Business Monthly

Sep 23, 2024

Sound Public Policy Benefits Manufacturers

Aug 8, 2024

Thanks to You, Iowa Policy Makers are Listening

Jun 3, 2024

ABI Legislative Priorities Accomplished in 2024

May 9, 2024

On the Road Again – ABI Public Policy Team Holding Regional Meetings in May and June

Apr 8, 2024

ABI Regional Meetings Coming to a City Near You

Mar 11, 2024

ABI Priorities Advancing Through the Legislature

Feb 19, 2024

Healthcare at the Statehouse

Jan 15, 2024

ABI Member Polling Confirms 2024 Policy Priorities Important to Move Iowa Forward

Dec 4, 2023

What to Expect from ABI During the 2024 Legislative Session

Nov 7, 2023

Workforce, Taxes and Regulatory Reform Top ABI’s 2024 Agenda

Oct 9, 2023

Public, Private Partnership Can Lead to Innovative Public Policy

Sep 11, 2023

How Public Policy Affects Iowa Manufacturers

Aug 14, 2023

Who Do You Need to Know for Successful Public Policy Advocacy?

Jul 24, 2023

ABI Public Policy Committees Convene Next Month; Join Us!

Jun 12, 2023

2023 Legislative Session in the Rearview – Looking Ahead to 2024

May 8, 2023

Where We Are and Where We Are Going

Apr 10, 2023

Business Day in Des Moines a Huge Success – Taxes Take Center Stage In Remarks

Mar 13, 2023

ABI Policy Team to Present at Annual Conference

Feb 13, 2023

ABI Public Policy Priorities – Get Up to Speed, and Stay Up to Speed

Dec 8, 2022

Public Policy Resolutions for ABI Members in 2023

Nov 11, 2022

Taking Stock and Giving Thanks for 2022

Oct 14, 2022

Make Your Voice Heard in November

Sep 9, 2022

Engaging Manufacturers and Manufacturing Employees in Public Policy

Aug 12, 2022

Successful Succession in Public Policy

Jul 15, 2022

Public Policy: Looking Back, Looking Forward – Get Involved!

Jun 13, 2022

Election Season is in Full Swing

The 2022 election cycle has shifted into high gear as the Iowa Primary has just concluded.

May 13, 2022

Local Opportunity for Workforce Development through School to Work Programs

Apr 8, 2022

Participate in ABI Regional Meetings Following Adjournment of the Legislature

Mar 10, 2022

ABI Priorities Advance at Iowa Statehouse

Feb 11, 2022

Workforce is a Top Priority for the Governor and Legislature in 2022

We’re in the thick of the 2022 legislative session and proposals to address Iowa’s workforce shortage are numerous.

Jan 14, 2022

What to Expect from ABI During the 2022 Legislative Session

The legislative session began on Jan. 10, 2022. As you have read in this column before, ABI serves as the Iowa business community’s eyes and ears at the Capitol. The upcoming legislative session will be no different. It is fitting to once again share with you what to expect from ABI during the session, as well as how you can be engaged in the policymaking process.

Dec 10, 2021

Get Involved by Attending Upcoming ABI Public Policy Events

Oct 8, 2021

2022 ABI Priorities and Policies Set

Sep 10, 2021

Engaged Electorate is Key to Pro-jobs Environment

Aug 13, 2021

Legislative Redistricting Process Is Front and Center

Jul 9, 2021

Developing Public Policy to Support Growth

Jun 9, 2021

Get Engaged With ABI’s 2022 Public Policy Process

May 14, 2021

First, Do No Harm. Federal Infrastructure Initiatives and Financing

Apr 9, 2021

Key ABI Priority Advances: Robust High Speed Broadband Deployment

The second legislative funnel has passed and broadband legislation is sent to Governor.

Mar 11, 2021

ABI Workforce Priorities Advance at Iowa Statehouse

The Iowa Legislature is narrowing the list of policy bills that may be considered for final approval during the 2021 legislative session.

Feb 12, 2021

Child Care as a Key Workforce Issue

To aid in economic recovery by welcoming folks back into the workforce, affordable, available child care is a front-burner issue.

Jan 8, 2021

What to Expect from ABI During the 2021 Legislative Session

Here's what you can expect from ABI during the session, as well as how you can be engaged in the policymaking process.

Dec 11, 2020

Say Goodbye to 2020 with a Final Public Policy Review

It will benefit us if we take one last look back on the ABI policy responses to the COVID-19 challenges of 2020, assess how the association reacted to them and look at how ABI is positioned to work on pro-business, pro-growth policy moving forward.

Nov 13, 2020

Become a Public Policy Mentor

Think about starting these relationships now, so that when decision-making time comes, you will have already built trust with your representatives.

Sep 11, 2020

Engaged Electorate is Key to Pro-jobs Environment

I hope you will encourage your employees to get registered to vote or update their voter registration the week of September 21-25.

Aug 14, 2020

The Policy Intersection of Child Care, Education and Workforce

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged this model and created uncertainty for all parties.

Jun 5, 2020

Sound Policy Leads Business Response to COVID-19

It’s the job of policymakers and advocacy groups to identify the risks and barriers to getting business back on track, employing Iowans, and producing goods and services.

May 8, 2020

Health Care Policy Impacts of COVID-19

The adaptations required to respond to COVID-19 in the health care industry are unprecedented and attest to the ingenuity of Iowans.

Apr 10, 2020

ABI Members Have Role to Play Assisting Policymakers in Responses to Virus

The ABI public policy staff will be seeking input from members as we interact with legislators and the executive branch. If your organization has input valuable to the response policymakers will be crafting, we want to hear from you.

Mar 13, 2020

ABI Workforce Priorities Advance at Iowa Statehouse

The Iowa Legislature is narrowing the list of policy bills that may be considered for final approval during the 2020 legislative session.

Feb 14, 2020

Promote Important Issues at Iowa Business Day on the Hill

Iowa legislators need to hear from business leaders as they weigh these pieces of legislation.

Jan 10, 2020

What to Expect from ABI During the 2020 Legislative Session

Here is what you can expect from ABI during the session and how you can make a difference in the policymaking process.

Dec 13, 2019

Looking Ahead to 2020: ABI Hires New Public Policy Executive

The public policy team will welcome a new face, JD Davis, who will lead our efforts at the state capitol.

Nov 8, 2019

Caucus Countdown

The Iowa Caucus Toolkit is an excellent resource to help you and your employees get informed.

Oct 11, 2019

ABI Board Sets 2020 Legislative Priorities

We want to share with you the priorities approved by the ABI Board of Directors at its September meeting.

Sep 13, 2019

Engaged Electorate is Key to Pro-jobs Environment

I hope you will encourage your employees to get registered to vote or update their voter registration the week of September 23-27. 

Aug 9, 2019

Connecting to Others. Connecting to ABI.

May 10, 2019

The Importance of Strong, Clear Laws for the Court to Interpret

The legal process and the political process are extremely interrelated. 

Apr 12, 2019

Rural Iowa Initiative, Legislative Proposals Support ABI Priorities

The topic of this month’s Business Record Iowa is especially timely, as legislation is being considered at the Statehouse that is targeted to economic growth opportunities in rural Iowa.

Mar 8, 2019

Promote Important Issues at Iowa Business Day on the Hill

Iowa Business Day on the Hill offers a perfect opportunity to communicate with your legislators as to the impact the legislation will have on your business and employees at the Statehouse next week.

Feb 8, 2019

ABI Leads on Environmental Policy

If you are a new member of ABI, or haven’t yet joined the association, you may not know ABI is also known for its environmental regulatory work.

Jan 11, 2019

What to Expect from ABI During the 2019 Legislative Session

Here's what to expect from ABI during the session and also how you can be engaged in the policymaking process.

Dec 14, 2018

New Faces in Legislature

The annual ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception will be January 16, 2019. 

Nov 9, 2018

ABI Board Sets 2019 Legislative Priorities

The 2019 legislative priorities are opportunities for Iowa and ABI to continue Building on the Best.

Oct 12, 2018

ABI PAC Endorses Friends of Iowa Business

Candidates who support a competitive business climate and focus on a regulatory climate conducive to job creation are endorsed as Friends of Iowa Business.

Sep 14, 2018

Best Practices for Encouraging Employees to Vote

Here's why it’s important that companies, trade associations and other business organizations make resources available to their employees, members or other stakeholders so they can participate and become educated before going to the polls.

Aug 10, 2018

ABI Works to Inform You and Your Colleagues

There is perhaps no more important topic than what the ABI public policy team will be working on in the next three months: voter education.

Jul 13, 2018

2019 ABI Public Policy Development Begins

Committee meetings, which are strictly for members only, allow for engagement and dialogue with other members on key issues facing Iowa employers.

Jun 1, 2018

Election Season in Full Swing

I hope you will consider these two easy things to support pro-jobs candidates in November.

May 11, 2018

Stay Informed, Give Input on Government with ABI

Learn about the ABI public policy team's regional meetings, prep for upcoming elections and work on rulemaking.

Apr 13, 2018

The 2018 Legislative Session is Near Conclusion

We are just four days away from the 100th day of the session, when per diem expenses for legislators expire.

Mar 9, 2018

ABI Priorities Advance at Iowa Statehouse

Here is a summary of some ABI policy issues that have moved forward in the Legislature.

Feb 9, 2018

Promote Important Issues at Iowa Business Day on the Hill

Join us March 13 to help educate Iowa’s elected officials on the issues important to Iowa businesses.

Jan 12, 2018

What to Expect from ABI During the 2018 Legislative Session

Here's what to expect from ABI during the session and also how you can be engaged in the policymaking process.

Dec 8, 2017

ABI is Ready for 2018

ABI members have continually prioritized workforce as the number one issue for Iowa businesses

Nov 10, 2017

ABI Goes to Washington, D.C.

Several ABI leaders recently returned from a successful fly-in to the nation’s capital, which took place on Oct. 2-4.

Oct 13, 2017

ABI Advocates for You All Year Long

I’m often asked, “So what do you do when the Legislature isn’t in session?” 

Sep 8, 2017

Employee Voter Registration Week – September 25-29, 2017

The truth is that registering to vote is simple and doesn’t take much time or effort.

Aug 11, 2017

Back to School: ABI Public Policy Edition

As children in Iowa get ready to head back to school, ABI members are also hard at work educating each other on recommendations for the association’s legislative priorities in 2018. 

Jul 14, 2017

Help set ABI’s policy priorities

At ABI, planning for the next legislative session begins as soon as the previous session has adjourned. ABI’s public policy team traveled throughout the state in May to meet with members and discuss the outcome of the 2017 legislative session and priorities for 2018.

Jun 9, 2017

Help build on 2017 success with IIPAC donation

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry just wrapped up its most successful legislative session in recent history, but it would not have been possible without key allies in the Iowa House and Senate.

May 12, 2017

Policy work continues after session's end

Mar 10, 2017

ABI Priorities Advance at the Iowa Statehouse

The first legislative funnel was March 3, and several ABI priority issues moved forward. A funnel is a self-imposed legislative deadline established to minimize the number of bills pending and to help legislators direct their focus on a fewer number of bills. The second legislative funnel is March 31. In order for bills to pass the second funnel, they have to have been voted out of one chamber and out of a committee in the opposite chamber.

Here is a summary of some ABI priority issues that have moved forward. Read ABI’s weekly e-newsletter for the most up-to-date information on pending legislation.

Feb 10, 2017

Promote important business issues at Iowa Business Day on the Hill

It is important that legislators hear from Iowa business leaders and keep business issues front of mind as they weigh these pieces of legislation. Iowa Business Day on the Hill offers a perfect opportunity to communicate with your legislators at the Statehouse next month.

Nov 11, 2016

Election is over, but legislative work is just beginning

Tuesday marked the end of an exhausting election cycle for Americans. Now we get a welcome and well-deserved reprieve from the constant campaigning, but there’s still work to be done.

At the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI), we’re preparing for the upcoming legislative session, which begins on Jan. 9.

Sep 9, 2016

Promote participation during Employee Voter Registration Week

This year, we have a unique opportunity to shape our state and nation’s future.

Jul 8, 2016

Get involved in the 2017 policy process

At ABI, planning for the next legislative session begins as soon as the previous session has adjourned. ABI’s public policy team traveled throughout the state in May to meet with members and discuss the outcome of the 2016 legislative session and priorities for 2017.

Jun 9, 2016

Grassroots tools help spur support for Iowa distileries

When brothers Garrett and Ryan Burchett opened Mississippi River Distilling in 2010, they never imagined they would end up in the middle of a heated political battle, but that’s exactly where the Le Claire-based business and other distilleries have found themselves over the past three years.

May 13, 2016

Legislative session ends but policy work continues

Over the coming weeks, ABI is hosting regional meetings throughout the state to provide a recap of the session and help companies understand how legislation passed in 2016 will affect their business.

Mar 18, 2016

Strengthening cybersecurity: harnessing technology to protect the U.S.

State Rep. Zach Nunn, former director of cybersecurity for the National Security Council, provides his top three priorities for cybersecurity in 2016.

Feb 12, 2016

Promote business issues at Day on the Hill

With the 2016 legislative session well underway, it’s important to continue those conversations with lawmakers and keep business issues front of mind. Iowa Business Day on the Hill is an opportunity to do just that.

Jan 8, 2016

The year ahead in public policy

The Iowa Legislature convenes Monday, which will officially kick off a busy political year for all Iowans, and especially for the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI).