Insurance, immigration and development incentives were among the wide range of topics discussed at the EDC’s Small Business Legislative roundtable Sept. 14.

Missouri State Senator Luann Ridgeway (R-17), joined representatives Doug Ervin (R-35), Bob Nance (R-36) and Jerry Nolte (R-33) in providing a comprehensive update on bills, and answered questions from business owners and managers. The meeting was held at the Pryor Leadership Center on the William Jewell College campus.

One overriding theme involved health care costs for both large and small companies. A representative from Ford Motor Company noted that health care represents and estimated $1,200 to $1,300 in the price of their vehicles, while smaller companies find it prohibitive to add employees and maintain competitiveness because of health care costs.

Senator Ridgeway noted significant steps in Missouri included the bill sponsored by Representative Ervin that greatly modernized small business health care here.

Other concerns included greater flexibility for local school districts to respond to rapid growth and the need for continued improvement to Missouri highways and interstates.