Link: http://www.asba.com

My Grandma Marie will turn 99 years old this week.  That did not stop her from researching the candidates, making her decision, and mailing in her absentee ballot.  (She explained to me that she is not up to standing in those long lines anymore so she voted early!)  She did not want to miss out on this important time in history. 

If you have not voted yet, don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of shaping our state’s and our nation’s history.

Please Vote!

AZ Businesses, Organizations, Chambers Organize Coalition to Oppose Card Check Legislation Group issues letter to Arizona Congressional Delegation & candidates, releases polling

PHOENIX - Today Arizona businesses, industry organizations, and chambers of commerce announced the formation of the Protect Arizona Workers Coalition. The goal of the 50+ member Coalition is to educate about the facts of the Employee Free Choice Act, and to encourage Congress to oppose the bill next legislative session.

The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), also called "Card Check," was introduced and passed the U.S. House in 2007 but failed to progress in the U.S. Senate. The legislation would have removed the secret ballot process for authorizing a union in the workplace. The Employee Free Choice Act fundamentally alters the way union elections happen in the workplace by stripping employees of their right to a secret ballot. Arizona manufacturers wholeheartedly oppose this un-American effort by union organizers to do away with this democratic process," said Mark Dobbins, Chairman of the Arizona Manufacturers Council.

This morning, the Coalition issued a letter to Arizona’s Congressional candidates and incumbents calling on them to vote NO on the legislation next year. Along with the letter, the Coalition included a recent Arizona public opinion poll showing support for maintaining the current federally supervised secret ballot election process. Overwhelmingly, 84 percent of Arizonans polled said they "believe every worker should continue to have the right to a federally supervised secret ballot election when deciding whether to organize a union."

Under current labor law, union elections are facilitated by the National Labor Relations Board. Union organizers must first solicit cards checked by 30 percent of employees to show interest in authorizing a union. The next step is to hold a secret ballot election, in which all employees cast a private vote for or against unionization. EFCA would remove the secret ballot and allow a union to begin representing employees after a simple majority has checked off on a card. "EFCA undercuts an employer’s ability to communicate with their employees about unionization. More concerning, it opens the door for employee intimidation by union leaders. This aggressive union membership drive is highly inappropriate and deserves a swift no-vote by every member of Congress," said Suzanne Taylor, Acting President & CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce &Industry.

The Protect Arizona Workers Coalition anticipates EFCA will be reintroduced in Congress early next year. Until, and during that time, the Coalition will continue its efforts to educate the public, members of Congress, and the media about its opposition to the Act. Read the Arizona Card Check Poll The Protect Arizona Workers Coalition is committed to protecting employer and employee workplace rights to fairness and privacy in union elections.

The Coalition is comprised of small and large businesses, associations, and chambers of commerce across Arizona. Its members represent over one million employees.

Over the past few weeks we have been looking at the Congressional reautoriztaion of the SBIR program.  But diod you know the Arizona Department of Commerce - ADOC has a Fast Grant program that can provide funding so that you can hire a grant writer? 

Commerce is now accepting applications from emerging technology companies for the AZFAST Grant program. The AZFAST grants are designed to serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize technology by accessing Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR & STTR) federal funding.

The application deadline is Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 3:00 P.M. local time. Learn more by visiting: http://www.azcommerce.com/BusAsst/Technology/AZFAST.htm.

Meet one-on-one with Commerce program managers during the Arizona Funding Fair on Thursday, September 25, during the 2008 Governor’s Rural and Regional Development Conference at the Carefree Resort.  For more information and/or to register, please visit www.ruraldevelopmentconference.com.

Check it out and good luck!

When ASBA leadership decided to stop talking about healthcare and start doing something about it - We launched the Putting the Health Back into Healthcare initiative in 2008.

Healing our healthcare is a three step process:

1.  Ensuring that all Arizona businesses have access to the benefits of Large Group healthcare thought the ASBA Association Healthcare Plan.  Follow the link for all the details http://www.asba.com/benefits/health_insurance.aspx

2. Promoting Health Savings accounts and Consumer Driven Behaviors in our community so that each of us can have an impact on healtcare spending

3.  Making Healthier Choices.

 Now there is a a great new free website to help us take small steps towards a healthier lifestyle.  Developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Small Steps has great tools that can help Adults and Teens choose a healthier lifestyle.  http://www.smallstep.gov/take_small_steps_today.html

Check it out and take a small step towards improving your health.

Link: http://www.tucsonlink.org/ACCDebates2008/

Arizonans - How do these things affect your ability to grow YOUR business?

* Water quality and the cost of electric and natural gas!

* High speed Internet to rural communities!

* Solar, nuclear, and other alternative energy sources!

* Arizona’s investment in utility infrastructure! The Debates Will Cover Issues Important to YOU and ARIZONA’S FUTURE:

These are among the issues of debate at the July 15 Primary Debates (now available on the Web and Cable TV) and the September 15 General Election Debate for candidates for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Logon to our webcasts, tune in to your local Cable TV, or engage in person at Rio Salado College in Tempe to learn more about the powerful ACC (often described as a Fourth Branch of Government) and to see the candidates debate these and other issues that will have an enormous impact on you, Arizona’s future, and the finances, safety and quality of life of all citizens, businesses, and organizations in Arizona. We also invite you to propose questions and to discuss issues online by visiting http://www.tucsonlink.org/ACCDebates2008/ .   All voters should view these debates! The Commission sets the rates you pay for public utilities including telecommunications, water, electric, and natural gas services. ACC policies also determine the quality of these services and future utility infrastructure investments, including high speed Internet to rural communities, and solar, nuclear and other alternative energy sources. In addition to utilities regulation, the debates will cover other Commission services including Consumer Protection and Corporations and Securities Oversight, and Railroad and Pipeline Safety. These nonpartisan debates, sponsored by the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, are presented by the Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council and moderated by Mark Goldstein of International Research Center in cooperation with an impressive list of other business and community organizations. Help Spread the Word: ASBA is proud to "Be a Cooperating Organization" link on the web site to see how you can help us get the word out about these important debates. Details at: http://www.tucsonlink.org/ACCDebates2008/For more information, please contact Steve Peters, ATIC ACC Debate Coordinator at 520-321-1309 or mailto:stevepeters@tucsonlink.org