Election is over, but legislative work is just beginning

November 11, 2016 | Doing Business in Iowa: How Iowa Ranks Emily Schettler, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, eschettler@iowaabi.org

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. There are several things you can do to prepare, too.

We are ready to build on our success from 2016, and we need your help to do so.

First, take time to meet with your local legislators. Now that we know who’s been elected to represent us in Des Moines, the weeks before the session begins are a great time to sit down with them to discuss challenges and opportunities facing Iowa businesses and your company specifically.

ABI’s public policy team will be working to educate legislators on the issues important to Iowa businesses, and those messages are reinforced when lawmakers hear them directly from constituents.

Offer to provide a tour of your facility and time to speak with your employees. Contact ABI’s public policy team for a copy of our 2017 priorities and share them with your legislators.

Make plans to participate in ABI’s upcoming public policy events, starting with ABI’s Legislative Briefing and Reception on Jan. 11. This is your opportunity to receive a preview of the legislative session and inter- act with legislators.

On March 14, ABI will host Iowa Business Day on the Hill. Join us at the Capitol to discuss issues important to Iowa employers and share in a celebration of Iowa businesses.

Throughout the session, ABI’s policy team will offer monthly legislative teleconferences to help members stay up to date on important business- related legislation.

Now that the 2016 election is over, it’s time to get to work partnering with our lawmakers to continue to make Iowa a place where employers and employees can thrive.