March 16, 2010

The federal government must provide the leadership and resources necessary to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of goods on the nation's highway system, American Trucking Associations (ATA) Senior Vice President Tim Lynch told Congress today. In his testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Lynch said the United States can no longer afford to spend limited federal resources on projects that do not meet important national goals. Full release.

The following is a statement from Larry Minnix, President & CEO, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging: "We commend the leadership in Congress and the Administration for their commitment to passing health reform legislation that will help millions of seniors and their caregivers. We call on other members of Congress to follow suit. Leadership trumps politics, and our country's seniors deserve leadership now on health reform." Full release.

Warning that "systemic underfunding of the Centers for Disease Control's Division of Viral Hepatitis puts millions of Americans' health and well-being at risk," the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) today called on the Administration to work with Congress to take decisive action this year to fix the funding failure for viral hepatitis screening, surveillance, and early intervention programs. While an estimated 5 million Americans are infected with viral hepatitis B or C, the Administration's budget proposal for 2011 would fund the Division of Viral Hepatitis at a level actually lower than allocated a decade ago during the Clinton Administration. The Administration's neglect is particularly troubling given a recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report blasting the federal government for its inadequate response to this crisis. Full release.

Nelson Smith, president and CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools today released the following statement: "President Obama's 'Blueprint' for re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act demonstrates a continuing commitment to supporting strong public charter schools and using the power of choice to spur broader education reform. The Blueprint continues and expands the federal government's commitment to increasing the number of high-quality public charter schools. For example, the administration of charter funds is broadened to include authorizers and nonprofits, as well as state education agencies, a provision long-sought by the Alliance, and there is explicit permission to set aside funds for effective oversight and support." Full release.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Dr. David Michaels today testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee's Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Michaels shared the U.S. Department of Labor's views on the Protecting America's Workers Act, particularly the issue of enhanced penalties. "Secretary Hilda Solis' vision for the Department of Labor is 'good jobs for everyone.' Good jobs are safe jobs. Stronger OSHA enforcement will save lives. The administration supports both the goals of the Protecting America's Workers Act and many specific provisions," said Michaels. Full release.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today released public opinion polls in 10 key congressional districts - all of which showed voters oppose current health care legislation being discussed in Congress, with substantial majorities saying it will raise the cost of their health care. Polling showed voters in the selected districts are more likely to support their representative if he or she opposes the bill, even in districts where that vote would represent a switch from their vote last fall. The polls were conducted March 8-11 by Ayres, McHenry & Associates to gauge support for health legislation currently being proposed. Full release.

SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" and Experian, the leading global information services company, join forces to offer "how to" resources that help entrepreneurs better understand their business credit profile and strengthen their credit score. As a newly recognized National Corporate Sponsor of SCORE, Experian will help promote financial health by sponsoring SCORE Expert Answers and a new eGuide on www.score.org. The new eGuide, "Growing and Maintaining a Healthy Business Credit Score," is now available for download under the "Financing Your Business" section at www.score.org. The eGuide is designed to educate business owners on the basics of their credit profile, as well as provide tips and resources about how business owners can effectively manage their credit. Full release.

Many Americans found themselves out of work this past year, and high unemployment rates indicate it's still hard to find a job. If you've been out of work for some time, you may think you don't owe taxes or need to file a return, but think again. Higher amounts of unemployment compensation are taxable and there are credits that could get you money from the IRS. It's important to do a thorough job of completing your tax returns so you receive the refund you deserve or pay only what's needed. As the tax deadline nears, the Illinois CPA Society wants to be sure you're aware of these points when you file. Full release.

Business Attorney David M. Walker, Esq. finds himself consulting an increased number of clients on the pros and cons of having independent contractors as opposed to employees. At the end of the year, companies issue independent contractors IRS form 1099 to reflect the compensation paid to the contractor; on the other hand, employees are issued IRS form W-2 that discloses the salary paid by the company. As first quarter of 2010 draws near, businesses are evaluating their fiscal health and exploring additional cost saving options. One of the trends taking place in the human resources sector involves the transitioning of current employees to independent contractor status. Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) National Broadband Plan: "The deployment of high-speed, broadband infrastructure from coast to coast will fuel the development of millions of new jobs here at home and global competitiveness for our nation. Furthermore, affordable access to the Internet and other broadband services will also provide innovative solutions to address national priorities such as health care, education, energy independence, and public safety. That is why the Recovery Act made a strategic investment of $7.2 billion in our nation's broadband infrastructure and charged the Federal Communications Commission with developing a National Broadband Plan." Full release.

Community colleges are playing a pivotal role in America's economic recovery as they help out-of-work Americans train for new jobs, but they are hampered in knowing the best kinds of training to provide and how it ultimately works for students by a lack of complete data and full access to that data, according to a new policy brief issued today by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). "Federal legislation makes assumptions about the linkages between education and workforce outcomes, and the data needed to document those outcomes," said Dr. George R. Boggs, president of AACC. Full release.

"Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America" is the theme of the quarter-century anniversary of Farm Aid, the nonprofit organization led by board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews. Farm Aid's mission is to keep family farmers on the land and to create a family farm-centered food system in America. Farm Aid representatives say planning for the 25th anniversary concert and the events leading up to it is in the works. Concert events will celebrate the contribution the organization has made to supporting family farmers and showcase the positive, sustainable future that family farmers are growing through their hard work every day. Full release.

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