WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today said it's very good news that the veterans hiring legislation he and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus introduced in January may be included in a larger proposal that the Senate will vote on this week.

"These men and women are extremely capable," Grassley said.  "They have a lot of skills to offer in the workplace.  The legislation that Senator Baucus and I put together would clear some bureaucratic hurdles and add a financial incentive to encourage employers to seek out veterans.  These steps are a logical follow-up to my effort to increase the IRS' hiring of veterans.  The IRS saw the value of this pool of potential workers and followed through on increased hiring of veterans.  Other employers, including small businesses, should have similar opportunities.  Whether our bipartisan legislation is included by amendment, or when the larger package is brought up for a vote, the veterans hiring proposal needs to be passed."

As introduced, the Veterans Employment Transition Act, or the VETs Jobs bill, would reward employers for hiring qualified veterans who have recently completed their service in the military with a tax credit of up to $2,400 per veteran.  A previous version of this credit, which was part of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and also authored by Grassley and Baucus, was designed to help employers hire veterans but expired at the end of 2010.  The new version of the legislation would reinstate the tax credit and make it easier for veterans and small businesses to use.  As a result, servicemen and women who have been recently discharged would be able to provide documentation directly from the Department of Defense without having to go through the tax credit's current certification process.

Any veteran who has left active duty in the past five years who has discharge paperwork showing 180 days of qualified active duty would be eligible for the credit. This would include those men and women who were activated by their states as members of the National Guard.  The bill also helps service members market themselves to prospective employers by requiring the military to educate service members about how the credit works.

Noting that the unemployment rate for veterans is higher than for non-veterans nationwide, the senators first introduced the VETs Jobs bill in May 2010.

Rising fees at banks spark consumer action during October in run-up to 'Bank Transfer Day`

Des Moines, Iowa– Reacting to rising fees at banks, hundreds of thousands of consumers have rushed to credit unions over the past four weeks, and have joined existing credit union members in depositing or shifting billions of savings to credit unions, according to estimates released today by the Credit Union National Assn. (CUNA), the nation`s largest credit union advocacy group.

Based on the responses of a nationwide survey of 5,000 credit unions, CUNA estimates that at least 650,000 consumers across the nation have joined credit unions since Sept. 29 (the day Bank of America unveiled its now-rescinded $5 monthly debit card fee). Also during that time, CUNA estimates that credit unions have added $4.5 billion in new savings accounts, likely from the new members and existing members shifting their funds.

The survey results also show that more than four in every five credit unions experiencing member growth since Sept.  29 attributed the growth to consumer reaction to new fees imposed by banks, or a combination of consumer reactions to the new bank fees plus the social media-inspired "Bank Transfer Day," Nov. 5.

"Bank Transfer Day" urges consumers to transfer their accounts from banks to credit unions by Saturday, Nov. 5.

Membership in Iowa has increased by three percent from June 2010 to June 2011. This growth number is prior to the Bank Transfer Day movement.

Many Iowa credit unions are doing whatever they can to help serve this consumer surge in interest in credit unions. Some credit unions are extending hours and staffing for this Saturday (Nov. 5), performing email blasts to members, maximizing social media campaigns, putting up banners in lobbies, offering bonuses to members who bring in new members (and giving bonuses to new members as well), said Patrick S. Jury, President/CEO, Iowa Credit Union League.

"Credit unions have always been in the business to protect the interests of their members and to ensure their financial needs are being met," said Jury.  "We encourage consumers to make the change to credit unions so they can experience the credit union difference and take steps to become more financially secure."

To find a credit union visit www.IowaCreditUnions.com.

The Iowa Credit Union League is the trade association that represents the interests of Iowa credit unions and their more than 900,000 members. Credit unions are not-for-profit, financial cooperatives owned and operated by their members. Iowans use their credit union membership to receive higher interest rates on savings and lower interest rates on loans. For more information on ICUL and Iowa credit unions, visit www.IowaCreditUnions.com. Follow ICUL on Twitter at www.twitter.com/icul or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iowalittleguy.

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Rock Island, IL...Yesterday, the Illinois Policy Institute released a statement calling the Amazon Tax "all pain, no gain." The group released a YouTube video featuring local businessmen Mike Martin and Jonathan Wallace. Wallace, founder of NoCollarMedia.com, and candidate for State Representative in the Illinois 72nd criticized his opponent Pat Verschoore on the "Amazon Tax."

Wallace is specifically referring to the affiliate nexus law, voted for by State Representative Pat Verschoore earlier in 2011, and signed by Governor Pat Quinn. The law is commonly called the Amazon Tax. The controversial law shifts the complex burden of sales tax collection from individuals to out-of-state retailers who have no physical presence in Illinois. As a result, Amazon and Overstock.com decided to cut ties with business affiliates, thereby driving businesses to Iowa and surrounding regions.

"I think this law is a flashing neon sign to new startups and young entrepreneurs that you aren't welcome in Illinois," said Wallace. "My opponent is an advocate of raising taxes, creating burdens for an already challenging small business environment. Illinois has the potential to be the next Silicon Valley but that potential is continually squandered by politicians like Verschoore."

Wallace continued to discuss the economic impact that this law has on Illinois businesses and jobs, "This is just another part in the entire exodus of the state," referring to small businesses who are leaving or are looking to leave Illinois due to new taxes being imposed and an unfavorable policy environment.

Jonathan Wallace is a candidate for the Illinois State Representative in the 72nd District. Jonathan is a small businessman, entrepreneur, former Township Trustee, and serves as an advisor for State Representative Rich Morthland.

The link to the YouTube video can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d3mzePWxPQ&feature=relmfu

The link to the Illinois Policy Institute brief can be found here:

http://illinoispolicy.org/news/article.asp?ArticleSource=4480

For more information, visit http://www.jonathanwallace2012.com or email jonathanwallace2012@gmail.com

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Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) continued delays in implementing the Physician Payment Sunshine Act (Sunshine Act), a new law requiring public disclosure of the financial relationships between physicians and the pharmaceutical, medical device and biologics industries.

"It's disappointing that the agency is going so slowly on this issue.  Of all the undertakings for CMS, this seems like one of the most straightforward tasks.  The law was enacted a year and a half ago, and the legislation was pending for a long time before that.  It wasn't a surprise.  I'll continue to look for CMS to get this done sooner rather than later."

The Sunshine Act requires manufacturers to report all payments to physicians, including consulting fees, honoraria, travel and entertainment, and for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publicly disclose the identity of the manufacturer, physician, and the drug or device associated with the payment on the Internet. Additionally, the law requires manufacturers and group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to report all ownership or investment interests held by physicians or members of their family, and for making that information public. The law required the federal government to establish guidance on how manufacturers submit information and how the information would be made available to the public no later than Oct. 1, 2011.

After CMS missed the deadline, Grassley and Sen. Herb Kohl wrote to the agency, asking for a description of the status and reason for delay.  The senators asked for a written response by Friday, Oct. 14.  So far, no written response has been forthcoming.

Grassley and Kohl's Oct. 3 letter to the agency is available here.  In November 2010, Grassley and Kohl urged HHS to issue guidelines to companies in anticipation of the Sunshine Act's implementation.  Details are available here.

Kohl is chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging and Grassley is ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and formerly was ranking member and chairman of the Committee on Finance.  They sponsored the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, which became law as part of the health care overhaul enacted last year.

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