SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner signed SB 2042 today, which appropriates money for the pass through of federal dollars without adding to the state's budget deficit. The clean bill allows the state to provide some services to the state's most vulnerable citizens.

"Governor Rauner supported and signed this clean pass through bill because it will help those in need without adding to the state's budget deficit," Director of Communications Lance Trover said. "While the Governor continues to work on passing a balanced budget with structural reforms to maximize how much we can invest in our schools and important social services, some of the state's most vulnerable citizens will be able receive additional support."

Bill No.: SB 2042

An Act Concerning Appropriations

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

MRA - The Management Association, 3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 100 in Moline, Illinois has several training events planned in September.

September 3 & September 17: 8 AM - 4 PM, Principles of Leadership Excellence Series: Module 3 - Culture, Motivation, and Aligning Goals with Strategies. The goal of the Principles of Leadership Excellence Certificate Series (PLX) is to provide you with opportunities to learn the skills, behaviors, and knowledge needed for effective, successful leadership.  Cost is MRA Members: $495  Nonmembers:$655 (Pricing also available if you sign up for the entire 6 module series).

September 10 & September 11: 8 AM - 3:30 PM, FMLA Administration in the Real World - A Method to the Madness.  This is the premier course for those responsible for FMLA Administration and teaches the full leave life cycle from when an employer learns of the need for leave through the employee's return to work.  Cost is MRA Members: $460  Nonmembers: $665.

September 10: 8 AM - 4 PM, Administrative Professionals Certificate Series: Leadership Skills for the Administrative Professional.  Learning professional skills to be more effective in the workplace.  Participants explore their individual communication style and ways to improve their communication, problem solving and interpersonal skills.  Cost is MRA members: $250 Nonmembers: $340 (Pricing is also available if you sign up for the entire 4 module series).

September 18: 8 AM - 3:30 PM, Meeting Facilitation Skills.  A good meeting facilitator has the skills to make ordinary group meetings dynamic and productive.  In this program participants practice using skills and tools that help keep meetings on track and groups moving forward.  Cost is MRA members: $250  Nonmembers: $340.

September 22: 8 AM - 4 PM, Frontline Leadership Certificate Series: Motivation and Trust Building.  Group leaders learn how to meet the demands of leading work, while doing work.  This program gives participants a practical understanding of basic leadership skills, work values, organizational responsibility, and trust building.  Cost is MRA Members: $250  Nonmembers: $340 (Pricing is also available if you sign up for the entire 5 module series).

September 24: 8 AM - 4 PM, Emotionally Intelligent Leader.  Participants in this program learn critical skills necessary to effectively understand and use emotion constructively in the workplace.  Cost is MRA Members: $275  Nonmembers: $360.

September 24: 8 AM - 4 PM, Administrative Professionals Certificate Series: Juggling Multiple Priorities for Administrative Professionals.  Time cannot be managed. Time is uncontrollable; therefore, you can only manage yourself and your use of the time you have.  Identify time stealers and learn how to pinpoint where you need to take control by dealing with procrastination, interruptions, and stress.  Cost is MRA members: $250 Nonmembers: $340 (Pricing is also available if you sign up for the entire 4 module series).

September 29: 8 AM - 4 PM, Frontline Leadership Certificate Series: Communication Skills.  This workshop helps group leaders become more effective communicators with both their workers and their supervisors.  Participants gain effective listening skills and the ability to give and receive feedback.  Cost is MRA Members: $250  Nonmembers: $340 (Pricing is also available if you sign up for the entire 5 module series).

To register for any of these courses, or for more details, contact Kathy Riley at 309.277.4186 or at Kathy.riley@mranet.org.  You can also find training information on our website at www.mranet.org/Training-Events.

Thurs., Aug. 13, 2015

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley today made the following statement after the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) announcement that it was providing more guidance for businesses under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.  Section 5 provides authority for the FTC to enforce "unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce...."

Grassley and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, along with other members of the Senate and House, sent a letter to the commission urging it to issue specific guidelines on the FTC's authority under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.   In the letter, the members wrote, "The absence of clear parameters for the FTC's Section 5 authority based on empirical and economic justifications engenders uncertainty in the business community.  This uncertainty acts as a deterrent to innovation and creativity, which are critical drivers of the American economy and are vitally important in today's challenging economic environment.  Accordingly, articulating a standard by which the FTC intends to utilize its Section 5 unfair method of competition authority should be a high priority."

Here is Grassley's comment on today's actions.

"Today's announcement is a welcome development and a step forward for business owners who want to abide by the law.  It's hard for businesses to comply with Section 5 if it isn't clear what constitutes a violation of the law. Although I wish the commission had allowed for public comment, I appreciate the FTC taking the concerns of Congress into consideration as they wrote this new guidance.  We'll continue to monitor the FTC's enforcement of Section 5 to ensure that the commission is exercising its authority in an appropriate and consistent manner."

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today held the first of a series of roundtable meetings across the state to focus on ways to better align education and workforce initiatives to close the skills gap and meet future employer needs. The roundtable series marks the beginning of the "Future Ready Iowa" initiative, which will focus on ways to continue building Iowa's talent pipeline to ensure our state has a workforce ready to fill the high-quality, well-paying jobs and careers of today and tomorrow.

"I was pleased to be able to hear from students from across Iowa on how state leaders can work to better prepare our citizens for the careers of today and tomorrow," said Branstad. "Over the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to hearing from other stakeholders as we explore ways to better align education and workforce training to meet the needs of the employers' and the highly-skilled careers they have available in our state now and in the future."

According to a National Skills Coalition study published in August of 2014, middle-skill jobs account for 57 percent of Iowa's labor market, but only 50 percent of the state's workers are trained to meet those workforce needs.

"As I travel across the state, I hear time and again how Iowa employers have career openings available now, but they lack qualified candidates to fill the positions. Strengthening Iowa's talent pipeline through the 'Future Ready Iowa' initiative will help assure students and workers have the career opportunities they deserve, and that business and industry have the skilled employees they need to compete in a knowledge-based economy," said Reynolds.

For the first meeting, Branstad and Reynolds heard from a panel of Iowa students from across the state. Moderated by the Governor's STEM Advisory Council Executive Director Dr. Jeff Weld, the group shared how they believe education can prepare individuals for dynamic careers and lifelong learning while meeting employer needs, growing family incomes, and strengthening communities.

The participants of the first roundtable were:

The "Future Ready Iowa" initiative comes after Iowa received a National Governors Association policy academy grant in 2014 for up to $170,000 to develop strategies to improve the educational attainment of its citizens and the nimble alignment of those degrees and credentials with employer demand.

Additional roundtable meetings across Iowa will be announced at a later time.