Oct31
The National Retail Federation has a first-class government relations department dedicated to defending and pursuing the retail industry’s public policy priorities and interests. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Recently, two of NRF’s government relations staff were named tops in their industry. For the second consecutive year, The Hill newspaper named [...]
Oct03
As the economy continues to crawl along and new mandates from Washington are being proposed or beginning implementation, workforce management issues are incredibly important for retailers. That’s why next week in Dallas, senior human resources and employment law executives from some of the nation’s top companies, including Ann Inc., Domino’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Pier 1 [...]
Jul09
One week has passed since the Supreme Court determined that a slightly curtailed Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed constitutional muster. So, how much did the Court’s decision actually settle? NRF remains determined to repeal or substantially overhaul the ACA. To paraphrase Chief Justice John Roberts, elections do matter. But, just as the judicial process failed [...]
May01
To provide care, or not to provide care? That is one of many questions facing employers as provisions of the new federal health care law take effect. A new survey of Fortune 100 companies conducted by the House Ways and Means Committee found businesses could save more than $28 billion a year if they eliminated [...]
Mar28
The third day of oral arguments at the Supreme Court focused on what happens if part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is declared unconstitutional. Unlike most complex bills enacted by Congress, the ACA lacks a specific “severability clause” or statement that the rest of the law survives if part of it doesn’t. Today the [...]
Mar27
Day two of arguments focused on whether Congress has the power to compel citizens – either through its ability to regulate interstate commerce or through its taxation power – to purchase or carry health insurance, known as the individual mandate. There clearly has been a bipartisan argument to be made for an individual mandate; NRF, [...]
Mar26
The Supreme Court of the United States was the setting for the first of three days of oral arguments on the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The question before the Justices today was whether the 19th Century Anti-Injunction Act (AIA) barred consideration of the case by the lower courts (hence, also the Supreme [...]
Mar23
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, also known as the Affordable Care Act, or ACA) reaches its second anniversary today. Will it reach three? There are things already in effect that should be recognized and celebrated. Congress – under either party’s control — won’t let these fall by the wayside if PPACA somehow [...]
Nov16
The Supreme Court of the United States will consider questions bearing on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) next year. The Justices will hear a record total of 5 ½ hours of oral arguments by March 2012, with a decision expected by June. Will this decision [...]
Jun29
Today’s decision by a panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the health care law’s individual mandate to purchase insurance was not unexpected. In fact – given the tenor of arguments before that panel – it is kind of a dog-bites-man story. Expansive views of federal power – in this case the [...]