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House Healthcare Reform Bill – The Impact on Employers
By Hal Coxson, shareholder, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC
and Tia Martarella, associate, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC
On Saturday, November 7, in a 220-215 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1 trillion, 1,990-page healthcare reform bill called the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The bill is a combination of three different healthcare reform bills approved by House committees this summer. In an unusual pre-vote visit to Capitol Hill on Saturday morning to urge passage, President Barack Obama compared the significance of the vote to the historic House passage of Medicare in 1965.
The House-passed bill now has a significant, if not impossible, hurdle – passage in the Senate. Even the Washington Post concedes in an editorial the House bill is flawed, and the Senate must do better. While applauding House passage, the Post’s progressive editorial page editor Fred Hiatt wrote Monday in an op-ed entitled High Price for Reform that although its sponsors claim the bill is paid for, in fact it “also could take America a step closer to bankruptcy.” South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has declared the House bill “dead on arrival” in the Senate. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has scheduled Saturday sessions in an effort to complete the Senate bill this year, although he concedes work may carry over to early next year. Click here to read the entire article about how businesses and employees could be affected.
e-mail: Darrell Scott Phone: 803-255-2639
Offer a Coupon, and Make Money
Calling all South Carolina Chamber of Commerce members who have something to offer this holiday season. You can put coupons on the South Carolina Chamber Web site and generate more business for your business. This is a FREE membership benefit for Chamber members, but anyone can cash-in on the posted coupons. You could offer 10 percent off a corporate event at your restaurant or hotel, or give $20 dollars off an order of $200 or more in merchandise. These are just some examples of how to make money with your Chamber membership. Click here to see the coupons already posted. To learn how to post your company coupon, contact Barbara Beckham, VP of membership.
e-mail: Barbara Beckham Phone: 803-255-2620
S.C. Chamber Now on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce is now on multiple social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The South Carolina Chamber's Facebook page shares the latest Chamber news, events information and video productions. The Chamber’s Twitter page (@scchamber) will provide regular updates throughout this week on the Annual Summit, being held at Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms this Thursday – just search for the hashtag #sccsummit. And on the Chamber’s YouTube page, you’ll find an archive of past Chamber videos, including previous installments of CEO Corner.
e-mail: Stefanie Caraviello Phone: 803-255-2635
Advance Your Career with HR Institute
Advancing your human resources and/or management career just got easier. Module 2 of the Human Resources Institute is around the corner, and there’s no better time than now to sign up. Module 2, December 7 and 8 in Myrtle Beach, will cover important topics, such as model employee policies, workplace immigration, HR file cabinet as well as a SPHR overview. This Module has been pre-approved for 12.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the HR Certification Institute. Register now!
e-mail: Alexa Stillwell Phone: 803-255-2621
Enhance Your Workplace Safety Initiatives
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your workplace safety initiatives by registering for one or both workshops December 10 and 11 in Columbia. PIT/Forklift Training, a one-day workshop detailing general safety, operation, training and guidelines for operating a PIT (Powered Industrial Truck) or forklift, is offered December 10. The December 11 half-day workshop, ARC Flash/NFPA 70E, will cover the NFPA 70E “Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace” guidelines while giving all participants a working knowledge of how to apply these guidelines.
e-mail: Andi Gougarty Phone: 803-255-2615
Save the Date for Business Speaks
Business Speaks at the State House, an annual gathering of more than 500 of South Carolina's leading business people, constitutional officers and members of the General Assembly, is January 27, 2010 at the Marriott in Columbia. The Business Speaks town meeting is a special opportunity for business leaders to hear from legislative leadership on issues that will be addressed during the legislative session. Senate and House members will participate in an open panel discussion where important business issues will be discussed, including tax reform, healthcare, energy, the state budget, economic development incentives and workforce development needs. Sponsorships are now being accepted for the Chamber’s largest legislative event of the year. Click here to view the 2010 sponsorship levels.
e-mail: Alexa Stillwell Phone: 803-255-2621
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