tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1 2008-06-13T22:34:34Z Resources for Women Business Owners in NYC. Read and participagte in NAWBO NYC news: public policy, speakers, events, articles of interest. Movable Type 3.31 tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.44 2008-06-13T22:29:26Z 2008-06-13T22:34:34Z

Does Pay Equity affect women business owners and is this an important issue for women business owners. Please take this online survey and share with other business owners you know. http://survey.intracommunities.org/limesurvey//index.php?sid=54292&lang=en...

http://survey.intracommunities.org/limesurvey//index.php?sid=54292&lang=en ]]> BACKGROUND What is Pay Equity? Pay equity is a means of eliminating sex and race discrimination in the wage-setting system. The NYS Fair Pay Bill (A.2712/S.3936) requires that job titles where women and/or people of color predominate, receive equal pay with comparable job titles that have the same level of skill and responsibility. The economic, social, and political impact of salary inequity continues to be staggering. An initial salary difference of $1000 over a 40 year career is an accumulated cost of $84,550. Our goal and purpose for this questionnaire is to educate, promote awareness, and survey the experiences of pay-equity for women and minority business owners. We appreciate your participation. As women and minority business owners are we shortchanging ourselves by undervaluing our worth. What are your experiences? [About the author of this survey: Since 1985, the The National Association of Women Business Owners-NYC Chapter (www.nawbonyc.org) has been the collective backbone of the city's 330,000 women business owners, who generate nearly $65 billion in sales annually. NAWBO-NYC offers facilitated networking, supportive and educational programs, inspirational speakers and other special events to help members grow their businesses. NAWBO NYC is a coaltion member of NYWA's Equal Pay Coalition (www.nywa.org).] http://survey.intracommunities.org/limesurvey//index.php?sid=54292&lang=en ]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.43 2008-06-13T22:16:05Z 2008-06-13T23:33:06Z

Great News! Yesterday afternoon the NYC Council overwhelmingly approved resolutions calling for the passage of the New York Fair Pay Act and comparable federal Pay Equity legislation!

Great News! Yesterday afternoon the NYC Council unanimously approved resolutions calling for the passage of the New York Fair Pay Act and comparable federal Pay Equity legislation! (details below) The Equal Pay Coalition NYC was a driving force in making this happen…and we’ve only just begun! We will be sending a Coalition letter, the Council’s Resolution, and the Gittell study to all NYS Senate in the next few days, and we are already working on NYC measures to remedy wage inequity. Congratulations to all! Read the NYWA Equal Pay Coalition Press Release:]]> BREAKING NEWS: NYC Council Calls for State and Federal Pay Equity Laws June 12, 2008: The New York City Council overwhelmingly approved resolutions calling for the passage of the New York Fair Pay Act and comparable federal Pay Equity legislation. Addressing the Council, Councilmember Letitia James, sponsor of Res. No. 896A and, Councilmember Helen Sears, Chair of the Women’s Issues Committee and sponsor of Res. No.1152, highlighted the critical need for these legislative solutions to wage inequities. The Equal Pay Coalition NYC, a growing consortium of civic organizations, advocates and experts coordinated by the New York Women’s Agenda, was a driving force in this important step toward ending persistent economic discrimination in NYS and NYC. The Equal Pay Coalition NYC thanks Councilmembers Sears and James for their leadership and commends the Council for this clear message to Albany and to Congress that when it comes to Pay Equity….NYC means business! The Council’s Resolutions are a direct response to recent efforts in Albany and Washington to thwart passage of Equal Pay legislation. In New York this April, instead of supporting the Fair Pay Act Bill that has passed in the Assembly since 2002, State Senator Joseph Robach, chair of the Labor Committee, introduced a substitute bill asking for yet another study, estimated to cost $1,000,000. This bill would inevitably stall passage of comprehensive legislation and would be an enormous and unconscionable cost to taxpayers since so many studies already exist. With advocates statewide, EPCNYC is calling for action, not more studies. Time has not remedied continuing wage inequity, making strong laws a top priority. Although more than 40 years ago Congress outlawed wage discrimination based on sex, women and people of color in the U.S. are still underpaid for the work they are doing. On average a women makes 77 cents on the dollar as compared to men. Those are dollars that don’t add up every week, underscoring that Equal Pay is a family pocket book issue. Those lost earnings impact the lives of women, their families and our communities. (More information can be found at: www.nywa.org) With historic numbers of women in the workforce, and almost half are heads of households, fair pay is a top priority of women voters. The Equal Pay Coalition NYC is working to give voice to this issue. Make sure your voice is counted -- express your support! Thank your Council member for standing up for economic justice! Go to: http://www.nywa.org/call_to_action.html#actionalerts EQUAL PAY COALITION NYC A Better Balance AAUW – Manhattan AAUW – NYC Catalyst Center for the Women of New York CUNY - Howard Samuels Center Junior League of the City of New York League of Professional Theatre Women NY League of Women Voters of the City of NY Legal Momentum Manhattan Chamber of Commerce- Women’s Business Committee National Association of Female Executives Nat’l Association of Women Business Owners NYC NY Coalition of 100 Black Women NYC Coalition of Professional Women in Arts & Media New York Women’s Agenda 9 To 5: Nat’l Association of Working Women NOW-NYC 100 Black Men Roundtable of Food Professionals-NYC Women in Development, New York Women in Health Management Women on the Job Taskforce-NYSPEC Women’s Center for Education & Career Advancement Women's City Club of New York Authors Ellen Bravo, Debra Condren and Barbara Ehrienrich List as of 6/12/08 For further information contact: Beverly Neufeld bneufeld@optonline.com or Joan D .Firestone: JDF248@aol.com Co-Chairs, Government Affairs, New York Women’s Agenda NYWA □ P.O. Box 8419, FDR Station, New York, NY 10150-8419 Phone/Fax 212 937-2411 □ nywa@adminoffice.biz □ www.nywa.org 100 Organizations │100,000 Women │One Voice ]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.42 2008-06-13T21:55:52Z 2008-06-13T22:08:10Z

Rumors of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated: Why Women's Lives Aren't Getting Any Easier--And How We Can Make Real Progress For Ourselves and Our Daughters (Hardcover) by Carolyn Maloney...

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Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights

Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act

Pay Equity

http://maloney.house.gov/ ]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.38 2008-06-13T21:13:14Z 2008-06-13T21:26:09Z

City of New York Preliminary Report, FY2008 Compliance Information (July 1-December 31, 2007) Pursuant to New York City Administrative Code 6-129(l)(1): This report, covering Local Law 129 data from the first two quarters of Fiscal Year 2008 (July 1- December...

this report and let us know your comments. ]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2006:/blog//1.6 2008-05-28T17:36:07Z 2008-05-30T17:27:41Z

Our mission is to provide leadership, direction and political action on issues of public policy with municipal, state and federal governments that will benefit the membership of NAWBO-NYC and women-owned business in general. What We Do: Annually recommend to NAWBO-NYC...

What We Do:

• Annually recommend to NAWBO-NYC a slate of public policy issues and draft statements on behalf of and reflecting the political positions of NAWBO-NYC;
• Execute and manage NAWBO-NYC’s annual program of advocacy events and activities;
• Maintain active contact with elected and appointed officials at municipal, state and federal governments;
• Educate the membership of NAWBO-NYC about public policy issues that are impacting their businesses;
• Identify and research public policy issues of importance to women business owners on a continuing basis;
• Serve as an information resource of first resort for public policymakers and the media on issues of public policy that affect women-owned businesses.

Stay Informed! Search for the latest NY State Governmenment and Political News:

]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.39 2008-05-13T21:28:46Z 2008-06-13T21:36:10Z

Following are some sites that have found some interesting ways to do some good: FreeRice Website: Vocabulary game, each word you get right, 209 grains of rice are donated through the UN World Food Program. Join the campaign to make...

FreeRice Website: Vocabulary game, each word you get right, 209 grains of rice are donated through the UN World Food Program. Join the campaign to make a US Department of Peace, the original proposal dates back to George Washington. Contribute more sites like this. ]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.37 2008-04-22T22:15:33Z 2008-04-22T22:24:21Z

JOIN THE COALITION AND NYC LEADERS! BE THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! REACH OUT TO YOUR NETWORK! SPREAD THE WORD! Get lots of information about Pay Equity from NYWA's coalition google group: Equal Pay Coalition NYC (EPCNYC). NAWBO NYC is...

JOIN THE COALITION AND NYC LEADERS! BE THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! REACH OUT TO YOUR NETWORK! SPREAD THE WORD! Get lots of information about Pay Equity from NYWA's coalition google group: Equal Pay Coalition NYC (EPCNYC). NAWBO NYC is a coalition member. Download the Download the flyer. ]]> WHY CARE? Maybe it’s someone you know – a neighbor or spouse. Maybe it’s you. But women and people of color in the U.S. are still underpaid for the work they are doing - 77 cents on the dollar as compared to the highest paid group, their white male counterparts. Those are dollars that don’t add up every week, making Pay Equity a family pocket book issue! www.pay-equity.org - Singles: About 50% of American women live without a spouse which demolishes the myth that women need less money because they have “someone to lean on.” - Moms: In NYC, a single mom and her preschooler needed about $39,000 to live in Brooklyn and over $60,000 to live in South Manhattan in 2004, just for a basic standard of living. But, the median income for a single mother was about $26,000. Government subsidies help fill some of the gap between income and the reality of city life. How does she choose between good childcare and necessary healthcare and healthy food? - Professionals: Higher education isn’t protection from pay inequities, though it increases annual incomes. NY women with professional degrees earn 67% of what their male counterparts earn! - Aging Workers: Over a working lifetime, wage disparity costs $700,000 to $2 million in lost wages, impacting families every day, but also Social Security benefits and pensions. - Private Sector Workers: Private for-profit companies have the widest gender gap! The greatest gender parity is in the federal government where Pay Equity policies exist. This loss of earnings - every day, every year - affects the lives of these workers, their families, and our community. It is the product of society’s undervaluing the work of women and people of color. It’s time for a change! Stronger legislation is key. Call for passage of the NYS Fair Pay Act (A.2712/S.3936)! tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.41 2008-03-13T21:37:49Z 2008-06-13T21:54:32Z

NAWBO NYC is a partnered with the New York Women's Agenda. Bringing individuals and organizations together to affect public policy issues in New York City The New York Women's Agenda (NYWA) is a coalition of women professionals and community activists...

Bringing individuals and organizations together to affect public policy issues in New York City The New York Women's Agenda (NYWA) is a coalition of women professionals and community activists who support the diversity and interests of New York Women through collaboration, advocacy and education. NYWA’s mission is to advocate and collaborate for the interests of New York women in public policy decisions that affect our lives; to increase women’s participation in public policy discussions on economic, political and social issues; and to support member organizations in their individual efforts. ]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.33 2008-02-18T21:38:27Z 2008-02-20T21:48:15Z

A one-sheet overview on how the New York State Legislation is a good benefit, good for business, and good policy from the New York State Paid Family Leave Coalition. Download 2008 Fact Sheet...

Download 2008 Fact Sheet ]]> NEW YORK STATE PAID FAMILY LEAVE COALITION Working New Yorkers Need Paid Family Leave NO SENATE BILL Senator Morahan was last session’s Sponsor ASSEMBLY BILL (NUMBER A9245) Sponsor: Speaker Sheldon Silver Statement of Purpose~ Changing Times Demand New Solutions Over fifty million Americans have been able to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave since 1993, when the federal Family and Medical Leave Act was signed into law. This policy has been used to care for new babies, sick family members and for individuals to recover from their own serious illnesses. But FMLA provides only unpaid leave, which means too many people still can’t afford to take time off to deal with urgent family needs. The demands on our families have changed dramatically over the past 30 years, but our workplaces have not kept pace. For many working people taking unpaid time off is virtually impossible, no matter how serious the situation. Staying home for a limited period with a new baby or a very sick relative should not be a luxury only some people can afford. Expanding New York’s Temporary Disability Insurance The New York State Paid Family Leave Coalition is working to change that this year. The coalition is working to win at least partial pay during family leave by expanding the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) that New Yorkers already have. This important initiative would expand New York’s existing TDI program to cover a worker who needs time off to care for a newborn or bond with an adopted child, or a seriously ill family member. Workers would receive up to 12 weeks of benefits, funded through a modest increase in premiums paid within the existing TDI program. An Affordable Benefit This is a very affordable benefit for both workers and businesses. Paid family leave would not increase payroll costs. The weekly benefit is covered by insurance and paid for by employees out of small deductions from their paychecks. Since employers would not have to pay workers who are on leave, the savings could be used to hire temporary help if needed. According to studies and to the governor’s estimates, the estimated cost of this addition to the current TDI structure is just pennies per week or $23.40 annually per worker at the current benefit rate of $170 per week. Good Business Making it possible for working people to stay home during these crucial times makes sense for all of us. Paid Family Leave would make it economically feasible for workers to take time off, allow employers to retain valuable workers and give workers the time to attend to issues early on so that those issues don’t turn into a family catastrophe later. Good Policy The United States is alone amongst wealthy industrial nations – and in fact one of only four countries in the world along with Liberia, Swaziland and Papua New Guinea – that does not already provide such paid leave. It's time for New York to follow California and Washington’s lead and adapt to reality of the changing demographics of the American workforce. The New York State Paid Family Leave Coalition is a statewide organization dedicated to addressing the work/family balance through public policy. For more information, contact us at 212-226-1808 or online @ http://www.timetocareny.org/ ]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.35 2008-02-18T17:08:37Z 2008-03-20T22:25:27Z

Take action: The Center for Working Families is seeking support when they go to Albany to lobby for the Paid Family Leave Act. Please download the attachedSupport Letter and send to Attn: Kalyani Thampi, Center for Working Families, 2-4 Nevins...

Center for Working Families is seeking support when they go to Albany to lobby for the Paid Family Leave Act. Please download the attachedSupport Letter and send to Attn: Kalyani Thampi, Center for Working Families, 2-4 Nevins St., 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11217 ]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.34 2008-02-18T15:34:55Z 2008-04-22T22:11:44Z

Each year NAWBO-NYC recommends a slate of public policy issues and drafts statements on behalf of and reflecting the political positions of NAWBO-NYC. Following is the 2008 NAWBO NYC Public Policy Slate. Please see our Category archives for each position...

Each year NAWBO-NYC recommends a slate of public policy issues and drafts statements on behalf of and reflecting the political positions of NAWBO-NYC. Following is the 2008 NAWBO NYC Public Policy Slate. Please see our Category archives for each position for more information and action that you can take. As always, please let us know your comments and ideas.

2008 NAWBO NYC Key Issues

Increased Procurement Opportunities for New York City and State (M/WBE Programs)

Background: In 2005 by signing Local Law 129 Mayor Bloomberg sought to level the playing field for minority and women owned business to gain greater access to opportunities to gain contracts with the City by mandating that the City agencies buy more goods and services from firms that certify with the City’s Department of Small Business Services. Why It Matters: Women businesses in the NY Metro area represent over 400,000 51% or more women owned firms. In 2006 we generated $60 billion dollars in sales in and employed over 300,000 people. Among the top 50 metro areas, New York City ranks #1 in women-owned firms. In 2006 New York City spent over 11 billion dollars in services, this is an important market place for women and minority businesses and yet we are under represented. Action: Work with the NYC Small Business Services and New York State to

• Increase the number of women businesses certified with the City
• Lower contracting barriers for MWBE businesses
• Set goals for MWBE contracts
• Raise the accountability and contracting standards by agencies and prime -contractors
• Monitor the disparity of contracting opportunities for M/WBE businesses

Click here for Category Archive on this topic.

Paid Family Leave: Affordable Employer and Employee Benefits During A Family Crisis

Background: The 1993 Federal Family and Medical Leave Act provided 12 weeks job-protected unpaid leave. Currently, New York State is seeking to pass the Time To Care Bill that will provide partial pay during family leave for a child or sick family member through minimal expansion of the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) annually by $23.40 per worker at the current benefit rate of $170 per week. Why It Matters: The federal family leave act has not kept up with the times. Our economic viability requires job retention for single and two family households and new solutions to retain valuable workers during an urgent family crisis is critical to employers and employees. The New York Time To Care Bill addresses potential family and job catastrophe by providing an employee benefit at minimal cost. Action:

• Get bill passed
• Work with the coalition
• Write our local leaders in support of the legislation
• Communicate the positive goals of the legislation

Click here for Category Archive on this topic.

Affordable Health Care: Health insurance for small businesses and/or individuals that would lower healthcare costs and provide healthcare coverage

Facts: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 44 million Americans do not have health insurance coverage. Employment, business size and cost are key factors:

• The National Women’s Business Council estimates that women-owned firms employ 7.3 million of these uninsured people.
• Cost is the key factor for women and small business owners in deciding whether to purchase health insurance.
• The 2002 annual survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 84% of the small firm employers who do not offer these benefits cited the high cost of premiums as a very important factor in their decision.
• Insurers charge small firms more per employee for health insurance than they charge large firms.
• Health insurance premiums for all businesses increased by 12.7% in 2002. At the same time, however, premiums for firms with between 10 and 500 employees rose 18.1%

Pay Equity

Background (from www.pay-equity.org): Two laws protect workers against wage discrimination. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 prohibits unequal pay for equal or "substantially equal" work performed by men and women. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits wage discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion or national origin. In 1981, the Supreme Court made it clear that Title VII is broader than the Equal Pay Act, and prohibits wage discrimination even when the jobs are not identical. However, wage discrimination laws are poorly enforced and cases are extremely difficult to prove and win. Stronger legislation is needed to ease the burden of filing claims and clarify the right to pay equity. The Fair Pay Act was introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) on April 11, 2007. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will introduce the bill in the House. It seeks to end wage discrimination against those who work in female-dominated or minority-dominated jobs by establishing equal pay for equivalent work. For example, within individual companies, employers could not pay jobs that are held predominately by women less than jobs held predominately by men if those jobs are equivalent in value to the employer. The bill also protects workers on the basis of race or national origin. The Fair Pay Act makes exceptions for different wage rates based on seniority, merit, or quantity or quality of work. It also contains a small business exemption. The Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338 and S.766) was introduced March 6, 2007 by Sen. Hillary Clinton and Rep. Rosa DeLauro to strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963. The bill expands damages under the Equal Pay Act and amends its very broad fourth affirmative defense. In addition, the Paycheck Fairness Act calls for a study of data collected by the EEOC and proposes voluntary guidelines to show employers how to evaluate jobs with the goal of eliminating unfair disparities. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was passed by the House of Representatives on July 31, 2007 by a 225 to 199 vote. 
This clarifies that each discriminatory paycheck is in fact another act of discrimination, thus restoring the law to the way in which it was frequently applied before the May Supreme Court decision and ensuring that persons who suffer wage discrimination can have their day in court. On July 27, the White House threatened to veto the bill. Why it Matters: Women and people of color have been historically undervalued in the workplace due to discrimination. Above all, fair pay is a matter of justice and human dignity. But it also has severe economic ramifications. One study estimated that women earn $700,000 to $2 million less than men in wages over a lifetime. This significantly undermines their ability to provide for their families today and hurts their retirement security tomorrow. By ensuring fairness in compensation, the Act will provide workers with the respect that comes with a fair paycheck. Discrimination is costly and illegal. As women business owners a level playing field has value to all businesses. Pay equity is simply “good business” and consistent with remaining competitive. Action:

• Work with partner organizations NYWA to raise awareness on Pay Equity Day April 24
• Call for a City Council Resolution in support of Pay Equity Legislation for New York City

]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.32 2008-01-20T21:28:27Z 2008-02-20T21:37:44Z

“This year, I will ask again that you enact a paid family leave bill. It is unfair to ask hard working New Yorkers to choose between economic security and caring for a loved family member.” -Governor Eliot Spitzer (January 9,...

“This year, I will ask again that you enact a paid family leave bill. It is unfair to ask hard working New Yorkers to choose between economic security and caring for a loved family member.” -Governor Eliot Spitzer (January 9, 2008) Download file.]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2008:/blog//1.31 2008-01-07T15:00:12Z 2008-01-24T15:29:45Z

The latest ruling to the Women's Equity in Contracting Act of 2000 from the SBA leaves a lot to be desired. To learn more about the ruling, please review the press release issued by WIPP as well as the SBA...

WIPP Press Release • SBA Press Release For full details on the proposed ruling, click here.]]>

NAWBO NYC comments submitted to the SBA on the proposed ruling:

On behalf of the New York City chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-NYC) part of a national organization that represents the interests of 10.4 million women business owners, we are disappointed by the proposed SBA ruling. The ruling is a drastic step backwards in chipping away at the little progress that women made over the past seven years to gain a mere five percent of federal contracts, while half of all privately held companies have a woman owner. Women business owners are an important part of the economic fabric and rather than support women business owners, we feel that the SBA has delivered a lump of coal to women business owners. This proposed rule demonstrates that women business owners are not important to this administration or the political process.

Why we are disappointed with the Dec. 2000 SBA ruling:

1. In 1994, Congressional legislation mandated that five percent of government contracts go to women-owned businesses. To help meet this goal, a set-aside program for women-owned businesses was established in 2000. Currently, only three percent of federal contracts go to women-owned businesses. 2. The new SBA proposed rule will only allow federal agencies to implement the set-aside program for women owned businesses in four of over 2,300 business categories, and, even then, only after the agencies individually document that they previously discriminated against women owned businesses. If implemented consistent with the proposed rules, the set-aside program will do little if anything to increase the share of federal contracts that go to women-owned businesses. 3. If women business owners had received five percent (rather than three) of the $277.5 billion spent by the federal government with prime contractors in FY 2003, they would have received $13.68 billion in contracts. That's $4.9 billion more than they actually received. Meeting the five percent procurement goal will help women business owners achieve greater success. ]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2007:/blog//1.36 2007-11-20T22:29:50Z 2008-03-20T22:33:46Z

Two-and-a-half years ago, California became the first state in the nation to offer paid family leave benefits. Who has benefited? What has been learned? Download this report....

Download this report.]]> tag:www.nawbonyc.org,2007:/blog//1.30 2007-11-13T19:41:47Z 2007-11-13T20:02:56Z

NAWBO's Public Policy Forum will be having its next conference call on Dec. 6, 2007 at at noon EST, 11 a.m. CST, 10 a.m. Mountain Time, and 9 a.m. PST. For NAWBO NYC members who are able to participate, please...

carolyn for information.]]> I. Call to Order 9:00 a.m. Pacific time; 12:00 noon Eastern. II. Roll call – the following people were in attendance: Deborah Wilder, Susan Shargel, Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, Marion Hook, Holly Luisi, Kathe Mayer, Kirsten Osolind, Lavette Malloy Smith, Devona Williams and Michele Jerome. III. Legislative Update NAWBO recently sent out an action alert regarding two bills -- HR 386 and S 2239. Since the SBA has failed to implement the Women's Procurement Program for nearly seven years, resulting in the loss of $33 billion dollars since 2001 for women-owned firms and their communities, the House of Representatives Small Business Committee has included provisions in Download file: HR 3867, The Small Business Contracting Program Improvements Act, which will enable agencies to implement this program before the SBA completes the necessary regulations. NAWBO has been an advocate of this program since it was legislated and it was the top recommendation of NAWBO's Procurement Task Force in 2006. S. 2239, Equity for our Nation's Self-Employed Act of 2007, will amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow self-employed individuals to deduct health insurance costs in computing self-employement taxes. Please visit the web links above to read more on these bills and be sure to encourage your representatives to support them. In addition, H.R. 1023 was noted as a bill that NAWBO members should be supporting as it repeals the three percent withholding for the IRS on federal contracts. IV. Report from Procurement Working Group Headed by Lisa R. Pierce, lisarpiece@aol.com The group is working on a best practices manual for state level public policy events with a goal of having it prepared for debut at Public Policy Days in February. V. Report from Health Care Issues Working Group Headed by Susan Shargel, sshargel@shargel.com Susan reported that her group is currently putting together two sub-committees. One will work on the health care session at Public Policy Days and the other will focus on a member survey related to health care. The Health Care working group meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Their goals are posted on the NAWBO website. VI. Report on Virtual Public Policy Day Headed by Deborah Wilder, dwa@wilderlawfirm.com Deborah reported that the Virtual Public Policy Days presentation was positively received by the Board of Directors at their October meeting. The program will be launched at the closing session of Public Policy Days. VII. Public Policy Days Update Michele Jerome reported that the planning for Public Policy Days is nearing completion. Speakers are being finalized and the full agenda will be posted on NAWBO's website very shortly. In addition to our amazing keynote speakers -- Sandra Day O'Connor and Bonnie McElveen-Hunter -- breakout session topics include advocacy training, health care, immigration, HR2020 20th anniversary, accessing federal procurement opportunities, and more. Everyone was encouraged to bring one NAWBO member who has never experienced the event. VIII. New Immigration Working Group Staff will put a call for volunteers in the Weekly Digest to recruit interested members to participate. Marion Hook volunteered to lead the working group as immigration is an important issue for business owners in Arizona right now. If you are interested, please email Marion at innkeeper@aroseinn.com. IX. New Business Public Policy Forum members were encouraged to email Deborah Wilder with any suggestions or ideas to encourage chapters to engage in Public Policy. Please note that the next meeting is Thursday, December 6, 2007--you must be a nawbo or nawbonyc member to participate.]]>