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Today's News State Digest 1 National Digest I Feature Section Council News Congressional luncheons in your area page four Commentary: Team Spirit page three 1997 Union Offensive page five Message from the President page two 1 Ah(silt ma XII, No. 4 Family-owned businesses: hold on to your wallets A leading reason why more than one-third offamily-owned busi nesses are sold or liquidated by inheritors is the federal estate tax. nthe estate tax acts as a delayed secondary tax. The tax kicks in at 37 percent on the first $600,000 and rises to confiscate 55 percent of assets above $3 million. These steep rates make the tax a powerful disincentive to save, invest and grow businesses beyond the estate tax threshold. The estate tax penalizes the suc cess of entrepreneurs and affixes an arbitrary limit on assets and savings. Small and medium-size business owners are particularly impacted because many have enormous assets tied up in facili ties, equipment and capital. Regardless of profitability, these assets can easily push estate val-"'' ues into the upper brackets of the estate tax. : The IRS's best and brightest lawyers audit estates, and nearly all top-dollar estates end up before a judge. The lawyers on both sides are the real winners, while too many family mem bers see their life long work put on the auction block. Status A hearing on the tax was held February 25 in the Senate Agriculture Committee, Jack Kemp testified in,'support of repeal. The BCA is currently working with Alabama lawmakers to secure co-sponsors and passage of estate tax repeal in the 105th Congress. President Clinton's FY 1998 budgetproposes a narrow expansion of estate tax-.payment extensions for closely held busi nesses, ^ The estate tax must be repealed. Reducing the estate tax, while marginally helpful, would not remove the major impediments that prevent business owners from transferring a family-owned busi ness to legitimate heirsi This is especially true for capital-inten- sive, family-owned, small manu facturing businesses. The government collects just 1 percent of its revenue from the estate tax, while devoting an inordinate amount of time and resources to ensure compliance. Whatyou can do to iielp Sen. Shelby, Sen. Sessions, Rep. Bachus, Rep. Callahan and Rep. Riley are cosponsors of the , Family Heritage Preservation Act, which repeals the estate tax. Contact your senators and repre: sentatives and let them know that you support repealing the estate tax and support the Family Heritage Preservation Act. For more information about the estate tax or any other federal issue, contact Riley Sikes at 334/240-8759. "Partnerships for Employment" your sourcefor workers and tax credits A consortium of Alabama gov ernmental agencies have grouped together to provide businesses with a new source Alabama's of employees in success what has become a is our very tight labor market. The pro business gram, "Partnerships for Employment," combines the efforts of the Departments of Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Education (Adult Education), Economic and Community Affairs (through JTPA) and Industrial Development Training. In its attempts to move peoplefrom welfare to work, these agencies will take persons who have been recipients of public assistance programs, such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and train them to meet the needs of Alabama employers. With the assistance of the local DHR office, JTPA staff and the State Employment Service, employers select potential candi dates from those public assistance recipients who most closely match their requirements for experience and education. Employees who are hired qualify the employer for up to 50 percent reimbursement of their salary during their off the job train ing period. In addition, their instructor's pay is reimbursed at 100 percent. Also, the employer is eli gible for State and Federal tax cred its for employing these persons. Since many of these people have little or no work experience, the state also provides basic life skills and good work habits training to aid in making these new employees a vital and productive part of the workforce. If you are looking for a new source of potential employees, want a tax break or just need more informa tion, please contact Emalyn Clark of the Alabama Industrial Development Training Office at 334-242-4158, ext. 403, or contact your local county office of the Department of Human Resources. Cosponsors of the Estate Tax bill Sen. Shelby Rep. Bachus Sen. Sessions . Rep. Riley BCA Federal Affairs Committee Chair Charlie Story and Vice Chair Ken Tucker and members discuss S5, the Product Liability Reform Act of 1997. For more about Product Liability see page three. The Monthly Newsletter of the Business Council of Alabama DSW 133126 STLCOPCB4033084 Page 2 Message from the President BCA members are encouraged to contact legislators An advertising campaign by the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association is an embarrassment to the organization and to the State. That's a direct quote from a recent Alabama newspaper editori al that concluded with, "The Trial Lawyers' latest salvo was no effort at reason. It was smoke sent up by an interested party, one that profits handsomely from the status quo." The ads in question are mali cious and misleading attacks on a number of the members of the Alabama House of Representatives who supported tort reform. It's the same old bag of political dirty tricks the trial lawyers have reached into one too many times. You would think they learned their lesson with last year's skunk ad in the Supreme Court race. The business community cannot afford to remain silent in the face of these vicious and unwarranted attacks. We have no choice but to set the record straight and we will. In the meantime, we need your help. Listed at right are the House members who were attacked by name in the trial lawyers' ads. Take one minute, right now, to write a note to the Speaker and your local House members to thank them for their strong back bone and for their support to help end lawsuit abuse in Alabama. Please respond today. The House members have heard from the trial lawyers. The ques tion is will they hear from you? Speaker Jimmy Clark Rep. Steve Flowers Rep. Allen Layson Rep. Tony Petelos Rep. J. E. Turner Rep. Seth Hammett Rep. Mark Gaines Rep. Edward Maull Rep. Chris Pringle Rep. Pete Tumham Rep. Gerald Allen Rep. Victor Gaston Rep. Frank McDaniel Rep. Howard Sanderford Rep. Lesley Vance Rep. Locy Baker Rep. Mac Gipson Rep. Bob McKee Rep. Allen Sanderson Rep. Jack Venable Rep. Jim Cams Rep. Jim Haney Rep. Steve McMillan Rep. Riley Seibenhener Rep. Jimmy Warren Rep. Joe Carothers Rep. Mike Hill Rep. Warren Minnifield Rep. Larry Sims Rep. Frank White Rep. Tommy Carter Rep. Tom Hogan Rep. Garreth Moore Rep. Curtis Smith Rep. Gerald Willis Rep. Sam Collins Rep. Perry O. Hooper, Jr. Rep. Charles Newton Rep. Lewis Spratt Rep. Greg Wren Rep. Johnny Curry Rep. Ronald Johnson Rep. Nelson Papucci Rep. Nelson Starkey Rep. Mike Dean Rep. Lee Jorgenson Rep. Arthur Payne Rep. Dave Thomas Rep. Bill Dukes Rep. Richard Laird Rep. Walter Penry Rep. Jim Townsend Business Council of Alabama Executive Committee John C. Adams Russell Corporation Dick Anderson Huron Valley Steel Corporation Winton M. Blount 111 Winton Blount III & Associates William E. Bullock, Jr. W.J. Bullock, Inc. William S. Cawood Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Inc. Ab Conner Conner Bros. Construction Co., Inc. David Duke Rankin Insurance Lewis Ford Fitts Fitts Industries, Inc. John M. Gaffney AmSouth Bank, NA Fournier J. Gale, III Maynard, Cooper & Gale John Goodrum Goodrum-Knowles A rchitect/Engineering Ted M. Henry Henry Brick Company, Inc. D. Paul Jones Compass Bank Keith King David Volkert & Associates Robert W. Lee Vulcan, Inc. Timothy Lewis T.A. Lewis & Associates C. Charles Nailen, Jr. BBG Specialty Foods, Inc./Taco Beil Robert D. Powers Eufaula Agency Van L. Richey American Cast Iron Pipe Co. J. Stanley Mackin Regions Financial Corp. Officers Van L. Richey, Chairman D. Paul Jones, First Vice Chairman Ab Conner, Second Vice Chairman Robert W. Lee, Immediate Past Chairman John M. Gaffney, Treasurer Fournier J. Gale III, General Counsel Bill O'Connor, President MEMBER & COMMITTEE NEWS Alabama Machine, Inc., Jasper Alabama Poultry Supply, Inc., Cullman Automated Accounting Systems, Jasper Benson Belt Maintenance, Inc., Jasper Bowers Plumbing Co., Inc., Toney Brown Paper Converting Machine Works, Inc., Alexander City Brown's Grocery, Jasper Butler-Kennamer, Scottsboro C & J Machine & Welding, Mobile C-Tex, Inc.: R. D. C-L. L. C, Fayette Chichester, Birmingham and Assoc. Choice Fabricators, Inc., Attalla Church Pews, Grove Hill Clark Embroidery, Inc., Jasper Cock of the Walk, Mobile Computer Support System, Inc., Decatur Country Gas of Ivladison County, Inc., Owens ` Cross Roads ' Creative Leasing, Tuscaloosa . Crystal Ice Company, Mobile Davis Machine & Welding of Opelika, Inc., Opelika F. C. F. Enterprises, Inc., Hanceville Feldmerier/Alabama Equipment, Inc., Montgomery Franklin Homes, Inc., Russellville Franklin Resources Group, Montgomery Golden Bird Enterprises, LLC, Birmingham Gulf Coast Enterprises, Citronelle Gunter Body Shop & Wrecker Service, Inc., Jasper Harmon Arch Millwork & Design Co., Inc., Oneonta Hulsey Heating & Cooling, Inc., Northport J. Smith Lanier & Co., Huntsville Jackson, Ahrens & Schoenfield Ins. Group, Mobile Jones Fence Enterprises, Inc., Trinity Kans, Inc., Rainbow City Kenworth of Dothan, Dothan Koul Apparel Industries, Inc., Auburn Lake Forest Property Owners Association, Daphne Le Cray Heating-Cooling, Inc., Birmingham M. G. Waid Industries, Inc., Double Springs Maddox Enterprises, Inc., Jasper Magic Gas Company, Inc., Springville Magna Manufacturing, Inc., Fort Walton Beach, FL Mays Distributing Co., Inc., Union Springs McMillan & Associates, Decatur Milan & Company Construction, Inc., Alton Minshew Electrical Contractors, Inc., Mobile Modified Rubber Industries, Inc., Birmingham Montgomery Technology, Inc., Greenville National Butane, Inc., Evergreen ,Ne.M{ South Apparel, LLC, Brewton Novus Jnei.'Sirmingham Packaging Machinery,'Inc.', Montgomery Pash, Inc., Birmingham Pearson Financial Services, Huntsville Quintard Mall, Ltd., Birmingham Regal Employment, Hartselle Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Chattanooga, TN Rogers & Willard, Inc., Mobile RPM Sales & Manufacturing, Inc., Moulton S & S Tile, Mobile S & S Underground, Inc., Birmingham Safety Coatings, Inc., Foley Seven-Up Bottling Co. of Jasper, Inc., Jasper Speedy Oil Change, Inc., Tuscaloosa Tal Carpenter Plumbing Co., Montgomery Tec-Masters, Inc., Huntsville The Fudgey Nut, Huntsville Thursby Golf Course, Inc., Graysville Travel-Rite Inn, LLC, Jasper Tucker Manufacturing Co., Inc., Montgomery Ultraliner, Oxford Walker Drilling Services, Inc., Jasper West Alabama Sand & Gravel, Inc., Fayette Wilko Ind., Inc.-Kossow Ind., Inc., Prichard Wilson Machine & Welding, Inc., Cordova Gov. Fob James presents Van Richey, chairman of the Business Council of Alabama, a proclamation honoring Alabama's more than 7,000 man ufacturers during the week of March 10 - 14. The proclamation serves as formal recognition of the important role manufacturing plays in the state's economy. Coming... National Small Business Week, June 2-6 DSW 133127 STLCOPCB4033085 A /../..... 'i'.. j.. , Todav Page 3 NATIONAL DIGEST Team Spirit by Dr. Richard L. Lesher President U.S. Chamber of Commerce few employees believe any kind of union is necessary to defend their interests. WASHINGTON - As every ath letic coach knows, team spirit is the most crucial element in the competition for championship honors. Athletes with outstand ing natural gifts can be more burden than asset if they do not participate and contribute as members of the team. Modern business managers are acutely aware of this fundamen tal fact of life. To the extent possible, they try to forge a cooperative workplace culture in which employees work together to solve problems, increase productivity and improve quality. This means abandoning the old top-down mentality in which the boss issues orders and subordinates snap to attention, but then even the military knows that manage ment technique is obsolete. To be competitive in the mod ern world, any organization be it a private business, govern ment agency, nonprofit group, sports team or military unit must field a cohesive team that takes full advantage of the physical and mental capacities of each member. Unfortunately, federal law actu ally prohibits the creation of joint management-labor teams by private business unless they are provided for in collective bargaining contracts. The 1935 National Labor Relations Act explicitly prohibits such arrangements lest some compa nies seek to establish labormanagement teams as sham unions to avert union organiz ing. In 1992, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that a system of teams or com mittees established by a compa ny as a vehicle for employee participation is analogous to a company-dominated union under the 1935 law. Within the context of its time, the 1935 prohibition against company labor committees made sense, but its current use to outlaw teamwork is obsolete and counterproductive. Today, even company-created unions are fiercely independent, and Last year, both houses of Congress enacted identical ver sions of The Teamwork for Employees And Management Act (the TEAM Act), which would permit formation of joint management-labor teams, but it encountered a predictable firestorm of criticism and resis tance from organized labor. At the behest of the labor unions, President Clinton vetoed the bill. Though the legislation expressly excludes unionized companies from coverage, the unions still regard any form of cooperation between management and labor as a threat. The attitude of the labor unions like the ban against joint labor-management com mittees is a relic of another era, and a most unfortunate one. It is undermining the best efforts of our best corporations to become not only more competi tive in the world marketplace, but also more humane and pro gressive in terms of dealing with employees and their needs. This unconscionable prohibition actually forbids managers and employees from sitting down together to discuss safety and quality of life issues. The 105th Congress will revive the TEAM Act early in this leg islative session and attempt once again to bring our nation's labor laws into the modern age. There will probably be amend ments to the legislation designed to mollify union con cerns and hence improve the prospect of President Clinton's signing it into law. There can be no question the president understands what is at stake. As he said in his 1996 State of the Union Message: When com panies and workers work as a team they do better and so does America. The TEAM Act deserves the wholehearted support of all citi zens who care about our coun try's competitive position in the world marketplace and who understand that employers and employees must work together as a team to assure a better future. 2/17/97 105th Alabama Congressional Delegation U.S. Senators Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa 110 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 202/224-5744 Fax: 202/224-3416 Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile 495 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 202/224-4124 Fax: 202/224-3149 U.S. Representatives Sonny Callahan, R-Mobile 2418 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20515 202/225-4931 Fax: 202/225-0562 Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville 2416 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20515 202/225-4801 Fax: 202/225-4392 Terry Everett, R-Enterprise 208 Cannon House Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20515 202/225-2901 Fax: 202/225-8913 Spencer Bachus, R-Birmingham 442 Cannon House Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20515 202/225-4921 Fax: 202/225-2082 Bob Riley, R-Ashland 510 Cannon House Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20515 202/225-3261 Fax: 202/225-9020 Earl Hilliard, D-Birmingham 1314 Longworth House Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20515 202/225-2665 Fax: 202/226-0772 Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville 1007 Longworth House Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20515 202/225-4876 Fax: 202/225-1604 Product liability reform on Senate floor after Easter recess The Senate Commerce Committee began hearings this month on S5, the Product Liability Reform Act of 1997. The products only bill limits punitive damage awards to two times com pensatory damages or $250,000, whichever is greater. It caps punitive damage awards for companies with fewer than 26 workers to $250,000 and abolishes joint liability for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. The bill preserves claimants' rights to full compensation for real losses, including lost wages and medical expenses. Both the Senate and House Republican leadership named the product liability reform one of the top 10 items on their agenda for the 105th Congressional session. Please contact Sen. Shelby and encourage his vote in favor of product liability reform and his opposition to any efforts to defeat, delay or fili buster the measure. Also contact Sen. Sessions applauding his cospon sorship of this important legislation. Alabama's senators on TEAMAct 1 aws designed to punish and dis countul* cooperation between employers and employees are tidiculous. Under cimeni law. employees cannot be in\ol\cd in workplace decisions unless they do it through a labor union. The Team Act will effectively change this dangcious tiend and will potentially encourage greater productsil\ and increased economic growth 1 wry one benefits when employers and employees Sen. Richard Shelby The old top-down wrork place doesn't work any more. When companies and workers work as a team, they do better. And, so does America. Sen. JeffSessions DSW 133128 STLCOPCB4033086 Alabama Today The BCA held its annual Safety Awards luncheon March 20 at The Club in Birmingham. The featured keynote speaker was Stewart Farwell, the president and general manager of Rlieem Manufacturing. Over 85 BCA members received awards for their outstanding achievements in safety regulations. Recipients of the 1996 Chairmans Award Manufacturing & Related Russell Corporation, Double Knit ........... Service & Related Instrument Technical Services, Inc. Utilities & Related Huntsville Utilities Fleet WestPoint Stevens, Inc. - Transportation Congratulations to all of the 1996 Safety Awards recipi ents. We are looking forward to next year's safety awards presentation. Each year the Environment and Energy Committee sponsors a special conference to bring business people from both public and private sectors together. This meeting is an opportunity to gain and share insight about the latest regulations and develop progressive solutions about environmental issues. The 1997 BCA Environment & Energy Conference will be held June 1-3 at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear. For more information please call Judith Kuczmarski at 334/240-8745 or 800/665-9647. Rep. Spencer Bachus discussing business issues with BCA members at last year's congressional luncheon in Binningham. Friday, April 18 Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce and the BCA are sponsoring a Congressional Luncheon with U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt. 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. RSVP with the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce 205/734-0454 Monday, May 5 Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and the BCA are sponsoring a Congressional Luncheon with Congressman Sonny Callahan. Adams Mark Hotel 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. RSVP with Shelly Mattingly Mobile Chamber of Commerce 334/431-8612 Wednesday, Ma^28 Birmingham Area Chamljerw\0mmerce and the BCA are sponsmjA^u^cffigressional Luncheon with Htinfimman Earl Hilliard 1:00 p.m. Ra^P^ith Kellie Swanger Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce 205/323-5461 BCA RESOURCES Alabama Business Network IftheOSHA inspector comes to your business.. OSHA Standards to Know Now and in the Future and the Enforcement Process political information Invest in today's most VALUABLE COMMODITY: Information User-friendly resource in understanding and satisfying the demands of OSHA for more information: Carol Haag 334/240-8753 Give us a prospect One of the best ways BCA has of recruiting new mem bers is through recommendations by current members. The stronger we are in membership, the stronger our voice is on the legislative level. Take a moment now and write the names of a couple of businesses in your area that we can invite to join. Employmant law compliance Now Ihere'a help! Alabama Labor Law Survival Guides Four handbooks designed for Alabama employers -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, _______________________________________________ Company ! Contact Name { Telephone ! Would your employee policies defeat discrimination claims? Employment Law Survival Guide _________________________________________________________ CHomopwanytoj draft Contact Name i your employee ______________________________________ __________________Telephone [ handbook in Alabama Your Name L\bok Wage Poster Does your labor wage poster have the new minimum wage listed? In September, you will be required to have the poster with $5.50 listed as the minimum wage. The BCA federal 5 in I combined poster includes the new minimum wage. This poster is available for $15 (tax included). The 28" x 40" poster includes: new minimum wage job safety & health protection OSHA equal employment opportunity family and medical leave act of 1993 employee polygraph protection act Your Company Please return this card to BCA Membership Department Attn. Elaine Fincannon P.O. Box 76, Montgomery, Alabama 36101-0076. Helping to make the voice ofAlabama stronger To place an order please call: 334/240-8746 DSW 133129 STLCOPCB4033087  auay Page 5 STATE DIGEST 1997 Union Offensive All legislation is subject to change. For weekly status on fast-moving issues monitor BCA's Legislative Bulletin. Union Agenda Its impact Who pays for it Pre agency shop 1 Higher uncmplo) mcnt benefits UC benefits during lock-out Non-union members to absorb cost of some union activities Raises the maximum U.C. weekly benefit Tilts negotiating balance in favor of labor Non-union workers Alabama business Alabama business There has been an enormous amount of nega tive notoriety heaped on a select segment of Alabama trial lawyers following the last election cycle. It really was the culmination of several years of dwindling credibility ratings with the general public. Editorial writers, reporters and even business writers have tapped out literally thousands of articles and opinion pieces on the struggle between the trial lawyers and the busi ness community. Often deafened by the high volume debate between business and trial lawyers is the noise of another approaching front...that of organized labor trying to revitalize its membership and power. "Project 96" was AFL-CIO chief John Sweeny's $35 million Congressional election effort. Sweeny kicked off this campaign to elect pro-union candidates to Congress, focusing on the crop of freshmen elected in 1994. Coupled with this effort was a wide ranging effort to enlist new members, coordinated by an increase num ber of field representatives based throughout the country. The Southeast, once a stronghold of labor sup port, was targeted as a major part of "Project 96." Labor focused on semi-skilled and unskilled workers in an attempt to bolster its ranks. As participation in labor unions have shrunk, the union heads have renewed their efforts to regain their political strength and momentum. The rea son for this new-found drive is simple - member ship is down across the country. According to Expansion Management magazine union mem bership has declined by almost 40 percent throughout the United States. As membership slides, union political activity has increased. Organized labor clearly sees a much desired renewal of its political influence as the way to increase membership and return to a position of prominence on a local, state and fed eral level. To that end, labor has renewed its commitment to pushing a pro-labor agenda and electing pro-labor candidates. At the head of their legislative agenda is mandates for employee benefits. Last August, union organizers traveled by bus from Alabama city to Alabama city. In addition to focusing on its sagging membership roles (from 17 million in 1970 to 10 million workers in 1995), the organizers were on a two-pronged mission: 1) Work feverishly for pro-labor candi dates 2) lay the groundwork for a concerted leg islative effort for pro-labor issues. While the portion of their effort aimed at the 1996 election cycle is over, we are in the middle of their leg islative push. And pushing they are. Since the 1997 session of the Alabama legisla ture kicked off in early February, nearly seven significant pro-labor bills have been introduced in the Alabama Legislature. The bills range from efforts to force unionization to increase the week ly benefit for unemployment compensation. Also hot on their agenda this year are the so-called "lock-out bill" and the "pre-agency shop bill." The lock-out measure would essentially tilt the scales toward contract during labor negotiations by subsidizing lock-outs with unemployment benefits. Granted, these measures are not new to Alabama. But the intensity of the effort is. As an example, Rep. Joe Ford (D-Gadsden) intro duced the lock-out measure in the House of Representatives four times in only a matter of weeks. Considering it's the identical bill each time, it is clear that labor is pushing and pushing hard. The pre-agency shop bill is an attempt to open the door to attacking Alabama's longstand ing Right to Work law. The bill would allow labor unions to charge workers who elected not to participate for representing them in arbitration cases - as they are currently required. The Unemployment Compensation Glossary U.C. Trust Fund State-administered, employer-funded account used to compensate the unemployed while they seek work. U.C. Benefits Recipients receive approximately 54 percent of previous pay but not more than $180 per week. The weekly benefit is equal to one-twenty-fourth of the employee's average quarterly income. Business and organized labor have successfully completed negotiations on legislation originally proposed by labor that would have provided a straight $20 increase in the maximum weekly unemployment compensation benefit level with no offset to the U.C. Trust Fund. An overview of the U.C. Trust Fund, the elements of the tentative agreement and the benefits appears below. How the U.C. Fund works A special tax on employers funds the U.C. Fund. The fund is composed of four levels, A through D. Level A being the lowest tax rate employers can pay. As the fund is depleted by the dispersal of benefits it auto matically goes to a higher schedule when it falls to a certain level. Then all businesses pay a higher tax, regardless of their experi ence rating. The U.C. Fund level has been I'alling rapidly because employers have been at the lowest level of taxation for quite some time. Businesses should expect to move up to the higher tax levels to replenish the fund. The Department of Industrial Relations projects that employ ers will move into the schedule B lax rate in 1998 and schedule C in 1999. The key when considering increases in the weekly benefit level is balancing the increase against the impact to the fund. Business always tries to maintain the fiscal integrity of the fund to keep taxes as low as possible while still providing an appropriate level of benefits. This legislation is currently pend ing before the Alabama House and Senate. Elements of the , HOW BOTH SIDES BENEFIT Compromise provides an increase in ben efit levels; minimizes the impact to the U.C. Trust Fund. Provides the DIR with an enforcement tool to recover overpayments. V-; r';.f;"i ,t -.gs/.v. - .qr,, - ... ,, >. ,<>' 1, Allows. Relations.(DlI^ overpayments fey garnishing state income The U.C. Fund could save up to $3 mil lion in benefits by raising the employee minimum quarterly income qualifying requirements from the current $516 aver age per quarter to $1,080 average per quar ter. This is a positive benefit to Alabama's small businesses. Provides the DIR with an enforcement tool which could allow it to recover and return to the trust fund an estimated $10 million over the next five years. DSW 133130 STLCOPCB4033088 IMPORTANT DATES AND CHAMBER NEWS The Birmingham Area Chamber Business Fair was held at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center on March 12 and 13, More than 20,000 area business and professional people attended this year's fair. "This is the largest chamber-sponsored trade show in North America," said Tom Cosby, Sr. Vice-President of the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce. Among the 20,000 plus attendants. Chamber of Commerce representatives from Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Georgia attended the fair. bca (Mine http://www.bcaonline.com don'tforget.... be sure to attend the Congressional Luncheon in your area in the may issue..... assessment of the 1997 Legislative Session April 15 Governmental Affairs Committee Meeting 10:00 a.m. Auditorium, First Floor Business Center of Alabama BCA Board of Directors Meeting 10:00-12:00 BCA Officers Meeting Suffolk, Wynffey Hotel, Birmingham 12:00-1:30 Executive Committee Avon, Wynffey Hotel, Birmingham 1:30-3:00 PAC Board Meeting Riverchase A, Wynffey Hotel. Birmingham 3:00-5:00 " BCA Board Meeting Riverchase A, Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham j:30-7:00 PAC Reception/Fund-raiser Wynfrey C. Wynfrey Hotel. Birmingham April 19 Earth Day April 22 Governmental Affairs Committee Meeting 10:00 a.m. Auditorium, First Floor Business Center of Alabama April 29 Governmental Affairs Committee Meeting 10:00 a.m. Auditorium, First Floor Business Center of Alabama May 6 Governmental Affairs Committee Meeting 10:00 a.m. Chickasaw Room, Seventh Floor Business Center of Alabama May 19 Governmental Affairs Committee Meeting 10:00 a.m. Auditorium, First Floor Business Center of Alabama June 1st - 3rd Environment & Energy Workshop Grand Hotel, Point Clear June 2nd - 6th National Small Business Week June 11 Officers Meeting 9:00 a.m. Room to be determined Business Center of Alabama Executive Committee Meeting 10:00 a.m. Room to be determined Business Center of Alabama Board of Directors Luncheon Noon Room to be determined Business Center of Alabama BCA Board of Directors Meeting 1:30 p.m. Room to be determined Business Center of Alabama Progress PAC Board Meeting 3:30 p.m. Room to be determined Business Center of Alabama see pagefourfor a schedule of Congressional Luncheons im-me9 09 3<I# (I3XIHW0 IV `Ajauio6)uo|/\| 9LZ 'ON liLUJSd aiVd aBejsod S'fl siey >||ng eweqeiv jo ipunco' sseiusng eweqeiv 1 ipunoo ssewsng /661 9200-1019E `eweqeiv `Amwo6}uo|/\| 92 xog O'd seojAjes diqsjsqwei/M to joteuipjooo jenoa neon :ujiv eweqeiv |o ipunoo ssauisng :o} suoiioejjoo ssatppe puss aseaid Buiiuud JS>I|em Al poiuud suopeojunwwoo OMeqswuo `OMeqswuo suqo uosupniM aweqdajs jauBjsaa pue joppg 9100-1019S euieqeiv 'AiatuoGiuoi/J 91 xog o'd `Buieqeivto ipunoj ssauisng aqi Aq Aiqiuouu paqsnqnd si Aepoj_ euieqeiv m u DSW 133131 STLCOPCB4033089