating queers, women and minorities, Repubs are supposed to be fiscally conservative. So I pose this question to you: if a dem proposes a bill which reduces bottom line cost how exactly is a republican supposed to respond?

When I buy a politician, ie, I give him my vote, I expect him to stay bought. We have a Dem who beat a Rep, here, Altmyer, who more often votes against Dems than his former opponent, a Rep, did. HE says his area is Rep, he has to vote in their favor. Bullshit. Rep in sheeps's clothing.

Politics is a rough game, which is why people who aspire to positions of political power should be regarded with the most cynical brand of suspicion there is - Doug Barry

If you want an example of regulations that make manufacturing harder, look at the lists of banned solvents. Some of them are EPA, but a lot of California municipalities have added to the list. The fire department is in charge of enforcement, in the city of Riverside, California everything outside of Safety Kleen and like products is banned for business use. No paint thinner, acetone, lacquer thinner, etc. Items that are still sold and legal for home use. Any spray painting unless done with a spray can must be done in an enclosed down draft booth ($25,000 cost and up)
I could go on and on. California is the strictest state on these regulations.

Labor and Industry here in PA. L&I has been costing me about $1000. per month for 15 months. Mostly soft costs. Don't want to go into
too much detail here except to say that L&I said a building permit issued by the local boro in 2004 was no good and I am now being held to 2009
building code standards. There are many other incidents. Went to my state senator (state level) he looked at me and said they do it because
they can. What an attitude! This has really caused a drain on business and personal resources and planning. I would not recommend PA. for business.

Most of my work is electronic. Regulations have now made it illegal to use lead solder. Never mind that the only instances of lead poisoning for workers had to do with the EATING the solder they still required us to change. The new stuff requires higher temps, doesn't flow as well, looks bad, and has issues with growing "threads" over time. If you live in this industry, it makes everyday work harder and more expensive.

If you live in certain states, your gasoline prices are higher due to requirements for certain additives. In parts of CA they have now found those required additives have poisoned the ground water. Across the US you pay extra because the EPA demands that gas companies are required to have a certain percentage of a kind of renewable fuel that isn't made! Don't get me started about ethanol and its effect on fuel, food, and farm prices.

ArkTinkerer

Fortunately ARK I am so terrible at soldering I never noticed the difference. I assumed solder still had lead in it.

Originally Posted by motion guru

We are about to cross the 50 employee line and as such, FMLA will kick in, the need for a structured HR person kicks in . . . two additional costs that are not insignificant. I have to say that we have been avoiding this threshold for several months - but at this point, it looks like we will take the plunge. We are working with an accounting firm and atty to figure out just what all we need to comply with.

Whether in this thread or a new one, I know I'd like to follow how your transition to 50+ goes. We're still a ways off from that but it's been in the back of my mind for some time now. Doing it right is no small matter for sure. It sounds like you've already got a good head start. Inviting OSHA in is one of those counterintuitive tricks that has really paid off for us too. Keep us posted if you would.

Originally Posted by ARKTinkerer

Most of my work is electronic. Regulations have now made it illegal to use lead solder. Never mind that the only instances of lead poisoning for workers had to do with the EATING the solder they still required us to change. The new stuff requires higher temps, doesn't flow as well, looks bad, and has issues with growing "threads" over time. If you live in this industry, it makes everyday work harder and more expensive.

ArkTinkerer

If I recall correctly, ROHS compliant solder and it's 'threads' are a fairly prominent reason for electrical component failure.

Does Inventory Tax count as regulation? If so is sure as hell makes my life harder and makes me want to move. I get taxed on every nut, bolt, tool, piece of furniture, coffee pot, sign, EVERYTHING, EVERY YEAR. This is in addition to property taxes, sales taxes, permit fees, privilege taxes, inspection fees so on, and so forth.

How about government set asides for veterans, disabled, native Americans, and all those other legalized policies of discrimination? They sure hurt me big time. I am a white man, so screw me and the horse I rode in on. I loose business all the time to two companies that are "native Alaskan owned", haven't seen an eskimo yet!

Same with Veteran set asides, they get the business, hire the next guy in line to do the work, mark it up 20% and pass it on to the tax payer. Raises the overall costs and limits business opportunity for those that actually work.

How about ADA? Even though I don't have walk in customers, ZERO retail, NO employees at this site, I have to spend THOUSANDS putting in an ADA bathroom and all the trappings. That sure costs me some cheese that I could have used for something else.

How about all the money I have to spend with CPA's because our tax code is OUT OF CONTROL and you have to be a bean counter to even start to understand all that crap?

Sometimes I really wonder why I am doing all this shit, waiting for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The damn leprechaun will probably kick me in the balls.

El Mustachio, two words, employee leasing

Another back in California story. I had a building put up that was designated as for storage only. The county made me have a perculation test done and my septic field plotted to allow for putting in a restroom in the future. I told them I wasn't putting in a bathroom, but they didn't care. The reason for the septic field plotting was somehow the county had two sets of plans and didn't know which one was correct. All this garbage cost me $8,000 and 6 weeks time.

Regulations...

Lets start with the Fire Department-
I run a compressor so I need to get Certified for that, 50 bucks and a day off work to take the test...and for that I learned if the Compressor starts going haywire and Smoking to Shut Power to it and call Fire Department. Yeah, I run all these freaking machines and nobody gives a hoot...but my little 5hp compressor I need to become certified. It's not even the 50 bucks or renewal fees...its the gotta go take the test...which is an ordeal...takes the better part of a day to go into city.

Forklift - Fire department and OSHA-
Can't run gasoline...even if big arse door is open...so we buy Propane.

Propane your only allowed One Fuel Tank on the premises (that is one, full or empty, no spare)...unless you build a Cement and Steel Cage so many feet from this and that...can't happen in my place... so if one tank runs out...we can exchange that one tank with our supplier...but left with no fuel till it arrives. Luckily a buddies shop is around the corner with Storage Cage so I have spares there...but gotta run down and exchange. However I can have as many BBQ Gas tanks as I want...stack em floor to ceiling...or maybe that is just in residential areas...
Propane tank...we can't change those without certification. So took an OSHA certification class for the Forklift which encompasses changing the tank. $150 bucks and a day in class and test time.

Fire Department does not honor the OSAH Certification, now I have to go back into City and take test for the Fire Department Certification.

Water department- I am lucky as mine has been done and was easy access...but $1500 fines for not having a check valve on the incoming water lines. For some, that job runs into thousands of dollars plus the fines.... Most people found out when inspectors came in handed over violation, siting the newly passed law.

Tax on everything, need an accountant to keep from paying fines

Child Support
I hire a guy that skips out on Child Support Payments...I get a notice saying I have two weeks to fill out form and send his garnished wages to their agency. Had one notice come late via our US Post Office and they didn't give a crap...I was fined. If our payment gets lost in mail...we get fined. I was told I should have sent Certified. Our accountant fought and won both...but I had to pay my account to do this...so no fine paid other then his fees.

Drunk/High workers-
Can't fire a person for stumbling into work...nuf said there...

Wanna put someone on the books for some work, couple hours as they are eager...if they are already collecting and do wanna work and get off the dole they are penalized for making money...so basically they can work and make 100 bucks on the books, loss tax and crap, then since they "made 100 bucks" they lose 100 bucks in aid...plus some may have to make arrangements to watch a child or parent and pay on top of that...In short they are penalized for trying to get back to work.

Welcome to NYC.

Given some time I could come up with more...

Originally Posted by Dualkit

Fortunately ARK I am so terrible at soldering I never noticed the difference. I assumed solder still had lead in it.

Just think of it as low temperature small part brazing!

Originally Posted by Cole2534

If I recall correctly, ROHS compliant solder and it's 'threads' are a fairly prominent reason for electrical component failure.

Yes. This is the reason the military is exempt from the requirement.