Today is: October 1, 2009
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Regional Public Policy Committee
Meetings
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Alan Mores, Harlan
Newspapers
Please submit "Hats Off" submissions to
Michelle
Vollstedt.
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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
Employers' Health Care Reform
Dilemma: Offer Coverage or Pay a
Tax
Congress continues to debate the
question of whether all employers should be
required to provide health care coverage to
their employees. Congress would make the
option simple: either buy coverage or pay a new
tax. On the surface it may
appear that paying the tax would be cheaper than
purchasing coverage. However, under this
option overall employer taxes may increase
dramatically. Consider the
following: · The new tax is in
addition to all other taxes paid by the employer
- no credits are given against other
taxes. · Employers providing health care
coverage receive a tax deduction that lowers
overall taxes. · Employers do not get
the same dollar value from paying a tax as they
do receiving a tax deduction. Continue
reading>>> Davenport
Policy Meeting "Great"
Thursday morning, the ABI government
relations staff heard great member feedback on
the challenges of business in a tough economy
during the Regional Public Policy meeting held
in Davenport. ABI District Vice Chair Tom
Blessing (Nestle Purina) hosted a large group
for breakfast at the NewVentures Center. Continue
reading>>>
ABI Committees Blitz in October
With the start of football season, ABI's
five public policy committees are ready to
tackle the tough issues facing Iowa businesses.
The five committees are wide open to all ABI
members companies. Anyone with interest in
the topics or expertise in particular fields is
welcome. To make any of the five
squads: Continue
reading>>>Governor's
Safety Conference
The Annual
Governor's Safety and Health Conference is set
for November 4-5 in Cedar Rapids. Keynote
speakers include: Dr. Sam Mannan, Regents
Professor of Chemical Engineering at Texas
A&M; the Honorable John Bresland, Chair of
the US Chemical Safety Board; and former
Assistant Secretary of Labor John Henshaw. For
details click
here. |
From the Desk Of...Michael
Ralston
At
last week's meeting of the ABI Board of
Directors, part of the discussion was focused on
members providing updates of their
businesses. While nearly all talked about
business being down for the year, nearly all
also indicated that a more positive cycle seems
to have begun. Orders are up, employment
is stabilizing, and other factors were improved
as well.
Also of interest were
comments about expansions, new sales
initiatives, and other kinds of forward-looking
programs. It struck me that ABI members
believe in the old adage that says if you aren't
moving ahead, you are falling behind. I
first heard that saying 30 years ago from the
owner of the grocery store I managed as I paid
my way through college. It's one of the
best things about ABI members; you are always
looking ahead and working to make things
better.
We take that adage
seriously at the association office, too.
In the past year, while strengthening and
improving existing programs, we've started new
ones and built on their success. ABI
created new high-value seminars, added events to
the annual convention, held the first-ever
member programs day, and revamped some yearly
conferences. Continue
reading>>>
Did you
miss the Monday Memo from ABI President, Mike
Ralston? For this week's memo click here. |
Golf Survey
ABI
recently hosted its first annual Drivin' Member
Programs Best Ball Golf Outing at the Harvester.
The event was an incredible success with over
100 golfers the first year! We have
received comments from many of our members that
the invitations came out too late to get it on
their calendars. With that in mind, we are
conducting this quick survey to determine your
preferences so that we can reserve the date now.
Within the next month, we hope to announce the
date and location so that you can get it on your
calendar. Please take some time to complete the
survey so we can make the event even better in
2010. Take
the survey
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