AIM Legislative Policy
AIM's 2012 Legislative Agenda AIM Planning & Policy Committee, 11/10/2011
The principal purpose of Associated Industries of Missouri is to “promote a favorable business climate for business, manufacturing and industry.” AIM has, therefore, formulated the following statement of policy which clearly states the objectives of this association.
This association realizes that the people of Missouri can only be successful if the business community of this state is successful. AIM is dedicated to helping industry and business in Missouri succeed by empowering its members through communication, education and advocacy before the General Assembly, administrative agencies, courts and the public. These policy statements serve as guides to allow AIM’s staff to promote this vision and to ensure that AIM will continue to serve as the “Voice of Missouri Business” through the 21st Century.
AIM Press Releases
Missouri Business Could Suffer Increased Costs If Federal Cuts Are Made To Medicaid Provider Tax Programs Nathan Dampf, AIM Director of Communications, 11/16/2011
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A new report from the University of Missouri concludes that congressional proposals to reduce federal Medicaid cost sharing in Missouri could harm the state’s economy and lead to significant increases in the cost of health insurance for Missouri’s employers. The report was commissioned by the Taxpayer Research Institute of Missouri within Associated Industries of Missouri.
“The congressional ‘super committee’ is charged with reducing federal funding by $1.2 trillion,” said Ray McCarty, president of Associated Industries of Missouri. “This report points to the significant economic damage that would result from using Medicaid provider assessments to reduce federal expenditures. Like many states, Missouri utilizes provider assessments to help fund the Medicaid program. Because of Missouri’s significant reliance on this funding mechanism, the proposal being considered in Washington, D.C. would disproportionately harm the state and could burden employers with higher costs for insurance. The uncertainty created by the lack of funding would hurt our ability to create and retain jobs.”
AIM for Good Business Issue Articles
Wage and Salary Surveys Keep Missouri Companies Competitive Nathan Dampf, AIM Director of Communications, 8/3/2011
Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM) has helped host a regional Wage and Salary Survey for Missouri businesses and the human resources professionals within those companies for many years. Local associations and businesses have sponsored regional efforts to encourage a higher degree of participation and in turn, those companies receive a broad amount of information that helps them determine how competitive their businesses are in regards to attracting top employee talent in their area.
This year, Associated Industries has been joined by the Springfield Area Human Resources Association (SAHRA) and St. Louis law firm Danna McKitrick to survey AIM members and non-members, in order to help those companies understand what local businesses are offering for employee compensation and benefits packages.
AIM for Good Business Issue Articles
Watts Radiant (Springfield) Joins Missouri Group of 35 Safe Businesses Nathan Dampf, AIM Director of Communications, 7/28/2011
Last Wednesday, the Missouri Labor Department’s On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program announced that Watts Radiant of Springfield, has earned the distinction of being named the newest member of the Missouri’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) for its excellent workplace safety record, for a new total of 35 SHARP businesses in the state.
“Safety is more than an act, it's a state of mind," said John Kolson, Watts Radiant's Vice Present and General Manager. "We have empowered our employees with more than simply the tools to identify what can be a potentially hazardous situation; we have empowered them to act. Improvements in safety come directly from the employees working with the equipment or walking the floor. This has made the safety program at Watts Radiant incredibly strong."
AIM for Good Business Issue Articles
Governor Nixon Finishes Action on Legislative Items Nathan Dampf, AIM Director of Communications, 7/21/2011
In the latest AIM Your Voice Magazine, Associated Industries of Missouri informed our members of the bills that passed or did not pass in the 2011 legislative session. In some cases, AIM was able to shed light on Governor Jay Nixon’s thoughts and actions on those bills. With the July deadline passed, Governor Nixon has either signed the bills he agreed with, not signed the bills allowing them to become law, or vetoed the bills he opposed.
One of our AIM priorities, Senate Bill 188, was vetoed in late April. The bill would have aligned Missouri employment and discrimination law with that of the federal government. House Bill 163, which extended unemployment benefits to out-of-work Missourians, was signed in mid-April. And Senate Bill 19 was signed by the governor just two weeks later to eliminate the Missouri Corporation Franchise Tax for all Missouri corporations still paying the tax, which is the worst example of double-taxation.