Let's Try This Again - Redistricting 2.0 |
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Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a proclamation naming October 28, 2021 as the date for a second extraordinary special legislative session to consider the second version of maps for Iowa House Districts, Senate Districts and districts for the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa.
Senate Republicans rejected the first set of maps citing a need for the maps to more closely follow state law requiring compactness and population variation. The same nonpartisan legislative agency that prepared the first iteration will prepare the map to be considered during the second special session October 28. Like the first map, the Legislature must either accept or reject the second map without amendment. Only a potential third map could see the legislature amend district boundaries which is the norm for most other states undertaking this once-a-decade task.
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Franken Declares Run for U.S. Senate |
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Mike Franken, a retired three star Vice Admiral in the Navy, announced yesterday that he would be seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race. Franken, who has never held elected office, previously ran for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 U.S. Senate race where he finished 2nd in the primary with 25% of the vote. Outside of his work for the U.S. Navy, he has also worked for the late Senator Ted Kennedy and the Department of Defense. With Franken’s announcement, there are currently five individuals seeking the Democratic nomination including former Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer, Minden City Councilman Glenn Hurst, former State Representative Bob Krause and former Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer. Read more from The Des Moines Register.
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Representative Jon Dunwell Named
New House Member from District 29
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On Tuesday, Republican Jon Dunwell defeated Newton City Council member Steve Mullan (D) in a special election to replace Wes Breckenridge who resigned his seat to focus on his new job at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
The Dunwell win increases the Republican majority in the Iowa House from 59-41 to 60-40. The win was lopsided with Dunwell taking nearly 60% of votes cast. The win is a realignment of District 29 to a reliably Republican seat covering Newton and much of rural Jasper County. CLICK HERE for a full rundown of the race.
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$200 Million Broadband Grant Opportunity
Announced by Gov. Reynolds
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On Monday, Governor Reynolds declared that she would be utilizing $200 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars for the state’s broadband grant program. The funding will be available through the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). In September, $100 million in state dollars were awarded in grants to providers to build out and facilitate high speed broadband infrastructure across the state. During that process, the OCIO received 178 applications worth $300 million in total requests. Questions about this new opportunity may be submitted to the OCIO. The period to file applications runs from October 25 through November 22, 2021. Learn more HERE.
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Opportunity to Participate in DNR
Air Quality Client Contact Meeting
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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Air Quality Bureau is encouraging members of the public to submit agenda items for the upcoming client contact meeting. The virtual meeting will be held on Thursday, November 18 at 1:00 pm. The agenda and other details will be available online two weeks prior to the meeting. The meeting will be focused on current and upcoming air program issues and changes. Submitted agenda items should include the name of the item, who plans to introduce or lead the discussion, and an estimate of how much time should be set aside on the agenda for the item. Agenda items should be emailed to Wendy Walker by October 29.
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Leave It to the States - State Worker Compensation Programs Deserve State Monitoring - Not Federal |
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The more time the massive $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill is exposed to scrutiny, the greater the risks to Iowa businesses become known. The broad outline of the bill is the creation or expansion of federal transfer payments for childcare, eldercare, community college, health and drug benefits - and more - funded by increased taxes on business taxpayers. The tax increases are bad enough on their own, but there are many instances of bad policy language being developed for inclusion in the massive spending bill.
ABI is focused on language developed by the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee that would, for the first time, give federal agency monitoring authority over state-based workers compensation programs. There are federal workers compensation programs with federal oversight, and for over 100 years there have been state-based programs like those overseen by the state of Iowa. Local control of workers' compensation will result in the best policy outcomes for Iowa’s unique workforce, and federal oversight can only be interpreted as the first step to federal control of these state-based programs.
ABI is joining with organizations in other states to let our objections be known to members of Congress. Iowa employers, through ABI, worked too hard in 2017 for reform of our state-based workers compensation system to see those gains put at jeopardy through federal oversight.
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136 Countries Agree to Global Minimum Tax |
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Last week, it was announced that a vast majority of the countries in the world had agreed to set a minimum 15% corporate income tax rate. Proponents claim the treaty, which would have to be approved by the U.S. Congress, would crack down on tax havens and reshape the worldwide business landscape. The announcement is a significant victory for President Biden as his Administration spearheaded the efforts. The Administration is looking to raise the U.S. corporate tax rate, which is currently 21%, in an effort to fund the reconciliation efforts the Congress is currently debating. If the U.S. corporate tax rate is increased and the treaty is approved, the Biden Administration believes there will be less incentive for companies to move their corporate headquarters from the U.S. to overseas. Read more from NPR.
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Call for 2022 Conference Workshop Proposals |
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Proposals are now being accepted to present workshops at the 2022 Taking Care of Business Conference. ABI seeks speakers who can deliver dynamic, engaging sessions with a strong emphasis on takeaways.
The hour-long workshops will be held Wednesday, June 15th. Attendees pre-register for workshops, and attendance typically ranges from 20-85 participants per workshop.
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ABI President Mike Ralston and Peter Ralston, an assistant professor at Iowa State University with expertise in supply chain management, discuss ongoing supply chain issues manufacturers face.
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Chad Solberg
VP, Business Banking Manager
Bankers Trust
Five Signs Your Business
Is Ready To Grow
Growing your business and taking it to the next level is an exciting time. There are so many ways to grow your business, including hiring more people, obtaining new technology, expanding your space and creating a more robust digital presence. The question is, how do you know your business is ready?
CLICK HERE for the top five signs your business is ready to grow.
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Click on the headlines to learn about the latest ABI member news
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-Editorial, Corridor Business Journal
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IEDA Requests Input from HR Professionals for Talent Attraction Efforts - Responses Due Oct. 19
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The Iowa Economic Development Authority continues to assess how the State of Iowa and its partners can help Iowa businesses meet their current workforce demands. To assist in these efforts, the University of Northern Iowa – Institute for Decision Making/Strategic Marketing Services developed a survey that is designed to be completed by HR personnel or professionals involved in fulfilling HR duties/responsibilities.
IEDA and its statewide partners will use the information collected from this survey to inform its public policy and efforts centered on talent attraction.
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Fredrikson & Byron Annual Employment Law Seminar
October 26 & 28
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Gear up for increased productivity and improved employee well-being. Upgrade your workplace with legal and practical guidance on topics like accommodations, vaccination policies, managing remote workers and more. Fredrikson & Byron’s Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar will equip attendees with strategies and solutions to reframe policies and practices for today’s employment realities.
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TOP SUPPORTERS - GOVERNOR |
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