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Thursday, April 29, 2010
Issue 14
 

 
House, Senate Committees Key to Defeat of Adverse Legislation

After 30 legislative days fraught with tension and emotion, the gavel fell on the 2010 Alabama legislative session last Thursday afternoon, bringing with it the end to both the quadrennium begun in 2006, and paving the way for major changes in the upcoming elections, from the Governor’s Office on down through the legislative ranks.

The final moments in both chambers belied the rancor that frequently marked  previous sessions, as farewells were said to long-serving members of both the House and Senate, and the search for a new Speaker of the House began its first rumblings and intonations as longtime Speaker Seth Hammett, D-Andalusia, presided over his last meeting of the House.

From a business perspective, the outcome of this session will be marked as a success; not a single bill that could have had a negative impact on Alabama’s business community was passed into law. The greatest numbers of these adverse-to-business bills were never allowed to reach the floor of either chamber of the Legislature, thanks to the members of the Business Council of Alabama’s Governmental Affairs team and their ability to provide key legislators with the necessary facts to prevent such actions from taking place.

‘Guns-to-Work’ Defeat Was Key Business Victory
A key victory for the business community came in the defeat of SB360, popularly known as the “Guns to Work” bill. This bill, which would have denied the Fifth Amendment rights of business owners to implement rules concerning firearms on their own private property, passed the Senate by a 26-2 vote but was tabled in the House Commerce Committee by a group of courageous representatives, led by retiring committee chairman Rep. Frank McDaniel, D-Albertville. Because of their stalwart actions, this bill never reached the floor of the House.

Another bill, SB11, would have dramatically increased unemployment compensation taxes on business owners, but after your BCA alerted our members to voice opposition to the legislation, it was indefinitely postponed in the Senate. This marked the second time a bill of this nature has been proposed, and it likely will not be the last.

For a full review of how your BCA stood firm in the face of great trials to look out for the needs of business owners and operators across Alabama, please take time to read this wrap-up issue of the BCA Legislative Bulletin.


  • State Government
    • Folsom Glad to See Demise of Immigration Bills
      • The presiding officer of the State Senate, Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom, Jr., headlined the final meeting of the BCA Governmental Affairs Committee for the 2010 regular legislative session and shared his perspective from the body’s highest chair.

        Folsom said the session has moved rather smoothly with none of the protracted filibusters, intra-caucus fighting or high-profile disputes that have been typical in past years’ meetings.

        “When I ran for office four years ago, I ran on making things run a little more smoothly and getting everyone to work together a little bit more, and I think we’ve accomplished that,” Folsom said. “I found that the governing majority wasn’t communicating with the minority as often as they should be, and once that communication started, some of the barriers fell down and folks started working together better.”

        Folsom said reports from two conference committees - one working on a bill to salvage the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program (PACT) and another to reach compromise on a $1 billion road and bridge construction measure – were at the top of the Legislature’s work agenda, and both bills were, in fact, presented and approved on the floor in arbitrated fashion just hours later.

        Successful passage of legislation to deal with the influx of families and personnel brought by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) was one legislative accomplishment important to citizens in North Alabama, according to Folsom.

        “We are expecting roughly 9,000 new public school students as a result of BRAC coming to Huntsville, and the bill allows up to $175 million in bond proceeds from the PSCA (Public School and College Authority) to be matched by the local school districts and governments so that we can build new schools, new classrooms and renovate old facilities,” Folsom said. “The pure economic impact of BRAC is bigger than just about anything we’ve done since we started the automobile industry in Alabama 15 years ago.”

        He said that addressing the infrastructure needs and other stresses brought to Madison County by the increased population will serve Alabama well when another round of BRAC recommendations is submitted at the federal level.

        “If we don’t live up to our commitments in Madison County with regards to BRAC, it’s going to hurt us when the government and the military begin round two of BRAC and gauge how well we are doing in supplying and meeting infrastructure needs,” Folsom said. “If we are not living up to our part of the deal, we could suffer the consequences for it.”

        He suggested that a full-time state office, similar to one operating in Maryland, should be created to coordinate with Madison County officials, the Governor’s Office and the Legislature to ensure that BRAC-related needs are being met.

        Touching upon an issue most important to the business community, the lieutenant governor said he was glad to see the demise of illegal immigration bills that put the impetus for enforcing laws on the backs of business owners rather than law enforcement officials.

        “All of us agree that if a policeman arrests someone and finds they’re here illegally, they need to be deported back to where they came from,” he said. “But placing the burden to police illegal immigration on small and large business owners in the state is not the way to go. Things like e-verify place a burden on business that should be rightfully placed on law enforcement and the federal government.”

        Folsom predicted that Republicans stand a good chance to pick up at least two seats currently being held by Democrats, and Democrats have similar opportunities to flip current GOP-held districts with “two or three on the borderline that could go either way.”

        The meeting concluded with BCA President and CEO William J. Canary taking a moment to recognize Fred Blackwell, who chairs the Governmental Affairs Committee, for the leadership and dedication he demonstrated at each meeting throughout the session.

  • Education
    • House, Senate Committees Kill Charter Schools Bill
      • Supporters of public education’s status quo clearly prevailed during meetings of the House Education Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance & Taxation -Education Committee when members rejected a bill that would have allowed charter schools in Alabama as another tool for improving teaching and learning. The committees voted against HB189, by Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, R-Indian Springs, and SB202, by Sen. Steve French, R-Birmingham, and in so doing, rejected a concept that has produced many examples of academic success nationwide. This action put Alabama at a distinct disadvantage in its first-round application that was not selected for up to $200 million of federal “Race to the Top” funds spread over three years that would have helped fund innovative educational programs statewide.

        BCA has actively supported the concept of charter schools in op-ed articles in the state’s newspapers, and in public hearings before legislative committees. The 2010 BCA Legislative Agenda states that the Business Council of Alabama will actively work to enact legislation allowing for charter schools in Alabama, provided the legislation ensures that: 1) best practices are employed; 2) the schools are fully accountable and statewide standards are met; 3) the entire student population may apply for admission; 4) administrators and classroom instructors are qualified; and 5) progress is measurable using the same criteria as other public schools.

    • ‘Rolling Reserve’ Act Fails to Make It Out of Committee; Canfield Says It Will Return Next Year
      • Once again, legislation by Rep. Greg Canfield, R-Vestavia Hills, which was designed to stabilize funding for public education and end the threat of budget cuts under all but the most extreme circumstances, failed to make it out of committee. HB 99, the “Rolling Reserve Act,” would have helped to ensure sustainable funding for public education by setting the annual education budget cap at the level predicated on the Education Trust Fund’s 15-year average annual growth rate. In years when actual revenue exceeds the cap, the excess would flow into a budget stabilization fund, which would be drawn-down in years when the actual revenue falls short. The House Education Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on the bill, but took no action on it.

        Rep. Canfield talks about his bill to BCA in this video on the BCA YouTube Channel.

        Supporters emphasized the need to avoid future budget cuts, brought on by revenue forecasts that cannot be made with any degree of certainty and the legislature spending all revenue estimated to be available. Rep. Canfield says the bill will be introduced again in the next session.

        In its 2010 Legislative Agenda, the BCA supports adopting policies and processes that ensure sound sustainable funding for public education.

        For more information, contact Victor Vernon at victorv@bcatoday.org or call 334-240-8722.

  • Labor or Employment
    • Immigration Bills Would Have Had Negative Impact on Business
      • The 2010 Legislative Session saw a rush of immigration reform bills. Unfortunately, much of the legislation seeking to address Alabama’s immigration issues also had the potential to create serious negative, unintended consequences for the state’s business community, i.e., the same bills seeking to “fix” immigration issues in the state would inadvertently “break” business in Alabama.

        While the majority of introduced immigration legislation was well-intentioned, issues of enforcement and cost efficiency prevented BCA from wholly embracing reform efforts.

        Proposed legislation ranged from the seemingly innocuous mandate requiring employers to verify the legal residency status of employees, to the blatantly dangerous threat that Alabama corporations could be completely dissolved by the Alabama Secretary of State if found to be violating federal immigration law.

        BCA worked closely with leaders in both legislative houses to ensure that Alabama businesses remained protected in the face of reform.

        For more information, contact Brandon Colvin, brandonc@bcatoday.org or call 334-240-8768.

    • Business Stands Up to Labor Over ‘Card Check’ Legislation
      • The Business Council of Alabama made a strong stand early in the legislative session in support of efforts by Rep. Greg Canfield, R-Vestavia, to guarantee Alabama workers the right to vote via secret ballot. Canfield’s HB3 provides for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing individuals the right to vote by a secret ballot, effectively serving as Alabama’s “NO” answer to the federal Employee Free Choice Act.

        From the outset of the 2010 Legislative Session, BCA firmly stated its position on the federal “card check” legislation. In the first few weeks of the session, BCA President and CEO William J. Canary testified at a public hearing in support of HB3. "By passing HB3, you will be sending a clear signal that the state's lawmakers respect and want to protect Alabamians' right to vote a secret ballot in all elections, including union elections," Canary said. "Alabama is a right-to-work state and should remain so in order to continue the economic success we have seen over the past 10 years."

        Although the House Committee on Constitution and Elections ultimately voted to indefinitely postpone HB3, BCA continues to monitor the “card check” bill on the federal level. Although no action is expected on the bill in the current session of Congress, it could see action in 2011. Should it be approved by Congress and become federal law, employees working in Alabama could effectively lose their ability to vote anonymously in workplace elections. Alabama’s economic successes have come to pass in large part because the balance between pro-business forces and pro-union forces has been preserved. BCA’s position on HB3 is predicated on our long-standing policy, at both the state and federal levels, to protect Alabama’s status as a right-to-work state.

        BCA will continue to strongly support the secret ballot and all efforts to maintain employee rights and protections, as proven by our long-standing and steadfast support of right-to-work statutes.

        For more information, contact Brandon Colvin at brandonc@bcatoday.org or call 334-240-8768.

  • Transportation
    • Legislature Passes $1 Billion Road & Bridge Program; Measure to be Decided by Voters in November General Election
      • It will now be up to Alabama’s voters to decide whether a $1 billion, 10-year road & bridge construction, maintenance and repair program will be undertaken. SB 120, by Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, a proposed constitutional amendment that authorizes the withdrawal of $100 million annually for 10 years from the Alabama Trust Fund to make improvements in the state’s transportation infrastructure, will be placed on the ballot in substantially the same form as it passed the Senate.

        Upon voter approval, the state will annually distribute $25 million of the $100 million to cities and counties based on the state’s gasoline tax distribution formula, $74 million to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and $1 million to the Alabama Shortline Railroad Infrastructure Fund. The bill further provides that of the $74 million to ALDOT, $5 million will be used in each congressional district (for a total of $35 million) and $39 million will be expended in the counties by formula. The bill also includes a provision that suspends the withdrawal of monies from the Alabama Trust Fund in any year that the Fund’s balance falls below $2 billion and language that gives preference for hiring Alabama workers, “to the extent permissible under Alabama law.”

        However, the final version of the bill includes funding earmarks within several congressional districts’ shares for key projects favored by legislators representing various regions of the state, including mass transit for Jefferson County, The Alabama Port Authority for Mobile and Baldwin Counties, and infrastructure expansion related to Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) in Russell County.

        For more information, contact Victor Vernon at victorv@bcatoday.org or call (334) 240-8722.

  • Taxation
    • HB 1 Fails: Bill Would Have Removed Grocery Tax and Phased Out Federal Income Tax Deductions for Individuals and Small Businesses
      • A proposed constitutional amendment, HB 1, to remove ONLY the state's 4 percent sales tax (not city or county taxes) from groceries and phase out the deduction for the amount of federal income taxes paid failed in the Alabama House of Representatives. By a vote of 54-42, the budget isolation resolution fell short of the 63 affirmative votes needed to come before the House. Last year, a similar version failed despite four attempts.

        This year's version would have removed the state sales tax from over-the-counter medications as well as from groceries and also would have phased out the federal income tax deduction at income levels higher than last year's bill. As written, this would have meant higher taxes for many small businesses in the state.

        The repeal of the federal income tax deduction would have increased taxes on business and working Alabamians by an estimated $407 million annually, making this one of the largest proposed tax increases in Alabama history.

        BCA actively opposed this bill and favors a more targeted approach, such as efforts to offset the burden of state sales tax on groceries for low income households with individual tax rebates or refundable tax credits.

    • Bill Enacted To Provide Tax Incentives for Job Creation
      • The Alabama Senate voted to 26-0 for a bill that provides a state income tax deduction for up to 50 percent of wages paid to new hires from the state’s unemployment rolls. HB 260,by Rep. Robert Bentley, R-Tuscaloosa, and signed into law as Act #2010-557, was dubbed the “Reemployment Act of 2010." It provides a deduction of 35 percent of wages paid for full-time jobs paying between $10 and $12 per hour, 40 percent for jobs paying between $12 and $14 per hour and 50 percent for jobs that pay more than $14 per hour. The tax deduction for job creation will become effective for tax years 2011 and 2012.

        BCA supported another package of bills, termed "Jumpstarting Jobs," pushed by Gov. Bob Riley and sponsored by  Rep. DuWayne Bridges, R-Valley, and Rep. Jay Love, R-Montgomery, but this legislation was never taken up by the House Education Appropriations Committee despite repeated requests by the governor and its supporters.

    • Act Changes Thresholds for Making Estimated Tax Payments
      • The Legislature passed and the governor has signed into law HB504, now Act # 2010-568, which simplifies the individual and corporate thresholds that trigger a requirement that taxpayers make estimated state income tax payments. The bill, by Rep. Charles Newton, D-Greenville, conforms the thresholds used to trigger individual and corporate estimated payments for state income purposes to the system used for federal income taxes. Some 25,000 individuals will now be free from making estimated payments to the state and an additional 4,000 corporations that earn income in Alabama will begin to make estimated payments. The act does not affect the overall amount of tax otherwise owed by individual or corporate taxpayers.

    • ‘Stealth’ Unemployment Compensation Bill Turned Back on House Floor
      • HB700, by Rep. Demetrius Newton, D-Birmingham, would have provided that “a finding of fact, conclusion of law, judgment or final order” originating from unemployment compensation hearings conducted by the Department of Industrial Relations could only be used as evidence in later proceedings that also concern unemployment compensation, regardless of whether the later proceeding involves the same individuals or the same facts.

        Although this proposed provision would have applied to both employers and workers when a subsequent proceeding arose from a labor dispute, these decisions would have been excluded from consideration during that proceeding. Whether the subsequent case concerns alleged retaliatory discharge, cases of alleged discrimination or sexual harassment, a majority of employers would be better served by being allowed to present all the available evidence that would support action taken against an employee.

        When questions posed on the House floor made it clear the bill would face difficulty in passing, it was withdrawn by the sponsor. BCA opposed this legislation.

        For more information, contact Victor Vernon at victorv@bcatoday.org or 334-240-8722.

  • Campaigns and Elections
    • Integrity of Judicial Selection Process Protected
      • In a repeat scenario from the 2009 legislative session, several bills aimed at judicial election reform were introduced as a part of a concerted and continuing effort to impact the political and ideological makeup of the state’s judicial bench. But the Business Council of Alabama remained vigilant on this issue, working to protect the integrity of Alabama’s judicial selection process.

        Both the House and Senate chambers offered up bills that would change the way Alabama elects its judges. There was a particularly strong push this session to enact legislation that would have prevented voters from knowing the party affiliation of judicial candidates. At least one bill proposed the creation of a separate, special ballot specifically for state judicial candidates. Another bill would have authorized the legislature to approve the non-partisan election of state judges on a county-by-county basis.

        Fortunately, the Alabama Legislature collectively shares BCA’s view that the state’s current system of judicial selection does not need to be tampered with. The bulk of the proposed judicial reform legislation failed to be voted out of committee by legislators and not a single piece of judicial reform legislation was passed into law. Knowing a judicial candidate’s party affiliation at the voting booth often gives voters the only source of distinguishing information they have for making an informed decision.

        In its 2010 Legislative Agenda, BCA opposes any proposal for nonpartisan election of judges. BCA believes partisan elections are essential to maintaining openness and transparency in the election process.

        For more information, contact Brandon Colvin at brandonc@bcatoday.org or 334-240-8768.

    • Health
      • Mandates, Licensure and Scope of Practice Expansions Die in Committee
        • BCA was off and running early in the 2010 legislative session as we examined dozens of health-related proposals dropped in the hopper. Below is a list of some of the bills we kept a close eye on for you. These bills were stalled early on, and eventually killed as BCA sprang into action the first week.

          Among the proposals were several mandates, licensure and scope-of-practice expansions, and insurance-related proposals. BCA closely monitored these bills to ensure health insurance costs for employers were not adversely affected.

          HB304, by Rep. Ron Johnson, R-Talladega, requiring health insurance companies and health benefit plans to reimburse health care providers for certain costs related to desk audits of health insurance claims.

          BCA opposes any legislation, resolution, or regulation that would increase health plan costs. Increases in reimbursement from third party payers to providers are generally cost-shifted to employer-sponsored insurance plans, resulting in increased health plan costs.

          HB413, by Rep. Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, would require products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine to be sold by prescription only. The legislation also mandates the State Board of Health to classify these nasal decongestants and stimulants as Schedule III narcotics because these ingredients are key chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine.

          BCA opposed this bill because it would lead to increased health care costs by requiring individuals to obtain a prescription for current over the counter products such as nose sprays and medications used to treat the common cold.

          HB344, by Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattville, requiring health plans and HMO’s to provide coverage for family and marriage therapy.

          HB420, by Rep. Barry Mask, R-Wetumpka, would have created standards of care for hemophilia patients by requiring health insurers to provide coverage for hemophilia and other blood disorders, requiring pharmacies who distribute blood clotting products used to treat hemophilia at home to meet certain standards, and requiring physicians to order certain screenings for hemophilia patients.

          BCA opposes all health care and insurance-related mandates on employers and/or individuals because they result in increased health plan costs.

          HB462, by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, establishing a State Board of Midwifery to license the practice of midwifery.

          BCA opposes enacting licensure laws where there is no evidence-based impact on quality of care or outcomes.

      • Temporary Abolishment of State Health Planning and Development Agency Board Dies on Senate Calendar
        • HB160, by Rep. Ron Johnson, R-Sylacauga, would have abolished the current State Health Planning and Development Agency and replaced it with new members in February of 2011. In the Senate Health Committee, BCA was successful in securing a seat on the board for a purchaser of health care who is not in the business of providing health care services, but the full Senate failed to act on the measure.

          With the exception of the new business appointment, the composition of the board would have remained the same under existing law. The bill added language requiring that members must reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state, and only be eligible to serve two terms. Additionally, the legislation allowed for removal of board members “for cause,” with the definition of “cause” to be defined by rules adopted pursuant to the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act.

          BCA supports efforts to increase payer and consumer business representation on a state health policy board.

      • Creation of Insurance Fraud Unit Dies in Committee
        • SB 3, by Sen. Ben Brooks, R-Mobile, would have created the Insurance Fraud Unit within the office of the Department of Insurance to investigate suspected insurance fraud and provide powers and remedies to enforce this bill. The bill included ERISA-defined health benefit plans within the definition of an insurer regardless of whether the person denies being an insurer.

          The bill was pushed by the Alabama Department of Insurance. Before the session, BCA met with the state insurance commissioner about our concerns. At his request, BCA prepared a white paper outlining those concerns, and the commissioner is researching how other states have treated self-insured plans in this type of legislation.

          BCA opposes legislation that seeks to define ERISA plans as insurance companies.

          For more information on these and other health care-related legislation, contact Claire Haynes at claireh@bcatoday.org or call 334-240-8726.

    • Environment and Energy
      • Environmental Update
        • Your BCA was effective this past session in making sure no adverse environmental legislation passed that would have affected one or more of our business and industry members. We also worked with the Alabama Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy and interest groups to pass several bills pertaining to energy and energy efficiency, which were included in the BCA 2010 Legislative Agenda. Among the bills passed were HB 128, by Rep. Greg Wren, R-Montgomery, which provides for the “Codification of the Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy” and provides for an ongoing state energy study and energy plan, which became Act 2010-232, and SB 315, by Sen. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, that requires the adoption of the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes by the Alabama Residential and Energy Codes Board to comply with certain federal energy and building requirements, which became Act 2010-185.

          BCA collaborated with Rep. Randy Wood, R-Anniston, to pass HB 298, which pertains to secondary metals recyclers, and would increase penalties for metals thefts based on the value of the metals stolen and property damage to the victim’s property. BCA's 2010 Legislative Agenda states that the BCA will support efforts to strengthen penalties against those who sell stolen metal property to include the costs of repairs to the victim’s property in the damages total for determining the severity of the offense.

          HB 511, by Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, would expand the “National Groundwater Association certified well driller” slot on the Environmental Management Commission to include a “licensed geologist.” BCA has introduced this bill in a similar form in the past, but this year it was introduced on behalf of the environmental community. David Roberson and others within BCA offered to work with representatives of the environmental community on the bill, but only if it is correctly worded and only makes changes where needed. A decision was made to have further discussion before the 2011 session and not move the bill this session.

          Legislators worked well with BCA to ensure that bills we have opposed in the past did not move. Among the bills opposed was the “solid waste local approval” legislation, HB 36, introduced by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, and others, and its companion, SB 96, introduced by Sen. Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverne. This bill has been pushed by those who do not want their local government to actually approve a landfill in their area by denying due process to an industry that might apply to the local government for approval. When the law was passed in 1989, it was to ensure that local governments did have such authority to approve or deny a landfill site.

          BCA also continued to oppose a bill that would require the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to perform a statewide risk assessment of counties for toxic pollutants. HB 29, by Rep. Joseph Mitchell, D-Mobile, would also require the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to issue a public report on the incidences of diseases, based on counties, which assesses health risks posed by release of toxic substances. The bill has several other onerous provisions in it, while providing no funding for the agencies to accomplish the tasks required.

          As we reported during the legislative session, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) proposed regulations authorized by the 2008 Solid Wastes & Recyclable Materials Management Act that regulates recycling and gathers data on the amount of recycling ongoing in the state. David Roberson and BCA members from various manufacturing sectors met with ADEM officials to ask questions and seek clarification on various sections of the proposed regulations. This group submitted comments to ADEM and looks forward to working with the agency on this issue. The group will submit its proposed regulations to the Environmental Management Commission for approval during its June 25 meeting.

          On April 16, the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) voted to hire Lance LeFleur to be the next director of ADEM. LeFleur holds a bachelor of science in chemistry from Georgia Tech, a masters of business administration in management/finance from Southern Methodist University, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Graduate School of Business. He has been president and founder of Materials Recovery Corporation in Mobile, a plastic reprocessing and recycling company, since 1990. He starts his new position June 1.

          For more information on other environment or energy issues, contact BCA Environment and Energy Committee Chairman David Roberson at david@alcoal.com or phone (205) 871-3734.

    • Federal Affairs
      • Cap-and-Trade Moving to Back Burner as Immigration Reform Gains Momentum
        • In the wake of the health care vote, Congress continues to move full steam ahead. First up is financial reform, which faces a major hurdle this week. Climate change legislation, which many expected to follow financial reform, seems to be moving to the back burner with immigration reform suddenly becoming a national issue once again.

          The Senate moved to open debate on the financial reform bill Wednesday by unanimous consent, after Republicans agreed to drop their objections to moving the bill the floor. The decision came after Republicans had held together to prevent the Democrats from opening debate three times in three days. Republican senators say they will now seek to make changes in the legislation during the formal debate.

          Following financial reform, it appeared the Senate would be shifting its attention to climate change legislation; however, in the wake of Arizona’s sweeping new immigration law, passage of comprehensive immigration legislation seems to have a renewed impetus.

          It also appears that this week, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-MD, and Rep. Mike Castle, R-DE, will unveil legislation, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections or DISCLOSE Act, which seeks to undo the Supreme Court’s Citizen United decision, which enabled corporations to use treasury funds to make independent expenditures on the election or defeat of a candidate at the federal, state or local level.

      • Health Care Reform Law: More Questions than Answers
        • On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, into law. As the nation’s employers seek to implement the sweeping changes, many businesses are surrounded with more questions than answers as they seek to comply with the new health care law. In fact, several requirements begin to go into effect as early as six months from the date of the bill’s enactment. The new health care reform law also includes a series of authorities and responsibilities for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and calls on HHS to publish information regarding these new authorities. The first of these is scheduled to be released on Friday, April 30.

          The “Health Care Reform Initiative Toolbox” located on BCA’s website continues to provide up-to-date information on these new laws and what it means for you. Please check back often for the latest information.

          For more information on these and other federal issues, contact Nancy Wall Hewston at nancyh@bcatoday.org or call 334-240-8725.

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