Iowa Legislature Convenes on Monday |
|
The second session of the 89th Iowa General Assembly will begin on Monday. The Legislature is set to be in session until April 19th which is when per diem expenses for lawmakers expire. The first week of action is largely composed of formalities, introductory committee meetings and receptions in the evening following adjournment for the day. On Monday, leaders of both parties in the House and Senate will give their opening day speeches that highlight priorities in their caucuses. On Tuesday, Governor Kim Reynolds will deliver her Condition of the State Address in the House Chamber. This will take place at 6pm. On Wednesday, Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen will give her Condition of the Judiciary Address in the lower chamber at 10am. On Thursday, Major General Ben Correll will provide his Condition of the Guard address at 10am in the House as well. You can find live coverage of the first-week speeches here.
|
|
ABI Marks Return of Legislature with Best Attended Reception of the Year - Members Briefed on the Session Ahead |
Next Wednesday, January 12, 2022, ABI members will gather for a legislative briefing that will forecast the topics proposed by the Governor and lawmakers and considered during the 2022 session. A reception follows the briefing and all 150 legislators, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor and other key executive branch personnel have been invited. You won't want to miss it.
|
|
|
|
|
ABI Supports Changes Being Implemented Next Week for
Unemployed Iowans and Iowa Businesses
|
In two days Iowa Workforce Development, at the direction of Kim Reynolds, will implement changes affecting the recently unemployed and Iowa businesses. |
|
Starting January 9, 2022, newly unemployed Iowans will be assigned a caseworker that will help them navigate the path back to employment through the Reemployment Case Management (RCM) system. Caseworkers will help identify prospective employers and opportunities in technical training and education that will get the unemployed back on payroll sooner.
One of the changes accompanying the new RCM system is an increase in the number of weekly contacts a recipient of unemployment funds must make to remain eligible for benefits. Employers should be prepared for a doubling of employment inquiries from unemployed Iowans. Those receiving jobless benefits will be asked to contact four prospective employers each week rather than the two contacts previously required.
A full state of workforce initiatives from Governor Reynolds is expected when she delivers her "State of the State" address next week. For an ABI press release endorsing the latest changes, click here.
|
|
Plethora of Announcements Made this Week Concerning Statewide Races |
|
2022 is an election year and with that being said, multiple candidates made significant waves this week with announcements concerning their campaigns for statewide office.
Brenna Bird declared that she would be seeking the Republican nomination for Attorney General in a bid to take on incumbent Democrat Tom Miller, who is the longest serving Attorney General in United States history. Bird is currently County Attorney for Guthrie County and previously challenged Miller in 2010.
Former State Representative Mary Ann Hanusa announced she was running for the GOP nomination for Auditor in an effort to ultimately take on incumbent Democrat Rob Sand.
|
|
|
Hanusa, from Council Bluffs, is a former staffer for Senator Charles Grassley and was previously the GOP nominee for Secretary of State in 2006. Last year, she had been running for the GOP nomination for the 3rd Congressional District, but was drawn out of it following redistricting in October. She's since suspended her campaign for that particular race.
State Representative Ras Smith announced on Wednesday that he was suspending his campaign for governor. Smith, a Democrat from Waterloo, was previously one of two front runners for the Democratic nomination for governor. According to The Des Moines Register, he cited financial difficulties which prevented him from expanding his campaign operation. If Smith decides to seek re-election in the House, he will face fellow incumbent Democrat Timi-Brown Powers in the primary as they were drawn into the same district following redistricting.
|
|
Governor Announces Broadband Award Recipients |
|
On Tuesday, Governor Reynolds and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) announced over $200 million in awards for industry seeking to implement broadband infrastructure across the state. The $210 million was split and awarded to 160 applicants. You can view the list of recipients here. To date, the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program has issued funding that will result in over $880 million in new broadband investment according to a press release from the governor's office.
|
|
Air Quality Bureau Proposes Fees Remain the Same for FY23 |
|
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Air Quality Bureau held a joint fee advisory group meeting on Wednesday with the purpose of reviewing and discussing the budget proposal and air quality fees for Fiscal Year 2023. The Bureau is proposing to lower the overall budget by $11,000 for FY23 when compared to FY22, which is the first time this has happened in a number of years. The Bureau has also proposed to maintain all fees at current levels for FY23.
Overall, the budget appears to be in good shape heading into FY23. The Bureau is asking for public comments and any projections on Title V emissions tonnages by February 14. You can send that to Catherine Fitzsimmons. If you have any questions or comments you would like ABI to deliver anonymously on behalf of your company, please contact Brad Hartkopf.
|
|
U.S. Supreme Court Hears Biden Vaccinate or Test Mandate Challenge |
|
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments from both sides on the appropriateness of two of the Biden Administration's vaccine mandates. These mandates cover workers at businesses that employ more than 100 and health care facilities that receive federal funding. Most lower courts had stayed the mandates as they worked through the legal system. Shortly after one of the mandates was allowed to become effective while under judicial review, the Supreme Court scheduled today's proceedings. For more context on today's action, click here.
|
|
Watch: Weekly Business Report |
ABI President Mike Ralston highlights the latest results from the Quarterly Business Survey and introduces Kelsey Smith, ABI's new Director of Marketing and Communications. |
Q1 Survey Results
Results from ABI’s latest Quarterly Business Survey show Iowa manufacturers expect increased sales and capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2022.
|
|
JD Davis to Speak at Business Record's 2022 Legislative Forecast |
|
ABI VP of Public Policy JD Davis will be part of a panel discussion previewing the 2022 legislative session. The Business Record is hosting this 2022 Legislative Forecast and business leaders will discuss key issues to address when the Iowa Legislature meets on Jan. 10. Topics include ways to encourage more people to come to Iowa and how to keep existing residents in the state to fight the ongoing labor shortage, broadband expansion, childcare and tax reform. |
|
Click the names of our new members to visit their websites.
|
|
|
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR LEADERSHIP IOWA HOST COMMUNITIES |
|
The selection process for host communities for the 2022-23 Leadership Iowa year will soon be underway! Would your town make a great host for an LI session? Is there a particular topic that would allow your city to shine? Showcase your community with a nomination! The nomination process is a quick and easy online form. Click below to nominate your community as a potential host. |
|
Nominations are held indefinitely. If/when your community is selected, you’ll be contacted by the ABI Foundation staff. |
|
FROM THE DESK OF MIKE RALSTON |
|
|
|
Every year at this time, I note that ABI is not a political organization; it's a business organization. I also note that while ABI is not a political organization, our award-winning public policy work is some of the most important we conduct every year.
Year in and year out, ABI is always at or near the top of any list of organizations that successfully impact policy development in Iowa. That's good, because that is what ABI members expect and demand.
|
|
There are many reasons ABI's public policy work is so successful. We provide our members with all the tools you would expect of a successful public policy organization. ABI has a political action committee, a grassroots organizing tool, a nonpartisan elections resource, and all the technology you would expect. We also have on staff some of Iowa's very best public policy and communications professionals.
However, while those things are critically important, the real reason for ABI's success is YOU. When you develop a personal relationship with your legislative delegation and when you invite public officials into your plant or office, you are doing the very best thing you can to help advance pro-business policy in Iowa.
|
|
Click on the headlines to learn about the latest ABI member news
|
|
Free STEP Forward Event - February 10 |
|
February 10th, join The Manufacturing Institute in Davenport to hear from a series of industry leaders on how we can better recruit and retain women in the Quad Cities manufacturing industry.
Panelists include:
-
Cynthia Krist, Arconic Corporation
-
Tracy Schrauben, John Deere
-
Carol Reynolds, Kent Corporation
-
Divya Behl, Woodward Inc.
-
Moderator: AJ Jorgenson, Vice President, Strategic Engagement and Inclusion, The Manufacturing Institute
Click here to learn more and RSVP for this free event.
|
|
TOP SUPPORTERS - GOVERNOR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
