NCSL 2008 Spring Forum
Mark your calendars for the upcoming NCSL 2008 Spring Forum in Washington, D.C. The meeting is scheduled for April 22-26 at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill. NCSL staff is currently working on the agenda for the Labor Economic Development Committee. Spring Forum registration and housing information is available online at: http://www.ncsl.org/forum/.
IN THE NEWS
It’s Time to Telework
By Joe Kolman
State Legislatures Magazine
March 2008
Janie Bowen is in charge of 900 employees who have one job: collecting all the taxes in Virginia. The tax commissioner cares intensely about completing the task, but worries much less about whether her employees are working in the office or at home.
http://www.ncsl.org/magazine/articles/2008/08SLMar08_Telework.htm
Federal Grant to Retrain Jobless Hit by Downturn
By Scott Hadly
Ventura County Star
Feb. 23--Californians, particularly about 1,000 Ventura County workers who've gotten pink slips over the last year, are feeling the economic downturn precipitated by the subprime mortgage crisis.
http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/1432911.html?el=1
Rangel Introduces Measure to Extend Three Expiring Trade Preference Programs
The Bureau of National Affairs
February 11, 2008
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) Feb. 8
announced the introduction of a bill (H.R. 5264) that would extend three
expiring trade preference programs to Sept. 30, 2010.
The Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), certain benefits under the Caribbean
Basin Initiative (CBI), and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) all
face expiration in 2008.
USDA Releases 10-Year Projections, Predicts Export Gains and Strong Income
The Bureau of National Affairs
February 12, 2008
The Agriculture Department Feb. 12 released its 10-year agriculture
projections, which predict gains in U.S. agricultural exports and strong
levels of net farm income.
FHA Reaching Out To 850,000 At-Risk Homeowners
HUD Press Release
February 8, 2008
First round of 280,000 letters sent this week urging homeowners to consider safer, more affordable FHA-backed mortgages
WASHINGTON - Beginning this week, HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is mailing hundreds of thousands of letters to at-risk homeowners who need a more affordable alternative to the high-cost mortgages they are currently paying. The first round of 280,000 letters was sent this week with another 570,000 letters to be sent through September 2008.
http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr08-017.cfm&CFID=273440&CFTOKEN=68913978
Sens. Dorgan, Brown Introduce Bill to Gauge Success of Trade Pacts
Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) Feb. 7 introduced a bill (S 2611) that would gauge the effectiveness of trade agreements and establish a procedure for withdrawing from such agreements that prove not to be successful.
The "Dorgan-Brown Trade Agreement Benchmarks and Accountability Act" would create a point of order in the Senate against legislation implementing new trade agreements unless it contained benchmarks to measure the success or failure of the pact.
The benchmarks would include: the trade pact's impact on the number of U.S. jobs created or lost; the extent to which U.S. wages improve; the extent to which U.S. exports gain market access in key sectors; and the extent to which labor and environmental laws are followed.
Under the bill, the International Trade Commission would assess whether the benchmarks have been met every five years. If the ITC found that the benchmarks have not been met, any member of Congress could introduce an expedited resolution to pull the United States out of the trade deal. The resolution would be referred to the House Ways and Means and the Senate Finance Committees and would be automatically discharged if the committees failed to take action within a set period of time.
President Bush Releases FY2009 Budget
On Monday, February 4, 2008, President Bush released his budget proposals for Federal Fiscal Year 2009. This begins the federal process for determining the funding level for programs beginning in October 1, 2008. Some of the proposals in the President’s Budget for FY2009 look very familiar to those who follow labor and economic development spending. Many program changes and funding cuts have been previously proposed by the Administration.
http://www.ncsl.org/standcomm/sclaborecon/LEDFY2009BUDGET.htm
Bush Signs Leave Law Amendments
Thompson HR Alert
January 29, 2008
The amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that provide up to 26 weeks of job-protected leave for a family member to care for an armed forces member who is injured in the line of duty was signed into law Jan. 28 by President Bush.
The FMLA amendments were part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. Eligible family members of members of the armed forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, may take up to 26 weeks of FMLA leave during a single 12-month period to care for their relative who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy, is on outpatient status or is otherwise on the temporary disability retired list for a serious injury or illness. "Family member" includes spouse, son, daughter, parent or next of kin.
