January 28, 2008

Employee Classification Bill Proposed-Disguised as Illegal Immigration “Fix”

Iowa’s Right to Work Law in Danger Again

Health Care Mandates are Back

Property Tax Bill Debated in Senate-Additional Property Tax Relief Bills Introduced

ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception-Photos and Power Point available on web

*Additional Note

Mike Ralston
President
515/235-0562

Public Policy Team:

John R. Gilliland
Senior Vice President, 
Government Relations
515/235-0566

Nicole Molt
Director, 
Government Relations
515/235-0567

Jackie Paul
Administrative Assistant
515/235-0561

For questions regarding ABI Membership please contact:  

Leisa Fox
Vice President, Membership
515/235-0575

ABI ADVISORY COUNCIL

Resources & Links

Iowa Prosperity Project 
for
-Issue Alerts
-Write Your Legislator
-Legislator Voting Records
-Register to Vote

ABI Member Benefit -

For questions regarding the Iowa Prosperity Project (IP2) or your own FREE Prosperity Project Website send an email to:

IP2@iowaabi.org

Upcoming ABI Events - Mark Your Calendar!  For a full calendar of ABI events or to register click here.

March:

Tuesday, March 11^th

 “ABI Day on the Hill”

9 - 4:30:  ABI Policy Committee Meetings & Capitol Visits

June:

June 10^th- 12^th

2008 ABI Convention

Coralville, Iowa:  Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

Copyright © 2008 Association of Business and Industry. All rights reserved. Text, graphics, and HTML code are protected by U.S. and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission.

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Employee Classification Bill Proposed-Disguised as Illegal Immigration “Fix”

As reported last week, the House is considering HF 2026 a bill that ties illegal immigration and “misclassification” of employees as independent contractors together.  A House Labor subcommittee held two meetings this week where the ABI lobbyists raised a number of questions about the intent and ramifications of the legislation.  The legislation requires the Labor Commissioner to investigate all complaints of misclassification made by “any interested party.”  The legislation singles out the construction business, but could have negative implications on other industries because of the re-definitions of employees contained in the bill. 

For additional details about the legislation, including talking points and a letter to contact your state representative on this issue, click here to use the simple tools on the Iowa Prosperity Project website. 

Iowa’s Right to Work Law in Danger Again

Today the House Labor Committee reassigned SF 413, essentially gutting Iowa’s 60 year-old Right to Work law.  This legislation would force public employees to pay fees to a union in order to get or keep a job.  Click here to write your representative.  Urge them to vote NO on gutting Iowa’s Right to Work law. 

Health Care Mandates are Back

The Iowa Legislature is once again attempting to raise health insurance premiums.  HSB 564 dramatically expands mandated coverage for mental illness and substance abuse by expanding the definition of mental illness beyond the eight biologically based illnesses in the current code to include a broad and exhaustive list of such things as sexual dysfunction and reading disorders.  ABI will oppose this legislation and any other mandate on private health insurance to protect members from more premium increases and reduction in coverage for their employees.

Property Tax Bill Debated in Senate-Additional Property Tax Relief Bills Introduced

The Senate on Tuesday passed legislation 46-0 that puts a little money into property tax relief.  SF 2023 provides that utility replacement tax revenues deposited in the property tax relief fund are to be credited by counties against mental health expenses.  When totaled, $1.2 million in relief will be given to taxpayers.

HF 2049 by Representative Dave Deyoe (R-Nevada) limits increases in assessments on commercial and industrial property to one percent, as opposed to current 4% growth limits.

HF 2042 by Representatives Polly Granzow (R-Eldora) and McKinley Bailey ( D-Webster City ) adjusts the agriculture productivity formula for property taxation to a ten-year average rather than the current five years.

ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception-Photos and Power Point available on Web

ABI’s government relations team - John Gilliland and Nicole Molt - gave a members’ only presentation at last Wednesday’s Legislative Reception.  Weren’t able to attend the briefing and want to know what you missed???  Click here for a copy of the 2008 Legislative Briefing power point. 

To view photos from last week’s Legislative Reception click here! 

Thanks to all attendees for making this annual event such a huge success!

*Additional Note

Due to technical difficulties, we sincerely apologize for the delay in this publication.  Our server has been down since Thursday.

                                 Iowa Association of Business and Industry
                         904 Walnut Street, Suite #100
                           Des Moines, IA  50309
                          www.iowaabi.org
                           515-280-8000 / 800-383-4224