As a service to our MBPA and MFBA members, we want to keep you updated on the federal healthcare reform debate raging in our nation’s capitol.

MBPA and MFBA OPPOSE any healthcare changes that result in an increase in your cost to run your business. We are aware of the tremendous strain that the rising costs in healthcare premiums and the onerous MBT surcharge have put on your ability to do business. It is our priority to ensure our state and federal legislators know exactly how you feel about businesses footing the bill for our nation’s healthcare system. What follows are three links to help you understand 1) the President's proposal; 2) the current House proposal; and 3) a comparison of the House and Senate versions:

• President Obama's stance on issues in health care bills from USA Today
• MBPA/MFBA Summary of Business Impact of National Health Care Bills
• House vs. Senate Comparison
• Multi-Proposals Side by Side Comparison

Join us in our fight against increased healthcare costs by:

• Contacting your legislators by phone, email or fax…Click Here for the Michigan Congressional Delegation List
• Attend our ‘Business and Legislative Forum’ on October 9, 2009 at The Fairlane Club in Dearborn. We will have an in-depth discussion of this topic.
• Join our Legislative Task Force (LTF): Our LTF is comprised of our members, business owners like yourself that want their voices to be heard
• Spread the word and educate other business owners about this looming legislation

 
As always, if you have any questions/comments, please contact Bonnie Bochniak, Director of Government Relations at (517) 374-9128 or by e-mail: bbochniak@michbusiness.org.

The Michigan Food & Beverage Association represents members at the local, state, and federal levels of government on important issues that effect medium and small businesses in Michigan.  We have our own lobbyists and have created a member based Legislative Task Force to continuously review industry legislation and work towards small business reform legislation.

To assist members in voicing their opinions on legislative matters, we have created a Directory page in our Member Pavillion with links to government elected and appointed officials and agencies they might wish to contact.

This event offers members the opportunity to network and have lunch with elected and appointed government officials to discuss issues important to their businesses. The Michigan Food & Beverage Association and our Legislative Task Force hold this unique event on the front lawn of the Capitol.

A key opportunity for members to actively participate in legislative reform that can benefit their businesses is our Legislative Task Force. Spend some time with State officials, our board members and our lobbyists discussing critical issues and share what you would like to see here in Michigan.

Each quarter the Association publishes this publication which highlights controversial and hot topics in the Michigan Legislature that could positively or negatively impact smaller businesses. It has guest writers that are elected or government officials.

Every month the Michigan Food & Beverage Association updates and provides in-depth information in our Member Pavilion on a wide variety of legislative issues like the Michigan Business Tax, Smoking Ban, Tort Reform, Penny Plan, Item Pricing Law, Estate Taxes, Minimum Wage Increase Updates and much more.