Today is: March
4, 2010
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Safeguard Iowa Partnership's Disaster
Resources click here.
RACOM Corporation has been named one of 75
Blue Ribbon Small Business award winners by the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce! Click here to read and vote
for RACOM.
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Gold
Sponsor
We would like to
thank Mid-American Energy for sponsoring
our Lunch on Wednesday, June
9th.
There are more
opportunities available if you would like to be a
sponsor for the 2010 "Taking Care of Business
Conference". If you are interested please click
here.
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ABI
Day on the Hill
Worksite Wellness &
Prevention:
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To foster a favorable business, economic,
governmental and social climate within the State
of Iowa so that our citizens have the opportunity
to enjoy the highest possible quality of
life. | |
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 Legislative News
Second Funnel
Deadline
Friday,
March 5 marks the second funnel deadline for the
2010 legislative session, which means all bills
have cleared at least one chamber and one
committee in the opposite chamber. All
leadership, appropriation and ways and means
bills are exempt from this deadline. In this
edition of ABI Legislative News, readers will
see a summary of what cleared the funnel with a
full list available at ABI Day on the Hill next
Wednesday.
Dead
or Alive: ABI Day on the Hill March
10th
Wednesday,
March 10th is ABI's third annual ABI
Day on the Hill where members will receive a
full funnel report from ABI's government
relations staff. Please click
here to register. In
addition to the funnel report, you'll be
shuttled to the capitol for meetings with key
legislative leaders as well as time to talk to
your individual legislators. Continue
reading>>>
Funnel
Report
Preview
Below
is a preview of what the legislative landscape
looks like following the second funnel. A
complete report will be available during ABI Day
on the
Hill.
"Dead"
HF
795/SF
155-Allowing random doctor shopping
for workplace injuries.
SF
2337-Requiring all employers to
provide paid sick and safe time to all
employees, including part-time.
HF
2375- Requires that employers provide
copies of personnel files to former employees
upon request. Continue
reading>>>
"Alive"
HF
681-Requiring employers to provide
30-day notice of layoff larger than 25 persons.
Penalty of $100/day for non-compliance.
SF
2270-Requires employers to provide
breaks and accommodations for mothers to express
milk.
Makes Labor Commissioner responsible for
regulation of the law and allows employees to
sue employers for non-compliance. Continue
reading>>>
Future
Uncertain
The
future of a handful of key bills for employers
remains uncertain today because of possible
procedural moves that ABI expects to be taken
later Thursday or Friday to keep issues alive
and exempt from funnel rules. This
includes:
HF
2420 - violates Iowa's Right to Work
law by allowing unions to collect fees from
non-members. Continue
reading>>>
ABI
Vigilant on Policy and Budget
Development
Although
some bills did not clear the funnel it is
possible the bills will reappear as an amendment
or in a leadership-sponsored bill. Additionally,
any bill that has been referred to Ways and
Means or Appropriations means the proposal stays
alive throughout the 2010 legislative session.
Continue
reading>>>
ABI
Remains Vigilant on Saving Right to
Work
CLICK HERE to see a
copy of the news print advertisement sponsored
by ABI that ran in the Ames Tribune last Sunday
as well as other publications. Thanks
to the many ABI members who have supported the
"Save Right to Work" efforts with financial
support.
Tax Credit Legislation Expected Next
Week
Work continues in developing
legislation relating to tax credits for the 2011
fiscal year. ABI has
had a series of meeting with leaders in both the
House and Senate to keep Iowa competitive for
job growth in the midst of the state's budget
woes.
As lawmakers progress to budget next
week, ABI expects to see legislation on credits
impacting ABI members and growth plans as
well. |
A couple of years ago, the
association's board of directors charged the
staff with increasing the number and type of
programs and events ABI holds each year. In
addition, the board directed that more events be
held outside Des Moines. The goal
of this directive was two-fold.
Increasing participation by increasing
the number, variety and geographical offerings
of programs was one. And,
two, adding even greater value for your ABI
investment was of primary
importance.
As a part of this new directive
and thanks to support from members (through
sponsorships, the ABI Advisory Council, and the
ABI Cornerstone Leaders program), these programs
are provided at no cost or at a low cost to
association members. Perhaps
even more importantly, most allow members to
tailor their participation in a way that
provides them the greatest value. If
information is what you are after, you can get
it and skip the networking. If the
networking is what your company is about, you
can focus on that part of an event. If you
want members of your senior management team to
participate in events, that can be
arranged. At
ABI, YOU determine what best serves you and your
company.
Continue
reading>>>
Did you miss the Monday Memo
from ABI President Mike Ralston? For this week's
memo click here. |
Top Ten Reasons for ABI Businesses
to Support Project Lead the
Way...
1.
Iowa's future economic success
depends upon developing a greater number of
qualified, technologically literate workers to
elevate the quality of the workforce in the
21st Century.
2. Project Lead The Way is a proven
and successful STEM program that allows ABI and
its member businesses to work in concert with
high schools, community colleges and regent
universities to better educate today's students
and tomorrow's workers.
3.
As the leading industry
association in Iowa, ABI is taking a prominent
role in helping shape the future of Iowa's
education system through its involvement with
PLTW.Continue
reading>>>
ABI
members have two great opportunities in the
month of March to show their support for Project
Lead the Way in Iowa. The first
opportunity is on March 10th
when Jim Sullivan, Executive Vice President for
the national office of Project Lead the Way,
will be at the ABI Board meeting and at the
YPIowa reception following the Board
meeting. We invite all ABI members to come
to the reception at the State Historical society
to meet Jim and learn how business leaders play
an integral role in the success of Project Lead
the Way.
The
second opportunity is on March
23rd when the 2009 Joseph H. Oakey
Excellence in Education Award will be presented
to the state of Iowa at 11:45 a.m.,
Tuesday, March 23 in the Iowa State
Capitol Rotunda. Governor Chet Culver has
been invited to accept the award on behalf of
the state. The award will be presented by John
Lock, President/CEO of Project Lead the
Way. The announcement highlights a
day-long legislative showcase of the successes
of Project Lead the Way in Iowa at the state
Capitol. | |
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