Administrative Rules Committee Objects to Utility Rule
ABI Director, Public Policy Brad Hartkopf attended the monthly administrative rules review committee on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Highlights from the meeting include notice rule
ARC 4688C.
It
rescinds a rule that is no longer applicable due to Gov. Reynolds signing
HF 668
, which relates to regulatory reform within Iowa’s three-tier system for alcohol. The committee also signed off on filed emergency rule
ARC 4724C
, which implements the Disaster Recovery Housing Program. It was a component of the
Empower Rural Iowa Act
. One of the last rules on the agenda dealt with the Iowa Utilities Board issuing a
rule
that affects electric vehicle charging services. The debate lasted more than an hour, and at the end the ARRC objected to the rule. This action removes the presumption of validity of the rule and shifts the burden to the regulatory agency implementing the rule should it be challenged in court.
Member Support Needed to Stop Waterloo Ban the Box
As you have read in past ABI newsletters, we have opposed Waterloo’s ban the box ordinance as it conflicts with state law, is a mandate on all employers and increases the administrative burden for small and large employers during the hiring process. Now the ordinance has passed, we must take action to challenge it and ensure no other locality enacts policy that conflicts and exceeds the state law. We need your help to do that. If you are able to contribute to stop the ordinance, please click
here
. You will also receive a request in the mail in the coming weeks. We hope you agree this is a bad precedent for Iowa’s business climate and support an initiative to stop this bad-for-business policy.
Contribute today
. Consider a $1,000 business investment to stop this ordinance, which will cost employers thousands in compliance and litigation costs if allowed to advance. If you have questions about the ordinance or the Iowans for Jobs Initiative, please contact
Nicole Crain
.
Crain Attends Tort Reform Conference
Earlier this week, Nicole Crain participated in the annual American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) conference. During the three-day conference, Crain had the opportunity to connect with ABI members, and hear about litigation issues around the country and potential tort reform legislation in Iowa. Medical malpractice, digital privacy, punitive damages and legal expansion legislation around the country were just a few of the topics that were discussed at length. Thank you to our partner ATRA for making the trip possible by providing a scholarship to assist with travel and accommodation costs. ABI looks forward to working with ATRA and ABI members to ensure we have a fair legal climate in Iowa.
Policy Team Meeting with Legislators
The 2020 legislative session begins in less than two months. After the ABI Board approved the priorities and policies at the September meeting, ABI staff has been meeting and speaking with elected officials about the association’s agenda. In the coming weeks, the ABI policy team will have met with more than 15 legislators all around the state from Oskaloosa to Osage. In addition, this week ABI board members hosted the lieutenant governor in Waverly and Rep. Heather Matson in Ankeny. Thank you to Rada and Accumold for all you do to educate legislators about the importance of business to Iowa’s economy. If you have not yet invited a legislator to your business, now is the perfect time to invite them in, talk about your business priorities and explain the importance of a competitive business climate.
Federal Spotlight: More Candidates Wade Into the Presidential Race
We’re just over two months out from the Iowa caucuses, but that hasn't stopped multiple candidates on the Democratic side from jumping into the fray. Today, former two-term Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick officially announced he is running for president. Patrick, 63, and the first African-American elected governor of Massachusetts, released a
YouTube video
this morning proclaiming his candidacy. He is also a close ally of former President Obama. His entry follows that of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s decision to file for primaries though he has not officially declared a run. Bloomberg, a former Republican turned Independent turned Democrat, is a multi-billionaire with well-established name identification. You can expect both Patrick and Bloomberg to seek a space in the center-left lane of the Democractic primary that is currently mostly occupied by former Vice President Joe Biden. The next Democratic debate will take place on Wednesday, November 20 in Atlanta.
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Keynote Speaker Announced
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STEM superstar Dr. Tarika Barrett, COO at Girls Who Code, will be the keynote speaker at ABI's annual conference in June.
Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology. In this role, she oversees the organization's free summer immersion program and after-school clubs program. The programs have reached 90,000 girls across the United States.
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Chad Engelkes
Automation Product Manager
Van Meter Inc.
Traditional industrial robots have been used in manufacturing for decades. But a new type of technology called “cobots” – or collaborative robots – is designed to work safely with and alongside people instead of being isolated and guarded inside of a cage like most robots deployed today.
Cost effective, lightweight and easy to program, cobots are improving productivity, quality and consistency in plants of all types and sizes.
To determine whether a cobot would be beneficial for your environment, ask these questions.
Read more
.
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BrownWinick Attorney Mike Dee Now Offering Mediation Services
BrownWinick is pleased to
announce
that Mike Dee has expanded his practice to include mediation services. Earlier this year, Mike completed Northwestern University’s Mediation Program in Chicago. With more than 30 years of trial work and litigation experience, Mike will focus his mediation services in the areas of commercial, contract, tort, employment, construction and intellectual property law.
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Sandler Sales Training Launches Daily Sales Tip Podcast
Sandler Sales Training has launched a podcast, “Supercharge Your Day with Super K,” featuring a short daily sales tip video from CEO and owner Karl Schaphorst. The podcast is designed to help encourage you, increase your closing rate, put an end to “maybe's,” have fun selling and most importantly become a sales professional.
Sign up
to receive the free podcast sent to your inbox each weekday.
Storey Kenworthy Foundation for Giving Awards Annual Grants
The
Storey Kenworthy Foundation for Giving
has announced the recipients of its annual grants of $5,000 per award: Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa – Des Moines, Oakridge Neighborhood Services – Des Moines, Wildwood Hills Ranch of Iowa – St. Charles, Puppy Jake Foundation – Urbandale, and Tori’s Angels Foundation – Panora. The foundation also awarded a total of $50,000 in funding to these community-based projects: West Des Moines RecPlex, Riverview Park and Water Works Park Foundation.
ABI Members Invited to Open House for Eide Bailly Des Moines Office
The Eide Bailly Des Moines office is moving to a new location (five floors up) in the Financial Center at 666 Walnut St., Suite 1900. You're invited to celebrate the new space at an open house on Dec. 9 from 4:30-7 p.m. with a ribbon cutting at 5:15 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served.
RSVP now
.
UnityPoint Clinic Chooses R&R Development for New Location
R&R Realty Group (R&R) announced today that it is welcoming UnityPoint Clinic to its Center Pointe Business Park development. The West Des Moines-based health system will work with R&R to build a 13,867 square foot clinic under a build to suit arrangement. The facility will open in the fall of 2020 and will offer urgent care, a sports medicine and concussion center, along with physical therapy services. It will be located on the corner of 100th Street and Northpark Drive to provide easy access to care right off the interstate. Read the
full news release
.
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