The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
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MN GOP Rolls Out $7B Road Plan, Avoids Gas Tax Hikes
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 MN Republicans have introduced a plan to raise $7 billion over the next decade, without any tax increases, to pay for repairs to Minnesota's roads and bridges.
The proposal calls for the rededication of transportation-related taxes including the motor vehicle lease sales tax and rental tax, uses a portion of the projected $1.9 billion budget surplus, finds cost-savings within MnDOT and uses $1.3 billion in Trunk Highway bonds.
The ability of MN's roads and bridges to be both safe and have capacity is important to MWFPA members. Read more from the Minneapolis Star
Tribune.
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Coalition Supports MN Immigrant Drivers License Bill
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| The MN Business Immigration Coalition, of which MWFPA is a member, recently sent a letter to the chairman of the MN Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee in support of SF224. The measure would allow immigrants to apply for a drivers license regardless of their immigration status. Currently undocumented immigrants who live in the state can't get a drivers license. Legislation to grant driver's licenses to immigrants living illegally in the state was heard in House and Senate committees the last two weeks. The State Senate Committee on Transportation and Public Safety passed SF 224 which now awaits action by the Senate Rules and Administration Committee. The MN House and Senate will be in recess until Tuesday, April 7th. Committees may begin meeting at 8:00 a.m. on April 7th, Floor sessions will be at Noon.
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IL GMO Bill Held In Committee
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|  SB 734, a GMO labeling bill sponsored by IL State Sen. Koehler (D-Peoria) was held in the Senate Committee on Environment & Conservation and was among the bills that did not pass by the legislative committee deadline.
MWFPA and a coalition of agriculture commodity and business groups led by the Illinois Manufacturers Association have been working in opposition to SB 734. This legislation would only add to a growing patchwork of labeling laws which threatens to harm interstate commerce, drive up the price of food and increase consumer confusion. Members of the IL House of Representatives and Senate have left the Capitol for a two-week spring recess and will return on April 14.
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Minimum Wage Bill Sent To IL House Floor
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The IL minimum wage increase bill,
HB 3345 (Turner,D-Chicago), was sent to the floor out of the House Labor Committee on a partisan roll call of 16-10. It would raise the state's minimum hourly wage from $8.25 to $9 beginning in July.
The Senate's version (
SB 11) of a minimum wage hike remains in the House Rules Committee after narrowly being approved in early February.
SB 11 increases the wage to $11 per hour through 2019.
Illinois already has the highest minimum wage in the Midwest. MWFPA continues to oppose increases in the minimum wage.
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IL Sen. Committee Approves Air Bill
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| The IL Sen. Environment and Conservation Committee passed SB 1485 that changes and expands energy efficiency and renewable energy goals. In addition it sets up a cap and invest program run by the Illinois EPA to comply with the federal clean air act rules that are scheduled to be final this summer. MWFPA along with the IL Chamber is opposed to this legislation.
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.
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Federal Bill Mandating BPA Warning Labels Introduced
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 Two U.S. Senators have introduced legislation that would require food packaging to be labelled if it contains BPA. MWFPA opposes the legislation. Read
more.
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GMO Labeling Bill Introduced In House
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A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the House of Representa-
tives that would allow food manufacturers to voluntarily place a federally approved label on their products that lack genetically modified ingredients, creating a single, science-based national standard.
MWFPA supports the legislation introduced by Reps. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., and G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., because establishing federal standards around a voluntary GMO-free label strikes an important balance between providing consumers choice and clarity in the grocery aisle and protecting a technology that is vital to food producers.
The measure has 20 co-sponsors -12 Republicans and eight Democrats and Capitol Hill observers say the proposal appears to be gaining momentum and are confident the GOP-controlled Congress will approve the bill Continue
reading.
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COOL Critics Warn Of Retaliation, Broader Trade Impacts
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 While interested parties await a ruling from the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the U.S. country-of-origin labeling rule (COOL), lawmakers and industry representatives are already concerned about potential retaliation.
MWFPA has encouraged the development of a WTO-compliant solution to the COOL law that will meet WTO guidelines while protecting thousands of American jobs from the impact of retaliation. Continue
reading.
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Paid Leave, Flexible Schedule Bills Introduced In Congress
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 A handful of bills were introduced in Congress recently that seek to create a national right to paid leave, and entitle employees to request flexible work terms and conditions.
MWFPA continues to monitor legislation such as this and will report as developments warrant. Read more.
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IL's Duckworth Begins Campaign To Unseat Kirk
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Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) launched her campaign to unseat Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). Duckworth will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Kirk in 2016. If she wins the nomination, it would make for an interesting race pitting Duckworth, who as a soldier in Iraq lost her legs when her helicopter was shot down, against Kirk, whose long recovery from a serious stroke has earned him widespread admiration.
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MWFPA Sanitation Seminar Fast Approaching
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Register now for the MWFPA Cleaning and Sanitation in Food Plants seminar scheduled for
Tuesday April 15, 2015 at the Holiday Inn - Stevens Point, WI.
The proactive and preventive approach to controlling contamination through cleaning and sanitation is increasingly being recognized as a key factor in food safety management. This full-day seminar will look at the sanitation problems and solutions that are found in today's food plant.
Register as an attendee by clicking here!
Exhibitor Table Top Opportunity:
Register as an exhibitor by clicking here! Call Brian Deschane for more details: 608-255-9946
You may also call the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point: 1-877-834-3613 for reservations.
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MWFPA Partners With Rawhide Boys Ranch
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 Rawhide Boys Ranch (www.rawhide.org), a trusted Wisconsin non-profit organization, recently reached out to MWFPA to initiate a partnership between the organizations for members to access Rawhide's programs, and consider vehicle or cash donations to help sustain Rawhide's operations. Read more.
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 EXPO PACK Mexico 2015 to be held June 16-19 will showcase the latest solutions in packaging and processing machinery, materials, containers, and other related goods and services. This event offers direct access to the packing and processing industries in Latin America, attracting approximately 29,000 customers from over 30 countries and more than 1,000 company exhibitors from over 20 countries in 2014.
The State of Illinois covers 100% of the cost of booth space and construction, and handles all logistical aspects, including interpreters, transportation to and from the show floor, and hotel booking through the Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program.
For more information and registration, click here.
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Registration Now Open For Food Safety Preventative Controls Forum October 19-22, 2015
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| Nutiva, Inc CEO Roulac To Address Food Leaders Summit |
MWFPA is a proud partner in The Food Leaders Summit 2015.
John Roulac, founder and CEO of Nutiva Inc., wants to transport you into the future. "It's 2018: What's on Trend in the Food Landscape?" is the title of his keynote address at the upcoming Food Leaders Summit, April 27-29 in Chicago.
Roulac is among 35 or so speakers among the 27 sessions at the 2½-day conference. Other session titles include Building consumer trust throughout the supply chain; Future innovation in product development for the critical consumer; and Facts, trust and transparency.
Join your industry peers in Chicago, IL April 27-29, 2015 to look closely at the transformative changes impacting every aspect of the food industry -- and work collaboratively to succeed in this new environment.
An MWFPA member exclusive: register today using code MWFPAFLS15 and save 50% on your conference pass! Find more information and
register for this event!
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| Think Asia, Think Hong Kong Seeks Food Processors For One-On-One Business Meetings |
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is organizing an event in Chicago on June 10, 2015 called "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong."
The Council is bringing 6 business delegations from Hong Kong and China (100+ companies) representing 6 different industries. In addition to attending TATHK, they will also do some company visits and participate in One-on-One Business Matching meetings with local companies. They are looking to meet with food & wine producers, food processing companies, food packaging companies, etc. for both sourcing AND selling opportunities.
If your company would like to participate, please click here for more information.
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April 8, 2015: MWFPA Human Resources Committee, MWFPA Offices, Madison, WI.
April 15, 2015: MWFPA Sanitation Seminar. Holiday Inn, Stevens Point, WI.
June 4, 2015:
Spring Summit & Scramble. Trappers Turn Golf Course, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
October 6, 2015:
Sporting Clays Challenge. Whispering Emerald Ridge Game Farm, N3954 640th St., Menomonie, WI.
October 19-22, 2015:
AFFI/MWFPA Food Safety Preventative Controls Forum, Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, WI.
Register.
December 1-3, 2015 -
MWFPA 111th Annual Convention and 88th Processing Crops Conference. KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI.
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Other Educational Opportunities
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May 6-7, 2015: IRC Research and Technology Forum, Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI. Technical sessions covering topics including: welding procedures and practices, mechanical integrity, experiences with stainless piping, and others. For information and registration, click here.
May 7, 2015:
Allergens & Food Processing Workshop, U of M, Continuing Education Center, St. Paul, MN
. For more information and registration click here.
If you have any questions about the workshop or registration, please feel free to reach out to Jennifer Pierquet at Jennifer.pierquet@state.mn.us.
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