Contributed by Sheila O’Connor, AAF Omaha Board Member & Legislative Issues Chair
In case you missed them, see below some articles on what is happening on the state level that is affecting advertising and the general economy.
State Chamber Announces 2015 Legislative Forums Schedule
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in cooperation with local chambers across the state, will soon present its annual legislative forums.
This year’s State Chamber presentation will include a review of:
· Key business-related bills in the 2015 session of the Nebraska Legislature;
· Important issues awaiting the Legislature in 2016; and
· The latest state rankings in areas important to the business community.
All local and state chamber of commerce members, as well as news media, are invited to attend. State senators have been invited, as well.
To make reservations, contact your local chamber of commerce.
(A partial list of events in the greater Omaha metro)
Monday, Aug. 31
Blair (Lunch), noon
Memorial Community Hospital (810 North 22nd St.)
Contact: Jordan Rishel, (402) 533-4455
Fremont (Lunch), noon
Midland University (Private Dining Room)
Contact: Kyrsten Mottl, (402) 721-2641
Thursday, Oct. 8
Sarpy County/Bellevue (Lunch), noon
Bellevue University, John B. Muller Admin Services Bldg.
Contact: Doris Urwin, (402) 898-3000
Thursday, Oct. 22
Omaha (Breakfast), 7:30 a.m.
Goodwill (4805 North 72nd St.)
Contact: Jordan Wagner, (402) 978-7922
Anyone with outstanding student loans may be interested
“Bill Would Replace US Loan Default Rates with Repayment Metric” by Inside Higher Ed describes a bill introduced in early August 2015 by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) that would get rid of the student loan default rates. Under the bill, the government instead “would look at whether former students are making progress in repaying their debt … Colleges with loan repayment rates more than 10 percent below the national average over a three-year period would lose access to federal aid.” The bill also creates a risk-sharing program where colleges would have to pay the government part of the student loans that students are not repaying. Senator Lamar Alexander has indicated he would like to include risk-sharing in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and praised the senators for their work.
