Happy Shopping from www.BuyMichiganNow.com Nov 25, 2009
Our 2009 Holiday Gift Guide Is Out!!!!!
The 2009 version of our Holiday Gift Guide is bigger and better than ever with 101 Holiday Gift Ideas! We hope you will find gifts to buy, and beyond that, we hope we help you discover some amazing new Michigan companies so that you can help us support them all year round. This holiday season as you shop for food and gifts, please live up to OUR PLEDGE and keep as many of your dollars here as you can. TOGETHER WE ARE REVITALIZING THIS GREAT STATE!! Happy Thanksgiving--happy holidays. Now please check out our 2009 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
We’re Dreaming Big!
On October 14th, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched the free enterprise campaign, American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. This unprecedented national campaign, one of the most significant in the Chamber's nearly 100 years, calls on Americans to embrace the essential role that free enterprise plays in the success of our country.
The greatest challenge we face as a nation is reviving our economy, restoring the 7 million jobs lost to the current recession, and creating the 13 million new jobs our growing nation will need over the next decade. The campaign is tackling this tremendous challenge head on, through the 20 Million Job Challenge, which will highlight the state-specific jobs needed to meet this goal and encourage policymakers, business leaders, and the public to pledge their support for American free enterprise.
On October 14th, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched the free enterprise campaign, American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. This unprecedented national campaign, one of the most significant in the Chamber's nearly 100 years, calls on Americans to embrace the essential role that free enterprise plays in the success of our country.
The greatest challenge we face as a nation is reviving our economy, restoring the 7 million jobs lost to the current recession, and creating the 13 million new jobs our growing nation will need over the next decade. The campaign is tackling this tremendous challenge head on, through the 20 Million Job Challenge, which will highlight the state-specific jobs needed to meet this goal and encourage policymakers, business leaders, and the public to pledge their support for American free enterprise.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Conducting an annual human resource (HR) audit is a prudent undertaking for any business. An HR audit may help a company 1) assess whether it is in compliance with current laws and regulations, 2) standardize processes, 3) identify risk areas, and 4) tie human resources to strategic business planning.
An HR audit can be conducted in a comprehensive manner or target certain functions and/or regulations. In general it may be most beneficial to conduct a broad cursory audit to identifying areas of exposure. Upon identification of these exposure areas a program of action to cure or hedge exposure areas is determined along with management. Implementation of the program may be entirely conducted by management or utilize outside experts in whole or in part.
For additional information, please contact Tammy Hancock at 616-538-7100 or thancock@gabridgeco.com.
For more information about our services go to www.gabridgeco.com.
An HR audit can be conducted in a comprehensive manner or target certain functions and/or regulations. In general it may be most beneficial to conduct a broad cursory audit to identifying areas of exposure. Upon identification of these exposure areas a program of action to cure or hedge exposure areas is determined along with management. Implementation of the program may be entirely conducted by management or utilize outside experts in whole or in part.
For additional information, please contact Tammy Hancock at 616-538-7100 or thancock@gabridgeco.com.
For more information about our services go to www.gabridgeco.com.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
"Staggering" Crisis in U.S. Education Found in Study
November 10, 2009
Bloomberg
Molly Peterson
More than two-thirds of U.S. teachers disapprove of how their public schools are run and 90 percent say "routine duties and paperwork" interfere with their teaching, a report found.
The U.S. is facing a "staggering" education crisis, said John Podesta, president of the Center for American Progress, which released the study today along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Enterprise Institute.
The report shows the urgent need for a nationwide education overhaul, said Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who is using $100 billion in stimulus funds to try to improve public schools and expand access to college. The U.S. Chamber, while fighting President Barack Obama?s initiatives on health care, energy and financial regulation, has applauded the administration's use of stimulus dollars to spur states to improve education systems.
The study found "only a faint pulse of innovation and reform in our nation's schools," Thomas Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber, said today at a conference in Washington. "We must turn that into a strong heartbeat."
U.S. schools "just do not have the ability to respond to challenges in effective and efficient ways," said the Center for American Progress's Podesta, who was former President Bill Clinton's chief of staff.
The center is a Washington research group with close ties to the White House. The American Enterprise Institute is a Washington organization that promotes free-market policies. The Chamber is the largest U.S. business association.
Grading the States
About 72 percent of principals surveyed said tenure policies make it difficult to fire ineffective teachers, according to the report.
The report graded each state's performance on eight educational indicators including school management, finance, staffing and the use of data. Less than half the states scored an "A" grade in any of the eight areas, and most received a "C" or a "D" on several indicators.
The report's recommendations included giving principals more flexibility to fire ineffective teachers. Schools should also reward teachers for student-achievement gains and increase classroom time, the report said.
Duncan, who has pushed for such changes, urged U.S. businesses to play a "more active" role in efforts to improve the nation's schools.
"Return on Investment"
"You can invest in education, because it's the best return on investment you will ever make," Duncan said in a speech today at the U.S. Chamber in Washington. "You can help train administrators to run schools efficiently. You can give young people work experience -- both paid and unpaid."
About 38 percent of school-board members have a business background, Duncan said, citing a survey by the National School Boards Association. While that's a "great start," business leaders can do more, he said.
Businesses support the Obama administration's efforts to improve public schools, in part because U.S. companies will need to hire educated workers for 20 million new jobs in the next 10 years, Donohue said.
"We all need employees and we're really worried about that," Donohue said at the conference. "Not to get involved in this is stupid."
A $4.35 billion competitive stimulus grant program, known as Race to the Top, "will be a tremendous catalyst for greater innovation, accountability, and higher standards in American schools," Donohue said. While the stimulus law directs most of the $100 billion in education funds to states under a noncompetitive formula, it also provides more than $5 billion in competitive grants including Race to the Top.
Rewarding States
Obama and Duncan have said the $4.35 billion Race to the Top program will reward states that make the most progress in raising academic standards, boosting teacher quality, tracking student gains and improving failing schools.
The administration wants to incorporate those "four areas of reform" into federal education law, said Duncan, who is working to overhaul No Child Left Behind. The 2002 law, enacted under President George W. Bush, requires states to measure student achievement through standardized tests.
While states can set their own standards to determine what constitutes an adequate education, they can lose some federal funds under No Child Left Behind if they don't show yearly progress toward those goals.
"The one-size-fits-all sanctions dictated by NCLB are not practical for many districts, and the results are mixed at best," Duncan said. "In the worst schools, it leads teachers to devote valuable class time to test preparation, which is not a skill we should teach."
To contact the reporters on this story: Molly Peterson in Washington at mpeterson9@bloomberg.net;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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November 10, 2009
Bloomberg
Molly Peterson
More than two-thirds of U.S. teachers disapprove of how their public schools are run and 90 percent say "routine duties and paperwork" interfere with their teaching, a report found.
The U.S. is facing a "staggering" education crisis, said John Podesta, president of the Center for American Progress, which released the study today along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Enterprise Institute.
The report shows the urgent need for a nationwide education overhaul, said Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who is using $100 billion in stimulus funds to try to improve public schools and expand access to college. The U.S. Chamber, while fighting President Barack Obama?s initiatives on health care, energy and financial regulation, has applauded the administration's use of stimulus dollars to spur states to improve education systems.
The study found "only a faint pulse of innovation and reform in our nation's schools," Thomas Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber, said today at a conference in Washington. "We must turn that into a strong heartbeat."
U.S. schools "just do not have the ability to respond to challenges in effective and efficient ways," said the Center for American Progress's Podesta, who was former President Bill Clinton's chief of staff.
The center is a Washington research group with close ties to the White House. The American Enterprise Institute is a Washington organization that promotes free-market policies. The Chamber is the largest U.S. business association.
Grading the States
About 72 percent of principals surveyed said tenure policies make it difficult to fire ineffective teachers, according to the report.
The report graded each state's performance on eight educational indicators including school management, finance, staffing and the use of data. Less than half the states scored an "A" grade in any of the eight areas, and most received a "C" or a "D" on several indicators.
The report's recommendations included giving principals more flexibility to fire ineffective teachers. Schools should also reward teachers for student-achievement gains and increase classroom time, the report said.
Duncan, who has pushed for such changes, urged U.S. businesses to play a "more active" role in efforts to improve the nation's schools.
"Return on Investment"
"You can invest in education, because it's the best return on investment you will ever make," Duncan said in a speech today at the U.S. Chamber in Washington. "You can help train administrators to run schools efficiently. You can give young people work experience -- both paid and unpaid."
About 38 percent of school-board members have a business background, Duncan said, citing a survey by the National School Boards Association. While that's a "great start," business leaders can do more, he said.
Businesses support the Obama administration's efforts to improve public schools, in part because U.S. companies will need to hire educated workers for 20 million new jobs in the next 10 years, Donohue said.
"We all need employees and we're really worried about that," Donohue said at the conference. "Not to get involved in this is stupid."
A $4.35 billion competitive stimulus grant program, known as Race to the Top, "will be a tremendous catalyst for greater innovation, accountability, and higher standards in American schools," Donohue said. While the stimulus law directs most of the $100 billion in education funds to states under a noncompetitive formula, it also provides more than $5 billion in competitive grants including Race to the Top.
Rewarding States
Obama and Duncan have said the $4.35 billion Race to the Top program will reward states that make the most progress in raising academic standards, boosting teacher quality, tracking student gains and improving failing schools.
The administration wants to incorporate those "four areas of reform" into federal education law, said Duncan, who is working to overhaul No Child Left Behind. The 2002 law, enacted under President George W. Bush, requires states to measure student achievement through standardized tests.
While states can set their own standards to determine what constitutes an adequate education, they can lose some federal funds under No Child Left Behind if they don't show yearly progress toward those goals.
"The one-size-fits-all sanctions dictated by NCLB are not practical for many districts, and the results are mixed at best," Duncan said. "In the worst schools, it leads teachers to devote valuable class time to test preparation, which is not a skill we should teach."
To contact the reporters on this story: Molly Peterson in Washington at mpeterson9@bloomberg.net;
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2007-2009 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Home About Media News Issues Action Contact Privacy Policy visit us on Facebook visit us on Twitter
Monday, November 9, 2009
House Committee Votes to Weaken Michigan's Medical Liability Laws
Last week, the House Judiciary Committee approved legislation (House Bill 4571) to substantially weaken Michigan's medical liability law, including expert witness and notice of intent requirements. The Michigan Chamber opposed this legislation, introduced by Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing), because it would subject Michigan's doctors, hospitals and other medical care providers to increased lawsuits and medical malpractice insurance premiums and threaten Michigan citizens' access to care.
Last week, the House Judiciary Committee approved legislation (House Bill 4571) to substantially weaken Michigan's medical liability law, including expert witness and notice of intent requirements. The Michigan Chamber opposed this legislation, introduced by Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing), because it would subject Michigan's doctors, hospitals and other medical care providers to increased lawsuits and medical malpractice insurance premiums and threaten Michigan citizens' access to care.
House Committee Approves Legislation to Swamp Regulated Business, Trades and Professions with Lawsuits
Last week, the State House Judiciary Committee approved legislation (House Bill 4915), introduced by State Representative Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo), to create new opportunities for personal injury attorneys to file consumer protection lawsuits against numerous businesses, trades and professions already regulated by, and subject to penalties under, state and federal laws.The bill was approved by a vote of 8 to 5, with State Rep. Tory Rocca (R-Sterling Heights) voting "yes" with the Democrats and two committee members, Reps. Marc Corriveau (D-Northville) and Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor), passing. The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.
Last week, the State House Judiciary Committee approved legislation (House Bill 4915), introduced by State Representative Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo), to create new opportunities for personal injury attorneys to file consumer protection lawsuits against numerous businesses, trades and professions already regulated by, and subject to penalties under, state and federal laws.The bill was approved by a vote of 8 to 5, with State Rep. Tory Rocca (R-Sterling Heights) voting "yes" with the Democrats and two committee members, Reps. Marc Corriveau (D-Northville) and Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor), passing. The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Budgets Signed, But Battle Against Tax Increases Not Over
The Governor has signed the final budget bills for fiscal year 2010, but the battle to protect your wallet is far from over as Governor Granholm and her fellow Democrats continue to advocate raising taxes to increase government spending. Throughout this budget process, taxpayers were well served by the Senate Republicans as they remained steadfast in their belief that increasing revenue to avoid rightsizing government is not a viable option. While some cuts were no doubt painful, they were necessary to ensure that Michigan was living within its means. As House Democrats and the Governor continue to call for more revenue, the Senate Republicans have a better alternative: they are proposing meaningful reforms to make government more transparent, efficient and cost effective.
The Michigan Chamber has been an active leader in the fight for a balanced budget through the enactment of reforms, not tax increases. We are pleased with the Senate's strong fiscal leadership. At the same time, we are mindful that we must continue our aggressive advocacy throughout the fall session to fight against the job-killing tax-and-spend policies being proposed by those unwilling to make the tough decisions to move Michigan forward
The Michigan Chamber has been an active leader in the fight for a balanced budget through the enactment of reforms, not tax increases. We are pleased with the Senate's strong fiscal leadership. At the same time, we are mindful that we must continue our aggressive advocacy throughout the fall session to fight against the job-killing tax-and-spend policies being proposed by those unwilling to make the tough decisions to move Michigan forward
Chamber's Donohue Comments On Free EnterpriseThe
Associated Press - Even with an economic revival, many U.S. jobs lost during the recession may be gone forever and a weak employment market could linger for years.That could add up to a "new normal" of higher joblessness and lower standards of living for many Americans, some economists are suggesting. Read More Join the Campaign
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