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STAND With WOMEN |
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One of the biggest benefits of Obamacare is that being a woman is no longer a pre-existing condition. In fact, insurance companies are now required to cover preventive services, including birth control, at no additional cost. More than 40 for-profit companies, most of which are owned by men, are suing to deny their employees’ access to birth control without a copay. Republicans opposed to the Affordable Care Act are arguing that women’s bosses should have a say in their personal health decisions. This is an extreme move that could undermine a core tenet of Obamacare and compromise women’s health. In 2012, millions of Americans had the opportunity to vote for a Republican presidential candidate who supported those companies’ position. (You might remember how that one turned out.) But today’s news shows that this fight is far from over — and that we can’t let up. The Supreme Court just announced that they’re going to hear this case. And if the Court rules in favor of the companies, then it could be up to employers to decide whether or not the women who work for them will have free access to birth control. We’ve made great progress in fixing our broken health care system by guaranteeing women access to preventive care, and we can’t go back. Thanks, Lily |
Monthly Archives: November 2013
Lonnie Bunch on 60 Minutes | Sunday, Dec. 1st
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Lonnie Bunch DirectorShare this:
This is big: The First-EVER White House Student Film Festival
| The First-EVER White House Student Film Festival:Something big is happening today, and you don’t have to be a kid to be excited about it:
We’re launching our first-ever White House Student Film Festival — and we’re inviting K-12 students from around the country to create and submit one- to three-minute short web videos. Finalists could have their videos screened at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, and posted on the White House website. It might just be cooler than having your homework up on the fridge. The topic: Highlighting the importance of technology in the classroom — and imagining how technology will change the educational experience for kids in the future. Interested, or know someone who would be?
Here are more important details you should know:
Read the complete rules (and submit your video!) here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/filmfestival We can’t wait to see what you make. Stay Connected |
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Small Business – Happy Entrepreneurship Month
Celebrating America‘s Entrepreneurs
It’s National Entrepreneurship Month!
SBA is excited to work with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to support and celebrate National Entrepreneurship Month. At SBA and OSTP, we’re focused on the intersection of private enterprise finance, capital investment, technology-driven innovation, and high-growth small businesses.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
SBA introduced a video in recognition of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), to encourage and inspire entrepreneurs to collaborate, innovate, and explore international business opportunities. Every November, GEW brings together innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.
Nominate a Business for the 2014 National Small Business Week Awards
Are you a small business owner with an amazing success story to tell? If so, submit your nomination today for the 2014 National Small Business Week Awards. Nominations are currently being accepted online at http://nationalsmallbusinessweek.sba.gov/.
Link Detroit: A Small Business Matchmaking Summit
To provide the tools and resources small businesses need to become effective suppliers, the SBA is collaborating with other agencies and companies on the American Supplier Initiative, which includes a series of supply chain events across the country – continuing in Detroit.
- WHAT: Link Detroit: A Small Business Matchmaking Summit
- WHERE: Wayne State University – Community Arts Auditorium
- WHEN: Tuesday, December 10 | 12:00-6:00 PM ET
Affordable Care Act 101 Webinars – December Dates
With new health insurance marketplaces open, the SBA and Small Business Majority are excited to announce the next set of dates for our free Affordable Care Act 101 weekly webinars so small business owners can learn the basics of the Affordable Care Act and how they can enroll in health insurance marketplaces.
- Thursday, December 5 at 2:00 PM ET: Click to Register
- Thursday, December 12 at 2:00 PM ET: Click to Register
- Thursday, December 19 at 2:00 PM ET: Click to Register
TIP! BusinessUSA’s health care tool can help you better understand what you need to know about the Affordable Care Act and your health insurance options.
Webinar Series—How Small Businesses Can Gain Competitive Advantage through HUBZone Certification
Are you a small business owner located in or relocating to an economically distressed urban or rural community? Is your company seeking a competitive advantage in the federal contracting arena? Then the HUBZone certification may be for you. Learn more with this webinar series.
- Part I: December 3rd at 2:00-2:45 PM ET: Click to register
- Part II: December 17th at 2:00-2:45 PM ET: Click to register
5 Tax Rules for Year-End Bonuses
If 2013 has been a profitable year for your business, you may want to share your good fortune with your staff – perhaps with year-end bonuses. Before you cut a check, understand what these bonuses mean to your business and your employees as well as some alternatives to cash bonuses.
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The Washington State Dept. & The NAACP… the Other Washington
NAACP: State needs to fire biggest viaduct contractor
by SUSANNAH FRAME / KING 5 News
Posted on November 7, 2013 at 10:27pm
The NAACP is calling on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to take drastic action and terminate a $1.4 billion contract with its biggest contractor on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project.
The civil rights organization is making the demand after a U.S. Department of Transportation investigation found the contractor, Seattle Tunnel Partners (STP), has violated federal regulations by intentionally cutting small, struggling businesses out of work on the project.
“The Washington State Department of Transportation as well as the leadership of this state needs to terminate the contract with STP because their history has been egregious, it’s been documented … At what point is enough enough?” said Gerald Hankerson, president of NAACP’s Alaska Washington Oregon State Area Conference. “We can no longer trust them.”
The KING 5 Investigators were the first to expose that STP was failing miserably on the tunnel project in terms of meeting federal requirements to hire disadvantaged businesses.
Because the project is partly funded with federal dollars, the STP contract came with a string attached: 8 percent of the work, $91 million worth, was to go to small, struggling businesses in the area. But public records obtained by KING show only $7 million, less that 1 percent of the contract value, has been paid to small contractors so far.
On Thursday Washington Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson said a special investigator is helping WSDOT decide what to do with STP.
“We will take whatever steps are necessary based on his recommendations (including termination of the contract). All options are on the table, but we’re reviewing our options, looking at the contract and seeing what applies,” said Peterson.
The U.S. DOT report out last week found STP created “artificial barriers” and “hardships” on small businesses and gave the work to much bigger companies instead. The federal agency also found WSDOT was “hands-off” when they knew what was happening and “failed to intervene.”
“This is a solid piece of evidence that this is happening in Washington state and the concern is this is what’s happening across the country,” said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Sr. Director of NAACP Economic Department.
The U.S. DOT says if WSDOT doesn’t fix the problems with STP, the state could lose federal funds for highway projects.
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