Congressional Subcommittees Investigate ACA Employer Reporting and Individual Tax Credits

Yesterday the Health and Oversight Subcommittees on House Committee on Ways and Means conducted a hearing surrounding tax subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.  Health Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Charles Boustany (R-LA) convened the joint hearing to discuss the income verification system used to determine individuals’ eligibility for tax credits to purchase insurance, and to address reports of incorrect tax credit payments being issued and later reclaimed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

The Significance Of The ‘Save American Workers Act’ To Franchises

Yesterday the House of Representatives passed Rep. Todd Young’s (R-IN) Save American Workers Act, which provides relief from one of the employer mandates most harmful rules – the new definition of a full-time worker. The passage of this bill represents the first time the House of Representatives has passed legislation designed to fix the Affordable Care Act (ACA), not repeal it.

Franchising World’s Legal Update at a Glance

Franchise business executives, franchisees and franchise suppliers must always be keenly aware of the pulse of the industry.  The March issue of Franchising World presents leading industry executives  who will guide you through some of the issues fac

Employer Mandate Provides Relief for Some, But More Changes Still Needed

Yesterday, in addition to announcing the final regulations to implement the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it would delay some employer mandate requirements for some employers for one additional year.  Treasury had announced last July that it would delay the entire employer mandate until 2015 for all employers.

Franchisees Sit Down with Adam Shapiro, from Fox Business, to Discuss Workplace Conflicts among Employees

With the current shutdown in Washington, Fox Business examines the problems that could arise in the franchise industry if people weren’t able to get along and work together.

Franchisee Leads Breakout Session on Disaster Response at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundations, 2013 Corporate Responsibility Conference

This week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation hosted its Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) 2013 Corporate Responsibility Conference, effectively themed The Network Effect: How Business Drives Progress. It was an opportunity for businesses and leaders of corporate responsibility to convene around a variety of issues including energy and water use, woman’s economic empowerment, nutrition, and disaster resiliency.

#FranStories: The Franchise Industry Is Weathering The Shutdown, But Concerns Are Growing

Entering its second week, the government shutdown continues to hurt the U.S. economy. Now, with the debt ceiling approaching, the International Franchise Association reiterates its call for Congress to pass a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal

Worker Centers and the Future of Union Organizing

Thursday, the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing to address the future of union organizing and one particular strategy to build employee support for unionization, worker centers. Worker centers were examined

IFA update on the Need for Congressional Action to Stop Patent Trolls

The effort to pass patent litigation reform was recently reignited and has rapidly picked up momentum over the first half of the year.  The debate this Congress has a distinctly different tone from the debate over the America Invents Act, though.  Rather than the traditional industry divide of “big tech vs. big PhRMA,” there has been a broad based, cross-industry call for patent litigation reform, as evidenced by a letter to Congressional leadership from 50 trade associations stating that something must be done now.

California Franchise Legislation Defeated

IFA’s efforts to defeat Senate Bill 610 in California have been successful.  Last night, Senate Bill 610 was defeated for the year as the sponsor of the bill pulled the legislation off today’s California Assembly Business, Professions & Consumer Protections Committee docket when it became clear there was scant support for the bill by the Committee’s 10 Democrats and four Republicans.  

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