TopofPageMidwest Food Processors Association News Bulletin  - June 9, 2015   
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IL Legislature Fails To Pass Budget, Continuing Session Slated
IL Capitol T he IL General Assembly left Springfield deadlocked after five months of debating the budget.

Democrats passed their own budget that was $4 billion out-of-balance without any Republican support. GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner said he wouldn't sign a budget which lacks any of his proposed reforms.
The Legislature will now be in continuous session throughout the summer as the budget is resolved.

Recently, Republican leaders in both chambers filed a series of bills to implement Gov. Rauner's "Turn Around Agenda."  The Senate Executive Committee defeated the Gov's proposals, including worker's compensation reform (SB 994), reforms to the civil justice system (SB 884) and a property tax freeze along party lines.

Last Thursday, again voting along strict party lines, House Democrats passed a worker's compensation reform bill. The bill authored by Democrats passed 63-39 sending the measure to the Senate for further action. No Republicans supported it as it did not include the priorities publicly set by House Republicans and Gov. Rauner.

Both the House and Senate are scheduled to be back in session on Tuesday.

Among the items that failed to be addressed during the spring session were several bills to increase the minimum wage in Illinois, including a bill by Rep. Art Turner that would increase the wage from $8.25 to $9 an hour beginning in July. Also an initiative sponsored by state Sen. Kimberly Lightford that would push it to $9 in July and increase it 50 cents a year to $11 by 2019. MWFPA does not support increasing the minimum wage. 

 

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WI State Budget May Not Get Quick Passage

WI Capitol WI Gov. Scott Walker's hopes are fading for a quicker-than-normal passage of the state budget, even as Republican legislative leaders met privately with individual lawmakers to try and broker a deal on outstanding issues including roads funding and financing a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks.    

 

MWFPA continues monitoring the actions of this committee in order to insure that its actions do not impede business and economic development for food processors in the state. Continue reading.

 

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MN Special Session Delayed Over Auditor Issue
Minn Capitol

A special legislative session of the MN Legislature has been delayed because Gov. Mark Dayton and House Speaker Kurt Daudt couldn't resolve their differences over one issue.  

 

The dispute is over a brand new law that allows counties to hire private auditing firms instead of using the state auditor's office. Gov. Dayton initially wanted the law repealed, but offered a compromise that would have it take effect a year from now.  

 

Speaker Daudt rejected the offer, saying nothing would be gained by waiting a year and pledged lawmakers would revisit the issue in 2016.  

 

The upcoming special session is expected to pass bills to replace the public school funding, environment/ag and jobs measures that Dayton vetoed just before Memorial Day. If a new budget is not in place by July 1st, parts of state government will shut down.


MWFPA will provide a full report on budget actions soon. 

 

The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.

COOL Repeal Legislation Introduced
The House Agriculture Committee recently voted to approve HR. 2393, a bill that would repeal Country of Origin Labeling ("COOL") requirements for beef, pork and chicken products, while leaving intact the requirements for all other covered commodities, such as seafood and shellfish.

The action came just days after the World Trade Organization ("WTO") ruled against parts of the COOL law, a requirement that labels tell consumers what countries the meat is from: for example, "born in Canada, raised and slaughtered in the United States'' or "born, raised and slaughtered in the United States.''

MWFPA has worked with agriculture and other food industry groups to reverse the rule and supports this latest legislation.

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Spring Summit & Scramble Succeeds In All Aspects
Golf Club The weather was a perfect warm spring day with a bright sun over the Trappers Turn Golf Club in Wisconsin Dells, WI as nearly 200 golfers enjoyed a great day on the links and raised money for the MWFPA Scholarship Fund.

The team of Nate Kuenkel (Bush Brothers), James Yackish (CROWN Cork & Seal), Bill Johnston (Bush Brothers), and Craig Cerbins (First Business Bank), claimed first place team status (-14) and gained possession of the MWFPA Silver Golf Cup!  The team will have their name etched upon the trophy.

Thanks to our participants, volunteers and the staff at Trappers Turn who made the Spring Summit & Scramble a success.

Now planning begins in earnest for the upcoming convention.  We hope to see you in Green Bay!

 

Focus On Energy And Utility Partners Exceed Electric, Natural Gas Savings Goals

Focus on Energy, Wisconsin utilities' statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, has exceeded the four-year (2011-2014) electric and natural gas energy savings contractual goals by 121% and 111%1, respectively, according to a program evaluation report released this week. 

 

The Cadmus Group, which conducted the study, analyzed the program's performance and calculated the benefits for the state of Wisconsin.  The independent report concluded that every dollar invested in energy efficiency in 2014 yielded $3.33 in benefits for the state of Wisconsin.  That number is 35% higher than it was in the beginning of the four-year planning period in 2011.  The report also showed that investments in renewable energy technologies in 2014 achieved $1.52 in benefits for every dollar invested.  That number is 192% higher than it was in the beginning of the four-year planning period in 2011.

 

From 2011 to 2014, nearly 300,000 Wisconsin residents and businesses chose to use energy smarter by completing projects with the Focus on Energy program.  

 

To view the 2014 Focus on Energy Evaluation Report, visit focusonenergy.com/about/evaluation-reports.  

    
Registration Now Open For Food Safety Preventative Controls Forum October 19-22, 2015
Registration is now open for the 2015 Food Safety Preventive Controls Forum sponsored by AFFI and the Midwest Food Processors Association, scheduled for Oct. 19-22 at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis.

Presented by top experts these two Forums, one and one half day food safety workshops, will address fundamental Food Safety Modernization Act requirements and provide guidance on how these requirements can be blended into existing in-plant food safety programs.
   

MWFPA Partners On Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit     

   

MWFPA is a proud partner in the 10th Annual Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit being held in Minneapolis September 30 - October 2, 2014.

 

The Oilseed and Grain Trade Summit provides unique and valuable perspectives, such as the relationship between geopolitics, global trade and agriculture!

  

For more information, to the summit website.  REGISTER by June 30, 2015 to receive an early bird rate of $800!

   

Think Asia, Think Hong Kong Seeks Food Processors For One-On-One Business Meetings    

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is organizing an event in Chicago on June 10, 2015 called "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong."  

 

The Council is bringing 6 business delegations from Hong Kong and China (100+ companies) representing 6 different industries. In addition to attending TATHK, they will also do some company visits and participate in One-on-One Business Matching meetings with local companies. They are looking to meet with food & wine producers, food processing companies, food packaging companies, etc. for both sourcing AND selling opportunities.

 

If your company would like to participate, please click here for more information. 

 
MWFPA Events
October 6, 2015: Sporting Clays Challenge. Whispering Emerald Ridge Game Farm, N3954 640th St., Menomonie, WI.

October 19-22, 2015: AFFI/MWFPA Food Safety Preventative Controls Forum, Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, WI.  Register.

October 28-29, 2015:  MWFPA HACCP Seminar, LaCrosse, WI.

December 1-3, 2015 - MWFPA 111th Annual Convention and 88th Processing Crops Conference.  KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI.
 
Midwest Food Processors Assoc. | | brian.elliott@mwfpa.org | http://www.mwfpa.org
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